Unlocking the Untold Story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman - The Genius Code Breaker Whose Life Remained a Mystery

Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a remarkable woman whose name was little known, played a crucial role in shaping history. Her outstanding code-breaking skills not only helped unravel encrypted secrets during World War II but also aided in putting an end to numerous criminal activities. Despite her brilliance and significant contributions to national security, Elizebeth's life has largely remained hidden from the public eye. Let's delve into the remarkable and enigmatic life of one of the world's greatest code breakers.

The Early Years

Born in 1892 in Huntington, Indiana, Elizebeth Smith grew up with a passion for languages and puzzles. Her love for deciphering secret messages began at an early age when she used to play cryptography games with her siblings.

Elizebeth's dedication to her passion led her to major in English literature at Hillsdale College. Little did she know that her linguistic skills would soon catapult her into the world of code-breaking.

The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life

by Amy Butler Greenfield (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	49885 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	317 pages
Paperback	:	278 pages
Item Weight	:	13.9 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.58 x 9.21 inches
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

Cracking the World of Code

Elizebeth's life took a remarkable turn when she was hired by George Fabyan, a millionaire who was fascinated by the idea that Francis Bacon, the English philosopher, had hidden secret messages within Shakespeare's plays. Tasked with proving this theory, Elizebeth and her future husband William Friedman, who would later become a renowned cryptologist, embarked on a journey that would shape their destiny.

Together, Elizebeth and William worked tirelessly, decrypting ciphers and unraveling codes. Their relentless efforts soon caught the attention of the U.S. government, and they were summoned by the Army Signal Corps during World War I to aid in decoding encrypted enemy messages.

Elizebeth's exceptional code-breaking skills became evident during this time. She successfully decrypted numerous messages intercepted from suspected German spies, providing valuable intelligence to the Allied forces. Her contributions were vital in maintaining the security and integrity of the United States during the war.

The Hidden Life

Despite her remarkable achievements and crucial role in national security, Elizebeth's wor

The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life

by Amy Butler Greenfield (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	49885 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	317 pages
Paperback	:	278 pages
Item Weight	:	13.9 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.58 x 9.21 inches
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

An inspiring true story, perfect for fans of Hidden Figures, about an American woman who pioneered codebreaking in WWI and WWII but was only recently recognized for her extraordinary contributions.

A YALSA EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FINALIST • A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Elizebeth Smith Friedman had a rare talent for spotting patterns and solving puzzles. These skills led her to become one of the top cryptanalysts in America during both World War I and World War II.
 
She originally came to code breaking through her love for Shakespeare when she was hired by an eccentric millionaire to prove that Shakespeare's plays had secret messages in them. Within a year, she had learned so much about code breaking that she was a star in the making. She went on to play a major role decoding messages during WWI and WWII and also for the Coast Guard's war against smugglers.
 
Elizebeth and her husband, William, became the top code-breaking team in the US, and she did it all at a time when most women weren't welcome in the workforce.

Amy Butler Greenfield is an award-winning historian and novelist who aims to shed light on this female pioneer of the STEM community.