Overview

The theft from Bletchley Park in 2000 of the legendary Enigma machine, the device used by the Allies to decode German messages during World War II, was an altogether novel and frightening twist on recent history. Closely followed by the British media, the theft of the Enigma machine was later revealed to be part of a well-orchestrated hate campaign against Bletchley Park's new director, Christine Large. Hijacking Enigma is her story, a harrowing insider's look at what's it's like to be at the centre of a complex cat-and-mouse game and media frenzy.

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9780470863466

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Reviews

A[A]Large has now cleverly succeeded in bringing the story up-to-dateA[A] (Friends of Bletchley Park Newsletter, Summer 2003) <p> A[A]a clandestine tale worthy of LaCarrAA(c)A[A] (Manchester Evening News, 16 August 2003) <p> A[A]a book that now reveals allA[A] (Image, September 2003) <p> A[A]Reading like an action packed thriller, this real life tale tells the story of kidnapA[A] (Best of British, September 2003) <p> A[A]with spies and detectives, history and extortion, this story is more astounding then any Bond filmA[A] (Good Book Guide, September 2003) <p> A[A]Hijacking Enigma is very readableA[A] (Sunday Citizen, 24 August 2003) <p> A[A]real life thrillerA[A] (Good Book Guide, October 2003) <p> A[A]a fascinating true-life thrillerA[A] (Sunday Post (Dundee), 14 September 2003) <p> A[A]Large tells her story well with the verve of a novelist and the perception of a historianA[A] (The Good Book Guide, November 2003) <p> .,. Thoroughly recommended... (Spitfire Society, Journal November 2003) <p> .,. a fascinating story... (Cryptologia, November 2005)

Real-life mysteries with an 007 twist come no better than that involving the Enigma codebreaking machine. The device that played a big part in one of Churchills greatest wartime triumphs was stolen on April Fools Day, 2000, from the Bletchley Park intelligence centre. The thief sent out coded messages of his own, led the police in humiliating circles and finally posted Enigma to TV presenter Jeremy Paxman. The events were both farcical and serious, for they also involved extortion and a hate campaign against the Bletchley Park chief. Christine Large, director of the Bletchley Park Trust, tells this extraordinary tale from the inside, managing to show how the criminal mind works while detailing how easily the authorities can be fooled. From the glitzy heart of Londons theatreland to a remote churchyard, Large takes her reader on a journey with more twists than a maze. At first the theft was considered to be an April Fool prank but more sinister motives soon emerged. Large tells her story with the verve of a novelist and the perception of a historian, passing on information about the wartime development of Enigma and its importance to the Allies in cracking what had seemed to be an unbreakable code. Why someone with a grudge against the Bletchley Park director should choose to snatch this machine, then taunt the police with silly phone calls, is a tale in itself. But then, as Large says, in Enigma terms it was not really such a surprise. The machine has a colourful history not only in its official wartime capacity as a box of tricks but also as a device that has always seemed to attract escapades. Truly an enigma in more ways than one. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Christine Large continues a line of individualistic Bletchley Park directors. Her career began with a law degree and includes private sector business roles and voluntary work. She has been employed by the National Federation of Women?s Institutes, has been a university lecturer in business studies, a CBI London council member, chaired the governing body of London?s largest state primary school and chaired a national charity. She helped Bletchley Park as a volunteer for 18 months before being appointed its Director in 1998. Christine?s mother-in-law worked at Bletchley Park during the war and her father-in-law retrieved Allied spies from overseas for Special Operations Executive. Her mission is to build on the codebreaking pioneers? work, transforming the site into a heritage park famed for education and technology innovation. Christine lives in London and is married with two daughters. Her hobbies include playing the cello and learning Russian.

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