While the World Is Still Asleep

The Century Trilogy, Book 1

By: Petra Durst-Benning, Edwin Miles - translator

Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden

It isn't easy for a woman to cut loose in 1890s Berlin. But the winds of change are blowing, and nothing can stop Josephine from pursuing her dreams.

After the tragic death of her little brother, Josephine travels to the Black Forest to heal. There she discovers a feeling of freedom astride a brand-new invention called the "velocipede". The very idea of a woman on a bicycle is beyond taboo - it is indecent and even illegal - but Josephine will not be deterred. She simply needs to find a way to ride without provoking a scandal. Back home, Josephine has the brilliant idea of riding under cover of night, while the world is still asleep. But Berlin's streets are dangerous, especially on a bicycle.

Can Josephine's fighting heart help her overcome the obstacles in her path? Will the passion she feels for this new adventure lead her toward true love?

©2012 Petra Durst-Benning & Ullstein Buchverlag GmbH (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Translation © 2016 Edwin Miles.

A good, solid read

Overall, this was a good book. The back story was a little slow, but the pace did pick up. I've read the Glassblower and really enjoyed that series. Hoping this one will be as good. I gave it only 4 stars due to the slowness in start.

The German accent is quite lovely.

I saw the book on kindle, and started the free trail. This is the very first book of my experience to use audible. The story mixed with romance , history and feminism. Not joking, I was just astonished that even in the late 19c, women could not ride bicycles and wear trousers. Women had no right to earn an occupation in university. Simply a story about how the character Joe in the 19c Berlin pursued her dreams.
The story is interesting so far, I'm looking forward to next two books. A final important review, the narrator is really great, soft voice and incredible performance, hopefully it won't change.

Tranportrd into a different time.

awho would believe what a difference the Bicycle made across all levels of economic and social and gender.

Not a moving story

While the idea was good the author did too much of telling the story rather than showing the story

Fascinating Tale of Bicycling and Women

I have come to love these tales by Petra Durst-Benning, historical, sort of magical and always revealing a truth that I never understood before . . . this one about the invention and progression of bicycles during the late 1800s in Germany is equally interesting . . . the treatment of women (in all societies) saddens me, and when Josephine was sent away after the death of her little brother . . . who was a brat, by the way . . . broke my heart . . . but the trades she learned and later put to extraordinary use was exhilarating . . . as was the middle of the night and early morning bicycle rides . . . the story, which like all of her books, has the betrayal, good versus evil, love triumphing over hardship . . . the fairy tale aspect which I have come to look for and treasure in her writing . . . enjoy . . . I can't wait for the next in the series . . .