The Secret Lives of Codebreakers

The Secret Lives of Codebreakers: The Men and Women Who Cracked the Enigma Code at Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay

I assumed that I’d love this book – World War II, an amazing backstory, with a connection to women’s history as well – surely I’d love it.

Instead, while I did like it, more or less, overall I found myself disappointed by the dry writing style that didn’t do anything to bring the events to life. Despite the weaknesses of the book, it did give some idea of what it was like living and working at Bletchley Park. I wanted more though!

Some of the problem was the contrast with The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan. She’s tackling a similar theme by what should have been a similar method – focusing on a handful of the individuals who worked on that project. Her book was so much more successful and enjoyable however, that it emphasizes how McKay’s book doesn’t succeed in the same way.

It’s not a terrible book by any means, and if you’re very interested in the topic you may be completely satisfied by it’s style. Perhaps if I’d read it before reading Kiernan’s book I’d have more content with McKay’s approach.

Publisher’s Description:
A remarkable look at day-to-day life of the codebreakers whose clandestine efforts helped win World War II
Bletchley Park looked like any other sprawling country estate. In reality, however, it was the top-secret headquarters of Britain’s Government Code and Cypher School–and the site where Germany’s legendary Enigma code was finally cracked. There, the nation’s most brilliant mathematical minds–including Alan Turing, whose discoveries at Bletchley would fuel the birth of modern computing–toiled alongside debutantes, factory workers, and students on projects of international importance. Until now, little has been revealed about ordinary life at this extraordinary facility. Drawing on remarkable first-hand interviews, “The Secret Lives of Codebreakers” reveals the entertainments, pastimes, and furtive romances that helped ease the incredible pressures faced by these covert operatives as they worked to turn the tide of World War II.