Enigma - Robert Harris

I am reviewing Enigma by Robert Harris. A story surrounding the Enigma decoding machine and the heroic efforts of the resident of Bletchley Park during the second world war. BACKGROUND. ============== For anyone who has not heard of the Enigma machine, it was a device that was used to decode radio transmissions sent by the German navy. In the most basic terms, it was a typewriter that was designed to type each letter differently to the key actually pressed. So an a would become k, or an h would become e and so on. The brilliant minds at Bletchley were able to crack five of the six codes, as they were typed on a standard 3 rotor ...  Read the complete review

This book is fantastic. Not only does it have a thrilling story to tell, it also manages to describe the hardships of wartime living whilst bringing to life a range of diverse characters. The story tells of Tom Jericho, a highly gifted man who is recruited to work at Bletchley Park to help break the German Enigma code during the Second World War. There is also an element of romance to this story as Tom is in love with Claire Romily, a fellow codebreaker, who suddenly disappears after apparently stealing some important information. Tom sets about trying to find Claire and clear her name whilst also working on cracking a new and improved German code. ...  Read the complete review

I borrowed this book from a friend, who like me, was inspired to discover more about the whole Enigma story. This is the first and only book I have read by this author, and it has inspired me to read more by Harris. The book is well written and although not perfectly historically correct, it seems to capture the mood and feelings amongst the heroes of Bletchley Park. Alongside the historical interest of the subject matter, there is a very human side to the book - the lead character has love interest, and there is much about the personalities of the various lead characters. For me, this is important in visualising the story and making reading ...  Read the complete review

This is Robert Harris' second novel, and is set in Bletchley Park, the centre of British codebreaking in WW II. Harris excels at authentic detail, with just enough descriptive detail to allow one to imagine a scene, but not so much as too slow down the plot. The background of the attempts of a disparate group of mathematics teachers and others to crack the codes used to control german submarines adds a further level of interest. As for the main story, Harris will keep you guessing. This book is perhaps not as strong as Fatherland but is nevertheless a very enjoyable read. If you have enjoyed Fatherland or Archangel you will certainly enjoy Enigma. If you ...  Read the complete review

Robert Harris' novel Enigma tells of the work of the Allied codebreakers in the second world war. Written in a clear and confident style, the novel explains the nature of this essential work without confusing the reader with too many technical terms. The plot is based around the disappearance of the former lover of the central character. Who was she, where has she gone and, most importantly, what side was she on? The twists and turns of the plot keep the reader guessing throughout whilst Harris never loses his grip on the bleak setting of the novel. The tension is maintained throughout, leaving the reader feeling as confused and determined to find the truth as ...  Read the complete review