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Product Description
Product Description
This title was first published in 1980. This new edition has been rewritten (by the original author), re-typeset, re-illustrated and re-indexed.
From the Publisher
This is one of only three books about Bletchley Park to be written by someone working there in a senior capacity for virtually the whole war. This lends it a rare degree of authenticity. Of course, a 158-page book can not be, in any sense, 'complete', but it does offer an excellent overview of the Bletchley/Enigma story, with sections on BP, the Enigma machine, codebreaking, deriving usable intelligence from decrypts, and most valuably, an informed assessment of how the decrypted information helped the Allies bring the war to an end. Authentic, and with a broad coverage, this is the best choice for anyone wanting to read just one book on this subject.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
This is a fairly short and digestible book. It is about Ultra, the handling and uses of itelligence from Enigma traffic, and does not just deal exclusively with the code breaking at Bletchly Park.
I found it very interesting, particularly the way that the intelligence picture was built up from fragmentary decyphering of transmissions, logging quantities and geographical sources of traffic and the uses to which it was put. The films often don't make clear that many messages took days or weeks to decode or that decoding failed completely.
I shall definitely take a more detailed look at the subject having read this very good book.
I found it very interesting, particularly the way that the intelligence picture was built up from fragmentary decyphering of transmissions, logging quantities and geographical sources of traffic and the uses to which it was put. The films often don't make clear that many messages took days or weeks to decode or that decoding failed completely.
I shall definitely take a more detailed look at the subject having read this very good book.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Reading a book about an interesting subject can sometimes make it difficult to judge however I really enjoyed this book so am giving it the full marks. It should be noted that this is very short, just 140 pages over five chapters plus some appendixes.
The author worked in Hut 3 and gives an overview of the code breaking, no real detail, but is more involved with Hut 3 and Ultra, dealing with the decrypted messages. The writing is in a nice flowing style.
Chapter 1 - Bletchley Park
Overview what was done there. Brief outline of the author getting there (only in 1942) and some of the weakness with the Germans use of it.
Chapter 2 - The Enigma and the Poles
Excellent to get the story from before we worked on it and learn some of the details of it with their hard work, insight on taking up the intelligence of what was offered by the French when we and the French(cyphers) not that interested. Description of the Enigma machine.
Chapter 3 - Three Stages to Daylight
Discusses interception, decypher and use.
Chapter 4 - The Uses of Ultra
What he's lead up to with some interesting examples and putting its value in perspective.
Chapter 5 - A verdict
Summing up the achievements.
The author worked in Hut 3 and gives an overview of the code breaking, no real detail, but is more involved with Hut 3 and Ultra, dealing with the decrypted messages. The writing is in a nice flowing style.
Chapter 1 - Bletchley Park
Overview what was done there. Brief outline of the author getting there (only in 1942) and some of the weakness with the Germans use of it.
Chapter 2 - The Enigma and the Poles
Excellent to get the story from before we worked on it and learn some of the details of it with their hard work, insight on taking up the intelligence of what was offered by the French when we and the French(cyphers) not that interested. Description of the Enigma machine.
Chapter 3 - Three Stages to Daylight
Discusses interception, decypher and use.
Chapter 4 - The Uses of Ultra
What he's lead up to with some interesting examples and putting its value in perspective.
Chapter 5 - A verdict
Summing up the achievements.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unfortunately you don't learn a great deal about Bletchley Park in this volume, but you do get to feel you have a nodding acquaintance with some of the key players.
By its nature a book like this (memoirs of someone working there from some thirty years on) is going to be sketchy and anecdotal, and very far from being complete, but as an interesting adjunct to all the other works which document this crucial aspect of WWII it's worthwhile.
The author's style is self-deprecatory in places, almost apologetic, but a sense of his love for the whole episode shines through.
Get this if you're a serious historian, borrow it if you're interest is merely casual, but read it anyway.
By its nature a book like this (memoirs of someone working there from some thirty years on) is going to be sketchy and anecdotal, and very far from being complete, but as an interesting adjunct to all the other works which document this crucial aspect of WWII it's worthwhile.
The author's style is self-deprecatory in places, almost apologetic, but a sense of his love for the whole episode shines through.
Get this if you're a serious historian, borrow it if you're interest is merely casual, but read it anyway.
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