Download PDF The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies
Nathalia Holt interviews Jason Fagone about his book, The Woman Who Smashed Codes. Read more Nathalia Holt: What drew you to this story? Jason Fagone: Well, its one of these amazing American origin stories. A hundred years ago, a young woman in her early twenties suddenly became one of the greatest codebreakers in the country. She taught herself how to solve secret messages without knowing the key. Even though she started out as a poet, not a mathematician, she turned out to be a genius at solving these very difficult puzzles, and her solutions ended up changing the 20th century. She helped us win the world wars. And she also shaped the intelligence community as we know it today. NH: William Friedman has long been recognized as a pioneer of cryptology, so why have we never heard of Elizebeth before? JF: Sexism and secrecy. A lot of the time she was omitted or even erased from the records by the men in her life. Sometimes they were men close to her, like her husband, William Friedman, who was also a champion codebreaker, and sometimes they were men in power, like J. Edgar Hoover. All through World War II she used her skills to hunt Nazi spies who were spreading into the West. She broke these Nazi spy codes for the FBI, which would have been lost without herand then Hoover turned around and painted himself as the big hero. There was nothing she could do, because of secrecy rules. Read more NH: In the Authors Note of your book you describe the excitement of discovering Elizebeths archives in a vault of a Virginia library. What was that moment like and what types of resources did you use to research this story? JF: Ill never forget that moment. Elizebeth donated 22 boxes of papers to the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia. Since her death in 1980 those boxes have been carefully preserved at the Foundations library in a vault. Elizebeth left thousands of her personal letters, whole diaries full of poems, newspaper clippings of her famous rum cases, and original code worksheets. She kept everything that wasnt classified. The only period of her life missing from the archive was 1939 through 1945World War II. So I had to patch the gap. It took me more than two years to find the missing records, hunting through archives in the U.S. and the U.K. NH: How can Elizebeth Smith Friedmans story inspire young women today? JF: I think a lot of professional women today can relate to her experiences. She did all this important work and got very little credit. But at the same time, because she was so good at her job, she had a lasting impact on the world. She blazed a trail in a lot of ways, and she did it in her own style. Once she wrote, If I may capture a goodly number of your messages, even though I have never seen your code book, I may still read your thoughts. That captures her personality: Do whatever you like, but I still have this mind, and you will have to reckon with it. Read more NH: This book is in many ways a love story. Can you tell us about the letters sent between Elizebeth and her husband? JF: Elizebeth and William started writing to each other before they were romantically involved, when they were still only friends. They were these two young people who wanted to accomplish great things, to leave a mark. In 1918, when William joined the Army and sailed to France to serve as a codebreaker, he wrote Elizebeth these 20- and 30-page love letters by the light of an oil lamp, calling her 'Divine Fire.' He liked to include bits of code that he knew only Elizebeth would understand, and she replied in code, too. For the Friedmans it was a lovers shorthand, a way of staying connected. And later, when they had kids, they taught the kids how to do it, too. Read more Nathalia Holt is the New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us from Missiles to the Moon to Mars and Cured: The People who Defeated HIV. Read more
Details e-book The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies
🗸 Author(s): Jason Fagone
🗸 Title: The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies
🗸 Rating : 4.6 from 5 stars (3125 reviews)
🗸 ISBN-10: 0062430513
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
✓ Read as many eBooks you want!
✓ Secure Scanned. No Virus Detected
✓ Thousands of eBooks to choose from - Hottest new releases
✓ Click it and Read it! - no waiting to read eBooks, it's instant!
✓ Keep reading your favorite eBooks over and over!
✓ It works anywhere in the world!
✓ No late fees or fixed contracts - cancel anytime!
Readers' opinions about The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies by Jason Fagone
Georgina Clark
This comprehensive guide to personal finance offers practical advice and actionable strategies for achieving financial freedom. From budgeting and saving to investing and retirement planning, the author covers all the essential topics needed to build wealth and secure a stable financial future. Accessible and informative, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to take control of their finances.
Lexie Fields
This beautifully illustrated cookbook is a culinary journey around the world, showcasing a diverse array of delicious recipes from every corner of the globe. From exotic street food to traditional home-cooked meals, each dish is a celebration of the rich tapestry of global cuisine. With its mouthwatering photographs and easy-to-follow recipes, this book is a must-have for any aspiring chef.
Skyler Shaw
Explore the depths of human emotion with this powerful collection of poetry, where words dance off the page and into the heart. From love and longing to despair and redemption, each poem offers a glimpse into the human experience in all its complexity. With its evocative imagery and lyrical prose, this book is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire.
Related ebooks of The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies
Every Note Played No Such Thing as Normal Murder in Morningside Heights (A Gaslight Mystery) Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents The Wolf’s Trail: An Ojibwe Story, Told by Wolves Truly, Madly, Deeply: A Novel The No Meat Athlete Cookbook: Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Workouts―and the Rest of Your Life From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com: How to Find Your Family History on the #1 Genealogy Website High-Functioning Autism and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Reducing Meltdowns
