Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy
SKU:
9780316352536
$28.00
$28.00
The Girls of Atomic City, iCode Girls is the astonishing, untold story of the young American women who cracked key Axis codes, helping to secure Allied victory and revolutionizing the field of cryptanalysis./b "Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment."Liza Mundy's Code Girls reveals one of World War II's last remaining secrets: the true tale of the young American women who helped shorten the war and saved thousands of lives by breaking the codes of the German and Japanese armed forces. But it's also a superbly researched and stirringly written social history of a pivotal chapter in the struggle for women's rights, told through the powerful and poignant stories of the individuals involved. In exploring the vast, obscure, and makeshift offices of wartime Washington where these women performed seemingly impossible deeds, Mundy has discovered a birthplace of modern America."b'?Glenn Frankel, iPulitzer Prize-winning author of iHigh Noon/b"Code Girls is a riveting account of the thousands of young coeds who flooded into Washington to help America win World War II. Liza Mundy has written a thrilling page-turner that illuminates the patriotism, rivalry, and sexism of the code-breakers' world."b'?Lynn Povich, author of iThe Good Girls Revolt/b"Code Girls is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary author. Liza Mundy's portraits of World War II codebreakers are so skillfully and vividly drawn that I felt as if I were right there with them--mastering ciphers, outwitting the Japanese army, sinking ships, breaking hearts, and even accidentally insulting Eleanor Roosevelt. I am an evangelist for this book: You must read it."b'?Karen Abbott, iNew York Times bestselling author of iSin in the Second City and iLiar, Temptress, Solider, Spy/b"Code Girls reveals a hidden army of female cryptographers, whose work played a crucial role in ending World War II. With clarity and insight, Mundy exposes the intertwined narratives of the women who broke codes and the burgeoning field of military intelligence in the 1940s. I cannot overstate the importance of this book; Mundy has rescued a piece of forgotten history, and given these American heroes the recognition they deserve."b'?Nathalia Holt, iNew York Times bestselling author of iRise of the Rocket Girls/b"Code Girls is not just a great slice of history--one that would have been lost to us without Liza's storytelling and the work of some heroic archivists--but a story relevant to every discussion we have now about America's security agencies and how they came to be. I am delighted readers will finally know about these pioneering women and their incredible contributions to America."b'?Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and iNew York Times bestselling author of iThe Dressmaker of Khair Khana and iAshley's War/b"Mundy is a fine storyteller.... A sleek, compelling narrative.... The book is a winner. Her descriptions of codes and ciphers, how they worked and how they were broken, are remarkably clear and accessible. A well-researched, compellingly written, crucial addition to the literature of American involvement in World War II."b'?iKirkus (starred review)/b"Similar to Nathalia Holt's iThe Rise of the Rocket Girls and Margot Lee Shetterly's iHidden Figures, this is indispensable and fascinating history. Highly recommended for all readers."b'?iLibrary Journal (starred review)/b"Mundy's fascinating book suggests that [the Code Girls'] influence did play a role in defining modern Washington and challenging gender roles--changes that still matter 75 years later."b'?iWashingtonian/b"iCode Girls ... finally gives due to the courageous women who worked in the wartime intelligence community."b'?iSmithsonian.com/b