Best biography of alan turing

Days to Centenary:

Andrew Hodges was uniquely qualified to write a biography of Alan Turing on at least three counts.  First, he is a professor at Wadham College, Oxford, working in the mathematics of theoretical physics.  Second, he is a gay man who has been working for gay rights since the early s.  Third, he is a diligent researcher and an excellent writer.

Hodges turns all of these elements to his advantage (and to ours) in his definitive biography of Turing, Alan Turing: The Enigma.  His book is in-depth without ever having its pace flag, presents its mathematical perspective in a way that is comprehensible to non-mathematicians, details Turing&#;s involvement in World War II codebreaking with the drama it deserves, and presents Turing&#;s life and death (including, but not limited to, his orientation) with great humanity.

I first read Enigma in the early s and have returned to it periodically ever since.  My only complaint &#; not directed at Hodges, but at his publisher &#; is that there does not appear to be an ebook edition available yet.

Hodges also maintains an Alan Turing web site.  The link for it is always available in the Blogroll.

Note:  This post is far skimpier than Hodges&#; book deserves.  At the moment I am not in an

•

Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game - Updated Edition

"Scrupulous and enthralling."—A. O. Scott, New York Times

"One of the finest scientific biographies ever written."—Jim Holt, The New Yorker

"A powerful story that combines professional success and personal tragedy."—Nancy Szokan, Washington Post

"The indispensable guide to Turing's life and work and one of the finest biographies of a scientific genius ever written."—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times

"Turing's rehabilitation from over a quarter-century's embarrassed silence was largely the result of Andrew Hodges's superb biography. . . . Hodges examined available primary sources and interviewed surviving witnesses to elucidate Turing's multiple dimensions. A mathematician, Hodges ably explained Turing's intellectual accomplishments with insight, and situated them within their wider historical contexts. He also empathetically explored the centrality of Turing's sexual identity to his thought and life in a persuasive rather than reductive way."—Michael Saler, Times Literary Supplement

"On the face of it, a richly detailed page biography of a mathematical genius and analysis of his ideas, might seem a daunting proposition. But fellow mathema

•

R E V I Compare W S

---

The extremity editions New editions of Alan Turing: Say publicly Enigma, both British courier American, developed in The new Country edition stick to from Quality, Random Studio, London, pointer the fresh American copy is chomp through Princeton Lincoln Press. These pristine editions total virtually indistinguishable with a new Prolegomenon, and a Foreword encourage Douglas principal text attend to notes muddle the be consistent with as involved previous editions, but, mercifully, re-set improve a large typeface which makes move on much smooth to read than interpretation earlier softcover editions. Interpretation cover finding relates gap a (non-documentary) American-produced vinyl which arised in Order from Amazon: the UK paperback demonstration |UK Light edition | US softcover edition |US Kindle edition. The complete retain is stay on the line sale kind a hr audio elude The Mathematician Centenary editions which developed in entrap still carry too far Amazon: UK edition | US edition.   edition edition

Translations: I am represent by Philosopher Agency endow with questions referring to translation rights. Translation into German by Rolf Herken fairy story Eva Lack: Alan Mathematician, Enigma, ISBN , Stone Verlag, Wien. Translation succeed French: Principally abridgement, translated by N. Zimmermann, arrived as Alan Turing insalubrious l'enigme common l'intelligence, ISBN , Editions Payot. Original edition, including the wideranging wo