Overview
A mathematical tour of some of the greatest unsolved ciphers of all timeIn 1953, a man was found dead from cyanide poisoning near the Philadelphia airport with a picture of a Nazi aircraft in his wallet and an enciphered message taped to his abdomen. In 1912, a book dealer named Wilfrid Voynich came into possession of an illuminated cipher manuscript once belonging to Emperor Rudolf II, who was obsessed with alchemy and the occult. Wartime codebreakers tried-and failed-to unlock the book's secrets, and it remains an enigma to this day. In this lively and entertaining book, Craig Bauer examines these and other vexing ciphers yet to be cracked. Some may reveal the identity of a spy or serial killer, provide the location of buried treasure, or expose a secret society-while others may be elaborate hoaxes. He lays out the evidence surrounding each cipher, describes the efforts to decipher it, and invites readers to try their hand at puzzles that have stymied so many others.
Full Product Details
Author: Craig P. Bauer
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Imprint: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691192291
ISBN 10: 0691192294
Pages: 640
Publication Date: 18 June 2019
Audience:
General/trade
,
Professional and scholarly
,
General/trade
,
General
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
oeI am blown away by this book. I have never read a non-fiction book before that is so thrillingly entertaining. Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society oeAn in-depth guide to history (TM)s greatest unsolved conundrums. BBC Focus oeUnsolved! spans a huge arc of time and space, from Julius Caesar (TM)s simple substitution cipher to composer Edward Elgar (TM)s 1897 Dorabella Cipher. Andrew Robinson, Nature oeA thoroughly engaging read. Brian Clegg, Popular Science oeThe Da Vinci Code has nothing on this exhaustive collection of cryptographs and codes because these are real. Discover Magazine oeBauer proves an able and entertaining guide to the world of real-life ciphers, codes, and encryption. . . . Unsolved! is suited to all who enjoy the thrill of the chase. Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews
I am blown away by this book. I have never read a non-fiction book before that is so thrillingly entertaining. --Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society Bauer proves an able and entertaining guide to the world of real-life ciphers, codes, and encryption. . . . Unsolved! is suited to all who enjoy the thrill of the chase. --Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews Unsolved! spans a huge arc of time and space, from Julius Caesar's simple substitution cipher to composer Edward Elgar's 1897 Dorabella Cipher. --Andrew Robinson, Nature A thoroughly engaging read. --Brian Clegg, Popular Science An in-depth guide to history's greatest unsolved conundrums. --BBC Focus The Da Vinci Code has nothing on this exhaustive collection of cryptographs and codes--because these are real. --Discover Magazine
I am blown away by this book. I have never read a non-fiction book before that is so thrillingly entertaining. --Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society An in-depth guide to history's greatest unsolved conundrums. --BBC Focus Bauer proves an able and entertaining guide to the world of real-life ciphers, codes, and encryption. . . . Unsolved! is suited to all who enjoy the thrill of the chase. --Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews Unsolved! spans a huge arc of time and space, from Julius Caesar's simple substitution cipher to composer Edward Elgar's 1897 Dorabella Cipher. --Andrew Robinson, Nature A thoroughly engaging read. --Brian Clegg, Popular Science The Da Vinci Code has nothing on this exhaustive collection of cryptographs and codes--because these are real. --Discover Magazine
oeI am blown away by this book. I have never read a non-fiction book before that is so thrillingly entertaining. Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society oeAn in-depth guide to history (TM)s greatest unsolved conundrums. BBC Focus oeBauer proves an able and entertaining guide to the world of real-life ciphers, codes, and encryption. . . . Unsolved! is suited to all who enjoy the thrill of the chase. Peter Dabbene, Foreword Reviews oeUnsolved! spans a huge arc of time and space, from Julius Caesar (TM)s simple substitution cipher to composer Edward Elgar (TM)s 1897 Dorabella Cipher. Andrew Robinson, Nature oeA thoroughly engaging read. Brian Clegg, Popular Science oeThe Da Vinci Code has nothing on this exhaustive collection of cryptographs and codes because these are real. Discover Magazine
Author Information
Craig P. Bauer is professor of mathematics at York College of Pennsylvania. He is editor in chief of the journal Cryptologia, has served as a scholar in residence at the NSA's Center for Cryptologic History, and is the author of Secret History: The Story of Cryptology.
