The Woman Who Smashed Codes

A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies

By: Jason Fagone

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Joining the ranks of Hidden Figures and In the Garden of Beasts, the incredible true story of the greatest codebreaking duo that ever lived, an American woman and her husband who invented the modern science of cryptology together and used it to confront the evils of their time, solving puzzles that unmasked Nazi spies and helped win World War II.

In 1912, at the height of World War I, brilliant Shakespeare expert Elizebeth Smith went to work for an eccentric tycoon on his estate outside Chicago. The tycoon had close ties to the US government, and he soon asked Elizebeth to apply her language skills to an exciting new venture: code breaking. There she met the man who would become her husband, groundbreaking cryptologist William Friedman. Though she and Friedman are in many ways the Adam and Eve of the NSA, Elizebeth's story, incredibly, has never been told.

In The Woman Who Smashed Codes, Jason Fagone chronicles the life of this extraordinary woman, who played an integral role in our nation's history for 40 years. After World War I, Smith used her talents to catch gangsters and smugglers during Prohibition, then accepted a covert mission to discover and expose Nazi spy rings that were spreading like wildfire across South America, advancing ever closer to the United States. As World War II raged, Elizabeth fought a highly classified battle of wits against Hitler's Reich, cracking multiple versions of the Enigma machine used by German spies. Meanwhile, inside an army vault in Washington, William worked furiously to break Purple, the Japanese version of Enigma - and eventually succeeded, at a terrible cost to his personal life.

Fagone unveils America's code-breaking history through the prism of Smith's life, bringing into focus the unforgettable events and colorful personalities that would help shape modern intelligence. Blending the lively pace and compelling detail that are the hallmarks of Erik Larson's best sellers with the atmosphere and intensity of The Imitation Game, The Woman Who Smashed Codes is riveting popular history at its finest.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 Jason Fagone (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Interesting untold story!

This book is tells a loving story of one of the founder's of cryptology. The story paints a deep and interesting story of young intelligent woman who becomes a central figure in fighting the mafia in the thirties and the nazi in the forties. Since she is a woman, her story has been untold and her heroism and patriotism overlooked.

Missing enhancements

Audio version stated enhancements (PDFs of sample codes) are included with the audio, but I couldn’t find any anywhere. I’m sure they would have enhanced the comprehension and appreciation of what Mrs Friedman did. On that basis, have suggested friends get the actual book rather than an audio version, as the story is fascinating & inspiring

Not usually a genre I would persue, but...

What a pleasant surprise this book was! I don't usually read this genre so I was doubly impressed. Thanks for bringing this woman's important contribution and selfless actions to life.

A book that everyone should read.

Excellent on so many levels. As an author of 3 works of literary fiction, I am humbled by this work.

Captivating, and full of surprises

I thought this book would be interesting. I underestimated. From the first, I was drawn in by the people and the history. I gawked at the absurd but rich patron. I cheered as Elizabeth and William solves codes together and fell in love. I was proud of their work in WWI. Then Elizabeth took on worldwide criminal syndicates, reading their secrets and testifying against them in court. What a remarkable woman, I thought. Then she began decoding intelligence traffic, reading Nazi plans and movements. She kept her path of secrecy, even when the new FBI claimed credit for her work, and when they used her decryption to scatter a network of spies she had been gathering good intel from.

The author makes very clear that this story is based on careful research, on documents and interviews, mostly.

What a marvelous blending of basic puzzle solving, history, women’s inequality, and government secrecy.

Spellbinding window into a little known world

A moving account of an extraordinary patriot. A woman of towering intellect and accomplishment. A loyal and loving wife and mother. She provides an inspiring backdrop and contrast to the squalid, self-serving hacks like J Edgar Hoover who not only shamelessly claimed credit for her work, but actually subverted her efforts to the detriment of our war efforts - all sacrificed at the altar of his overweening egotism.
Anyone who cares about historical integrity and about our national moral fibre must read this book
You will discover how terrifyingly close Gestspo agents came to converting major portions of South America into Nazi strongholds. It only became known after her death that she was probably the single most important reason that the allies were able to prevent that.

Wonderful!

A terrific story beautifully read by Cassandra Campbell. It is wonderful that Elizabeth’s story is reaching a wider audience.

Best narrator yet!

Any additional comments?

I had never known about the Nazi spies in South America so I thoroughly enjoyed learning something new (to me). Cassandra Campbell's articulation was the best I've heard: clear all the way to the last consonant without being overdone.
I found the details of the code work fascinating and was distressed to hear once again about the unethical behavior of J. Edgar Hoover.
I would like to have learned more about Elizebeth's role as a mother and how she managed to have the children cared for when she was working so many hours under intense pressure.

Woman Who Smashed Codes

Wonderful read insightful and educational would read again. Pointed out women were considered inferior at the time.

Outstanding

Fabulous story of an amazing women we should know. Thanks for writing it and getting her story out there.