Colossus

The secrets of Bletchley Park's code-breaking computers

B. Jack Copeland

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English

Oxford University Press
18 June 2010

British & Irish history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Military intelligence; Mathematics & Sciences

At last - the secrets of Bletchley Park's powerful codebreaking computers. This is a history of Colossus, the world's first fully-functioning electronic digital computer. Colossus was used during the Second World War at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, where it played an invaluable role cracking enemy codes. Until very recently, much about the Colossus machine was shrouded in secrecy, largely because the codes that were employed remained in use by the British security services until a short time ago. This book only became possible due to the declassification in the US of wartime documents. With an introductory essay on cryptography and the history of code-breaking by Simon Singh, this book reveals the workings of Colossus and the extraordinary staff at Bletchley Park through personal accounts by those who lived and worked with the computer. Among them is the testimony of Thomas Flowers, who was the architect of Colossus and whose personal account, written shortly before he died, is published here for the first time. Other essays consider the historical importance of this remarkable machine, and its impact on the generations of computing technology that followed.

By: B. Jack Copeland
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 233mm, Width: 155mm, Spine: 37mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780199578146
ISBN 10: 0199578141
Pages: 480
Publication Date: 18 June 2010
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Colossus: The secrets of Bletchley Park's code-breaking computers

compelling compilation * New Scientist * formidably detailed * Guardian * An engaging book that will be essential reading for historians of twentieth-century technology and warfare. * Nature * Review from previous edition Copeland and other contributors have rightly done Flowers and the Tunny code-breakers proud Copeland's book is a masterpiece. * George Dyson, author of Turing's Cathedral *