The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography From the best-selling author of Fermats Last Theorem The Code Book is a history of mans urge to uncover the secrets of codes from Egyptian puzzles to modern day computer encryptions. As in Fermats Last Theorem Simon Singh brings life to an anstonishing story of puzzles codes languages & riddles that reveals mans continual pursuit to disguise & uncover & to work out the secret languages of others. Codes have influenced events throughout history both in the stories of those who make them & those who break them. The betrayal of Mary Queen of Scots & the cracking of the enigma code that helped the Allies in World War II are major episodes in a continuing history of cryptography. In addition to stories of intrigue & warfare Simon Singh also investigates other codes the unravelling of genes & the rediscovery of ancient languages & most tantalisingly the Beale ciphers an unbroken code that could hold the key to a $20 million treasure.