[Ad-gifted] Enigma Traitors by Dermot Turing touches on treachery, betrayal, deception, and the struggle to win the cipher war! Bletchley Park and its role in code breaking during World War II is relatively – if superficially – well-known through a number of books, the film The Imitation Game and the work of the Trust running Bletchley Park, which preserve the facility as a museum.
Dermot Turing has clearly spent a lot of time researching how the equivalent German services fared. He compares the relative efforts of both sides, the clear success enjoyed in cracking the opposition’s ciphers and the relative complacency which was seen about the security of their own ciphers.
Published by The History Press, the book shares many of the experiences on both sides are familiar: overconfidence, bureaucracy and inter-service rivalry. The Germans were generally content to believe that Enigma was uncrackable, even when the evidence was quite clear. Such as when the Allies rounded up the U-boats at refuelling rendezvous. They demanded that the traitors were ousted. Meanwhile, the Allies were unaware or at least complacent over the almost complete revelation of their “secret” messages during the North Africa campaign. What was clear was that the codes had been broken and it was only a matter of time before the secret was revealed.
What did we think of the book?
In the book we meet the leading characters working for Germany in each of their armed services, their rivalry and the success and failures. Their experiences are compared with those of their Allied counterparts. The period was notable for the development of electro-mechanical devices which assisted in the encipherment and decoding of messages and towards the end of the war the beginnings of the computer age. Both sides were using exceptionally talented people, but along the way the usual human failings impeded their progress.
For anyone interested in this subject area, this book is a rewarding read providing a fascinating insight on the relative strengths of the opposing sides working at the very edge of 1940s’ technology.
How much is the book and how can you buy it?
The book is newly released and available to buy on Amazon for £17.69 for a hardcover copy and £8.99 for the Kindle Edition. Do check back on Amazon for the pricing as this might change.
About the author
Dermot Turing has written about Second World War code breaking extensively. His award-winning book X, Y and Z: The Real Story of How Enigma Was Broken, revealed the backstory of Enigma code breaking before Bletchley Park. The achievements of his uncle, Alan Turing, are celebrated in Dermot’s biography, Alan Turing Decoded: The Man They Called Prof’.
Before taking up writing, Dermot had a career in the legal profession. He was a trustee of the Bletchley Park Trust from 2014-2020. He now lives in Scotland and engages in the struggle to defeat weeds, bugs, slugs, pigeons and other hostile forces in an everyday horticultural war.
About the Book
Publisher : The History Press
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1803991696
Review produced by Rowena Jukes in conjunction with Norman Bridges
You may also want to read:
Book Review: Steel Girls at War written by Michelle Rawlings
Book Review: How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
Book Review: Staying out for the Summer by Mandy Baggot
* Disclaimer: We were given a copy of the book in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.
29 comments
This does sound an interesting book, probably not one that I would read, but know it is something my husband would enjoy
Glad to hear Samantha
This sounds like a great book. I love books that take a deep dive into historical subjects that we don’t often hear about.
I have to read this! I’ve only heard a little about this man. I love books that really take me into the story.
It does indeed, so much to know
Sounds like this is a great book. I’m not a reader but this book is interesting.
It sure is Marie
Dermot Turing’s book sounds like an intriguing read. Thanks for the book review and I hope to pick it up soon!
You are welcome
I really like the story of Enigma and WWII so this one has peaked my interest. I would like read it all.
Hope you get your hands on a copy of the book
Dermot Turing’s ‘Enigma Traitors’ is a captivating exploration of the intricate world of code-breaking and espionage during World War II. The meticulous research shines through, offering readers a nuanced understanding of both sides of the cipher war. The comparison between Bletchley Park and German intelligence services adds a fascinating layer, highlighting the pitfalls of overconfidence, bureaucracy, and inter-service rivalries. The book skillfully weaves together familiar experiences, such as the Allies’ success in cracking enemy ciphers and the Germans’ unwarranted confidence in the Enigma code’s invincibility.
A rewarding read for those fascinated by wartime technology and espionage history.
I’ve seen a few documentaries about Enigma, it is very interesting….I would love to grab the book, seems awesome…
Hope you do Karen
I imagine it was such a selective skill (decoding) back in the day. Who knew in the not so distant future that coding would be the big thing. 🙂
I agree, no one could predict how big the computer and coding would become
This would be a great gift for those who are interested in this subject matter. I really like book cover, it is really eye catching.
It would indeed for birthdays or Christmas
It looks like an interesting read. I am hearing about Enigma for the first time and I’ll give this book a read for sure. Thanks for putting this review together.
You are welcome and hope you enjoy the book
This sounds like a really captivating and interesting book for those who love history!
It sure is
Great review here thanks for sharing this! Definitely seems like one to check out!
You are welcome, glad you enjoyed reading it
Dermot Turing’s book sounds really interesting, although I don’t read as much as I used to I will add this one on my list.
It is a great gift for Christmas or birthdays as well Nayna
Sounds like such a fascinating read! Definitely a book to get lost in. I know quite a few people who find this very interesting so I might have to get it for them over the holidays!
It sure is especially if you enjoy historical reads