EnigmaEnigma
Score Classic
What it's about
In England in 1943, the Allies have cracked much of the Nazi Enigma code, but Shark, the cipher used by German U-boats, is still unbroken and costing Allied ships. Brilliant mathematician Tom Jericho and a top-secret team race to break it.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a wartime thriller built around code-breaking.
You'll love it if you liked
Fatherland
Cryptonomicon
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdGood to know
There's some code-breaking detail, but no math is required.
By the numbers
- Readers49 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Robert Harris
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Quick answers
Is Enigma worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,155 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Enigma about?
In England in 1943, the Allies have cracked much of the Nazi Enigma code, but Shark, the cipher used by German U-boats, is still unbroken and costing Allied ships. Brilliant mathematician Tom Jericho and a top-secret team race to break it.
How long does it take to read Enigma?
About 10 hours (388 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Enigma?
If you liked it, try Fatherland by Robert Harris, Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson or The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré.