Joining the ranks of Hidden Figures and In the Garden of Beasts, the incredible true story of the greatest codebreaking duo that ever lived, an American woman and her husband who invented the modern science of cryptology together and used it to confront the evils of their time, solving puzzles that unmasked Nazi spies and helped win World War II.
In 1916, at the height of World War I, brilliant Shakespeare expert Elizebeth Smith went to work for an eccentric tycoon on his estate outside Chicago. The tycoon had close ties to the U.S. government, and he soon asked Elizebeth to apply her language skills to an exciting new venture: code-breaking. There she met the man who would become her husband, groundbreaking cryptologist William Friedman. Though she and Friedman are in many ways the "Adam and Eve" of the NSA, Elizebeth’s story, incredibly, has never been told.
In The Woman Who Smashed Codes, Jason Fagone chronicles the life of this extraordinary woman, who played an integral role in our nation’s history for forty years. After World War I, Smith used her talents to catch gangsters and smugglers during Prohibition, then accepted a covert mission to discover and expose Nazi spy rings that were spreading like wildfire across South America, advancing ever closer to the United States. As World War II raged, Elizebeth fought a highly classified battle of wits against Hitler’s Reich, cracking multiple versions of the Enigma machine used by German spies. Meanwhile, inside an Army vault in Washington, William worked furiously to break Purple, the Japanese version of Enigma and eventually succeeded, at a terrible cost to his personal life.
Fagone unveils America’s code-breaking history through the prism of Smith’s life, bringing into focus the unforgettable events and colorful personalities that would help shape modern intelligence. Blending the lively pace and compelling detail that are the hallmarks of Erik Larson’s bestsellers with the atmosphere and intensity of The Imitation Game, The Woman Who Smashed Codes is page-turning popular history at its finest.
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Dey Street Books; Reprint edition (June 26, 2018)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
Reviews
"Poetic, brilliantly composed and illuminating. Grateful to examine history through the story of Elizebeth and William Friedman. I recommend this book to all."
- K.C.
"Very authorative, and reveals much about a famous code breaker who has not until recently received the recognition she ably deserved"
- Bruce Willis
"Wonderful story of an extraordinary woman, who went unnoticed for her brilliance and ingenuity. Also an appreciation for the dedication that her husband and she had for our country. A good read for anyone interested in the people who don't make headlines, but truly make a difference in many lives."
- Larry D. Vest
"An amazing story by a wonderful author. I was a little sad when I finished the book because of how well written is was and how well he brought the main character to life."
- Tamara B.
"Bringing the sheer brilliance and immense contribution of this woman to public knowledge is a wonderful service that will magnify with each new person added to the reader list. May there be many, for a job very well done by both the author and his subject."
- Bob Hammel
...
...
About The Author
I'm a 39-year-old author and reporter who covers technology, sports, and culture. My latest book is "The Woman Who Smashed Codes," about an American puzzle-solving heroine of the world wars. In 2014-15 I was a Knight-Wallace Fellow in journalism at the University of Michigan, and now I live near Philadelphia with my wife and daughter.
No comments:
Post a Comment