Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND out now in North America!


The highly-anticipated North American edition of Alice Bell‘s DISPLEASURE ISLAND is out today! Published by Vintage Books, here’s the synopsis…

In the hilarious follow-up to Grave Expectations, Claire and the gang are back, getting their timbers shivered by a mystery involving feuding ghost pirates, buried treasure, and murder…

Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, but she can’t see herself having a fun vacation. Yet when her new friends/found family, Basher and Alex, insist, Claire and her dead BFF, Sophie, pack themselves off to a remote Irish island. This tempest-tossed isle is indeed full of noises: not only is the hotel where the gang is staying double booked with a posh private party, the island’s crumbling old fort is being fought over by rival ghost pirates. In death, as in life, they’re vying over a legendary stash of loot, supposedly hidden somewhere on the island or in the surrounding rough seas…

… which, inevitably, are whipped up into a terrific storm, stranding everyone — living and dead — on the island. Claire is already fighting off anxious And Then There Were None vibes before one of the other guests turns up murdered. With Basher distracted by a handsome Irish seaman and Sophie stretching the limits of her tether to flirt with a dead pirate with dubious intentions, it’s up to Claire to solve the mystery of three-hundred-year-old buried treasure and figure out who’s picking off party guests — before the whole gang meets a grim, Agatha Christie-like fate.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this is the follow-up to Bell’s widely-acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS — which is also published in North America by Vintage Books. Both novels are also available in the UK, published by Corvus.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

North American Edition of Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND out in Four Weeks!


The highly-anticipated North American edition of Alice Bell‘s DISPLEASURE ISLAND is out in four weeks! Due to be published by Vintage Books, on September 3rd, here’s the synopsis…

In the hilarious follow-up to Grave Expectations, Claire and the gang are back, getting their timbers shivered by a mystery involving feuding ghost pirates, buried treasure, and murder…

Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, but she can’t see herself having a fun vacation. Yet when her new friends/found family, Basher and Alex, insist, Claire and her dead BFF, Sophie, pack themselves off to a remote Irish island. This tempest-tossed isle is indeed full of noises: not only is the hotel where the gang is staying double booked with a posh private party, the island’s crumbling old fort is being fought over by rival ghost pirates. In death, as in life, they’re vying over a legendary stash of loot, supposedly hidden somewhere on the island or in the surrounding rough seas…

… which, inevitably, are whipped up into a terrific storm, stranding everyone — living and dead — on the island. Claire is already fighting off anxious And Then There Were None vibes before one of the other guests turns up murdered. With Basher distracted by a handsome Irish seaman and Sophie stretching the limits of her tether to flirt with a dead pirate with dubious intentions, it’s up to Claire to solve the mystery of three-hundred-year-old buried treasure and figure out who’s picking off party guests — before the whole gang meets a grim, Agatha Christie-like fate.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this is the follow-up to Bell’s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS — which is also published in North America by Vintage Books. Both novels are also available in the UK, published by Corvus.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘What a cracking romp of a read! A bunch of self entitled millennials, a troop of pirate ghosts, a treasure hoard, a whole slew of secrets and at its heart an engaging and satisfying murder mystery – Agatha Christie meets Ghosts came to mind! I loved the way Alice Bell effortlessly dealt with the problems that beset mystery writers today. i.e. blanket technology- the results was a sort of ‘locked island’ mystery. As before I love the main protagonist chaotic Claire, and her sardonic sidekick (who just happens to have been dead for some fifteen years) It was great to see them both back in action again.’ — J. M. Hall on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Contrary to its title, Alice Bell’s second novel is a complete pleasure to read, full of witty writing, loveable characters and page-turning twists.’ — Culturefly (“Spring Reads: 14 of the best new books to read this month”) on DISPLEASURE ISLAND

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

Andrew Hodges’s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA Available in Chinese and Czech!


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Two new editions of Andrew Hodges‘s masterful ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA have surfaced! The new Czech edition, above, is published by Nakladatelství Jota. Below is the re-issued Chinese edition, published by 湖南科学技术出版社 as 艾伦·图灵传—如谜的解谜者.

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The biography, on which the Oscar-winning movie THE IMITATION GAME was based, is published in the UK by Vintage Books, and in the US by Princeton University Press. The book has also been published quite widely in translations (more details can be found on Andrew’s author page).

Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The official book behind the Academy Award-winning film The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications.

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

Here is a selection of the book’s various international covers…

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New Russian Cover for Andrew Hodges’s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA


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There is a new Russian edition of Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. As you can see from the image above, it reflects the Oscar-winning movie adaptation, THE IMITATION GAME. Published in Russia by ACT as Игра в имитацию: Биография Алана Тьюринга, here is the synopsis…

О загадочной, «зашифрованной» судьбе великого криптографа снят фильм «Игра в имитацию», который получил главную награду Кинофестиваля в Торонто в 2014 году. В роли Тьюринга – Бенедикт Камбербэтч, прославившийся своей ролью в телесериале «Шерлок». А его несостоявшуюся невесту Джоан Кларк сыграла Кира Найтли.

Национальный совет кинокритиков США и Американский институт киноискусства включили «Игру в имитацию» в топ 10 фильмов 2014 года. Также фильм получил пять номинаций на премию «Золотой глобус».

Настало время миру узнать о Тьюринге.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press. It has also been published widely in translation (check Andrew’s author page for more details and covers). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The official book behind the film, THE IMITATION GAME. This is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications. 

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

HodgesA-AlanTuringTheEnigmaTIGEng-Blog

Andrew Hodges’ BBC Alan Turing Timeline


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Andrew Hodges, the author of the New York Times-bestelling biography ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, has put together a Turing Timeline for the BBC.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA has been adapted into an Oscar-winning movie, THE IMITATION GAME, which was released last year. Tie-in editions of the book (above) are published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press. Here’s the synopsis…

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the British mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954) saved the Allies from the Nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decades — all before his suicide at age forty-one. This acclaimed biography of the founder of computer science, with a new preface by the author that addresses Turing’s royal pardon in 2013, is the definitive account of an extraordinary mind and life.

Capturing both the inner and outer drama of Turing’s life, Andrew Hodges tells how Turing’s revolutionary idea of 1936 — the concept of a universal machine — laid the foundation for the modern computer and how Turing brought the idea to practical realisation in 1945 with his electronic design. The book also tells how this work was directly related to Turing’s leading role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers during World War II, a scientific triumph that was critical to Allied victory in the Atlantic. At the same time, this is the tragic account of a man who, despite his wartime service, was eventually arrested, stripped of his security clearance, and forced to undergo a humiliating treatment program — all for trying to live honestly in a society that defined homosexuality as a crime.

The biography has once again hit the New York Times bestseller list, this time at #10 on the Science list:

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New International Editions of ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA


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Above are the covers for two more international editions of Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. Respectively, Italian, published by Bollati Boringhieri; and Hungarian, published by Gabo. As is clear from the covers, the biography was the inspiration behind the Oscar-winning movie, THE IMITATION GAME.

Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications. 

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press, and has been published widely in translation.

THE IMITATION GAME Wins Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay


HodgesA-AlanTuringTheEnigmaTIGEng-Blog

Based on Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, THE IMITATION GAME last night won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay! Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, the movie began generating Oscar buzz just after its first advance screenings, and great reviews just keep coming. First published in 1983, many consider the biography to be the finest ever written about Turing.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press – it has also been published in translation (see Andrew’s author page for a full list). Here’s the synopsis…

The full story behind the persecuted genius of wartime codebreaking and the computer revolution.

A new edition to celebrate Alan Turing’s centenary, includes a new foreword by the author and a preface by Douglas Hofstadter.

Alan Turing was the extraordinary Cambridge mathematician who masterminded the cracking of the German Enigma ciphers and transformed the Second World War. But his vision went far beyond this crucial achievement. Before the war he had formulated the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing committed suicide and one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds was lost.

Hodges-ImitationGamePraise

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is a Best Science Book of 2014


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Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA has been named as one of the best physical science books of 2014 by the Guardian newspaper.

In case you are unfamiliar with the book, here is the synopsis…

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the British mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954) saved the Allies from the Nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decades — all before his suicide at age forty-one. This acclaimed biography of the founder of computer science, with a new preface by the author that addresses Turing’s royal pardon in 2013, is the definitive account of an extraordinary mind and life.

Capturing both the inner and outer drama of Turing’s life, Andrew Hodges tells how Turing’s revolutionary idea of 1936 — the concept of a universal machine — laid the foundation for the modern computer and how Turing brought the idea to practical realisation in 1945 with his electronic design. The book also tells how this work was directly related to Turing’s leading role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers during World War II, a scientific triumph that was critical to Allied victory in the Atlantic. At the same time, this is the tragic account of a man who, despite his wartime service, was eventually arrested, stripped of his security clearance, and forced to undergo a humiliating treatment program — all for trying to live honestly in a society that defined homosexuality as a crime.

Published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press, ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is also the inspiration behind THE IMITATION GAME, a film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, which has been generating plenty of Oscars and other award buzz. (The covers above are for the UK and US tie-in editions.)

In related news, and of interest to Turing fans everywhere, Andrew Hodges has penned some catalogue copy for a rare, secret notebook of the mathematician’s which will be sold at auction in April 2015: ‘Alan Turing was parsimonious with his words and everything from his pen has special value. This notebook shines extra light on how, even when he was enmeshed in great world events, he remained committed to free-thinking work in pure mathematics.’

THE IMITATION GAME Sweeps Five Golden Globes Nominees


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THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, has garnered a whole host of Golden Globe nominations. Coming in the wake of near-unanimous acclaim for the movie, this is fantastic news. The book is published by Vintage Books (UK) and Princeton University Press (US), and is out now.

The movie has been nominated for Best Film Drama, Best Actor in a Drama (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress in a Drama (Keira Knightley), Best Screenplay, and Best Score. The Golden Globe Awards will be give on January 11th, 2015. Here’s the movie trailer, again:

Here’s the book’s synopsis…

The official book behind the film, THE IMITATION GAME. This is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications. 

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

HodgesA-AlanTuringTheEnigmaTIG-Blog

Andrew Hodges Event This Sunday at CalTech


At 2pm this Sunday, December 7th, Caltech University is hosting Andrew Hodges for a lecture about his critically-acclaimed book ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. The lecture will take place in the Baxter Lecture Hall. Seating is limited, so admittance will be purely on a first come first served basis. Tickets are $10 for Skeptics Society members and the JPL/Caltech community, $15 for nonmembers.

The lecture will be followed by a book signing, and the organisers of the event will have copies of the book available for purchase.

Andrew’s book has been much in the news recently (here and also mainstream media) because it is the inspiration behind the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring movie THE IMITATION GAME, which opened in US cinemas last week. Movie tie-in editions of the book were published last week by Vintage Books (UK), Princeton University Press (North America) and Michel Lafon (France/Quebec).

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THE IMITATION GAMES Opens in US Cinemas Today!


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THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA – the definitive biography of the genius mathematician who helped crack the Enigma Code during the war – opens today in North American cinemas.

The book, released this week in tie-in editions, is published by Vintage Books in the UK and Princeton University Press in the US. Here’s just a small selection of praise that the book has enjoyed…

‘A first-rate presentation of the life of a first-rate scientific mind… it is hard to imagine a more thoughtful and warm biography than this one.’ — New York Times Book Review

‘Andrew Hodges, in this fine biography… brings Turing the thinker and Turing the man alive for the reader and thus allows us all to share in the privilege of knowing him.’ Financial Times

‘One of the finest scientific biographies ever written.’ — New Yorker

‘Andrew Hodge’s book is of exemplary scholarship and sympathy. Intimate, perceptive and insightful, it’s also the most readable biography I’ve picked up in some time.’ — Time Out

‘This book stands the test of time. It is a labour of love… compelling.’ — Energy and Technology

‘This is not a book to be argued about. It is a book to be read.’ New Scientist

‘One of the finest scientific biographies I’ve ever read: authoritative, superbly researched, deeply sympathetic and beautifully told.’ — Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind

The movie has also been receiving rave reviews, as can be attested to with the image below…

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THE IMITATION GAME Opens today in UK Cinemas!


HodgesA-AlanTuringTheEnigmaTIG-Blog

THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA – the definitive biography of the genius mathematician who helped crack the Enigma Code during the war – opens today in UK cinemas!

The book, released this week in tie-in editions, is published by Vintage Books in the UK and Princeton University Press in the US. Here’s just a small selection of praise that the book has enjoyed…

‘Andrew Hodges, in this fine biography… brings Turing the thinker and Turing the man alive for the reader and thus allows us all to share in the privilege of knowing him.’ Financial Times

‘Life and work are both made enthralling by Hodges, himself a scientist.’ Sunday Times

‘Andrew Hodge’s book is of exemplary scholarship and sympathy. Intimate, perceptive and insightful, it’s also the most readable biography I’ve picked up in some time.’ — Time Out

‘Save your money for the forthcoming new edition of Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, regarded by many as one of the greatest biographies of anyone, let alone Turing.’ — BBC Focus Magazine

‘This is not a book to be argued about. It is a book to be read.’ New Scientist

Publication Week: Andrew Hodges’s THE ENIGMA/THE IMITATION GAME


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Today marks the US publication of THE IMITATION GAME tie-in edition of Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, and what turns out to be quite the Alan Turing week!

The US edition of the book is published by Princeton University Press. The UK edition, published by Vintage Books, follows this Thursday – the same day as the movie opens in British cinemas (it opens in the US on 28th November). Here’s the synopsis…

The official book behind the film, THE IMITATION GAME. This is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications. 

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

You can find out more about the movie by following its UK and US Twitter accounts. Check back tomorrow for more on Andrew Hodges’s book that inspired THE IMITATION GAME

Cover Reveal: Andrew Hodges’s THE IMITATION GAME Tie-In Editions


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We’ve already shared with you the trailer and early responses to Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, but now we can finally unveil the tie-in edition covers! Andrew’s book inspired the upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch-starring THE IMITATION GAME. Vintage Books (left) publishes the book in the UK and Princeton University Press publishes in the US. The tie-in editions are due to hit shelves in mid-November, around the time of the movie’s release in cinemas.

Here’s the synopsis…

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, this is the official film tie-in for The Imitation Game, a the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

This film tie-in tells the true story behind the nail-biting race against time following Alan Turing (pioneer of modern-day computing and credited with cracking the German Enigma code) and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British establishment, but his work and legacy live on.1954, aged 41, Alan Turing committed suicide and one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds was lost.

Below is the full cover wrap…

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And, finally, the latest trailer for the movie…

Upcoming TURING Event featuring Andrew Hodges


Hodges-Enigma-BlogOn August 17th, Andrew Hodges will give a talk on ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, his critically-acclaimed, definitive biography of the founder of computer science. The event will be held at Bletchley Park.

Here’s how the venue’s description of the event and Hodges’s work:

Hodges tells how Turing’s revolutionary idea of 1936–the concept of a universal machine–laid the foundation for the modern computer and how Turing brought the idea to practical realization in 1945 with his electronic design. How this work was directly related to Turing’s leading role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers during World War II, a scientific triumph that was critical to Allied victory in the Atlantic. At the same time, this is the tragic story of a man who, despite his wartime service, was eventually arrested and forced to undergo a humiliating treatment programme – all for trying to live honestly in a society that defined homosexuality as a crime.

After Andrew’s talk at 14.00, there will be a Q & A Session (15:00) and also a book signing after Tea & Cake.

Tickets for the day are £20 per person, which includes admission to Bletchley Park’s exhibitions and galleries (open from 9:30am). There is also a Bundle Ticket option, for £28, which includes a copy of the book. More information can be found here.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books, and in the US by Princeton University Press. It has also been translated for other markets. More information can be found on Hodges’s author page. The book is currently being adapted for a film, THE IMITATION GAME, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, due for release later this year. The book was also chosen by Michael Holroyd as part of a list of 50 ‘essential’ books in The Guardian.