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The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes: The Story of George Scovell
In 1812 two mighty armies manoeuvred across the Spanish plains. They were finely balanced, under skilful leaders. Each struggled to gain an advantage. Wellington knew that if he defeated the French, he could turn the tide of the war. Good intelligence was paramount, but the French were using a code of unrivalled complexity - the 'Great Paris Cipher'. It was an unprecedented challenge, and Wellington looked to one man to break the code: Major George Scovell. Using a network of Spanish guerrillas, Scovell amassed a stack of coded French messages, and set to work decrypting them.
As a man of low birth, Scovell - even with his genius for languages, and bravery on a dozen battlefields - struggled for advancement amongst Wellington's inner circle of wealthier, better connected officers. Mark Urban draws on a wealth of original sources, including many cyphers and code-tables, to restore Scovell to his rightful place in history as the man who was the brains behind the intelligence battle against Napoleon's army and a forerunner of the great code-breakers of the 20th Century.
As a man of low birth, Scovell - even with his genius for languages, and bravery on a dozen battlefields - struggled for advancement amongst Wellington's inner circle of wealthier, better connected officers. Mark Urban draws on a wealth of original sources, including many cyphers and code-tables, to restore Scovell to his rightful place in history as the man who was the brains behind the intelligence battle against Napoleon's army and a forerunner of the great code-breakers of the 20th Century.
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First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Mark Urban
29 books75 followersMark Urban is a British journalist, author and broadcaster, and is currently the Diplomatic Editor for BBC Two's Newsnight.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 22, 2016
Mark Urban has added another great book to the many titles competing to be placed in a Napoleonic library. This book; The Man Who Broken Napoleon's Codes, covers a little known and written of subject, the story of George Scovell. This man had as much to do with the British victories in Spain as did Wellington although you would not know it if you read any previous accounts of the Peninsular War.
George Scovell helped break the French Imperial codes and provided much useful intelligence to Wellington in his campaigns against the French armies. But since Scovell was of low birth he struggled for advancement. He showed his bravery on a number of battlefields but was almost always forgotten when it came to promotion, being passed over by younger men of more distinguished birth.
I must admit that I was a bit dubious when I started reading this book as I usually find accounts on code breaking and intelligence quite dull and boring however this book reads like a novel. Full of information with a narrative that races along, it was a great story and full of action. The book covers all the major campaigns and battles in the Peninsular and was a joy to read. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who loves reading about the Napoleonic period.
George Scovell helped break the French Imperial codes and provided much useful intelligence to Wellington in his campaigns against the French armies. But since Scovell was of low birth he struggled for advancement. He showed his bravery on a number of battlefields but was almost always forgotten when it came to promotion, being passed over by younger men of more distinguished birth.
I must admit that I was a bit dubious when I started reading this book as I usually find accounts on code breaking and intelligence quite dull and boring however this book reads like a novel. Full of information with a narrative that races along, it was a great story and full of action. The book covers all the major campaigns and battles in the Peninsular and was a joy to read. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone who loves reading about the Napoleonic period.
June 11, 2015
Urban has rescued from near oblivion one of the most important men for Britain's winning the Peninsular War. Unfortunately for this man, George Scovell, he was not a member of the aristocracy and so, as apparently was typical for aristocrats such as Wellington, his achievement was not acknowledged either at the time or later to the general public and to the army bureaucracy. In fact, when asked about how the code was broken, some years later, Wellington did not mention Scovell at all but intimated he and others at his headquarters worked on it and puzzled it out.
Scovell's breaking of the code, which the French generals and ruler never realized had happened, was one of the most significant events that enabled Wellington to conclude his military operations in the Peninsula and drive the French out of Spain. Whether he would have been able to do had the code not been broken we can never know, but inside of some 18 months after the breaking of the code the French were on the run. Knowledge of the code gave knowledge of French maneuvers, political rivalries and dissentions, troop strength, etc., which enabled Wellington to plan his strategy and attack on his own choosing.
How the code worked is clearly explained; Durban also gives insights to what life was like in Wellington's army at the time and also gives due praise (which is often neglected by other authors) to the Spanish irregular forces that helped weaken the French troops and also supply the coded messages to Wellington. This book changed greatly my idea of Wellington; nonetheless like all of us his views and prejudices were formed by his society and we must ask ourselves what important things are our views and prejudices blinding us to.
if you are interested in the Peninsular War or the history of the British army or of coding used in war and in politics this is an important book to read for Scovell brought decipherment forward into modern methods. A brilliant, painstaking man and fluent in several languages he should be better known for his work.
Scovell's breaking of the code, which the French generals and ruler never realized had happened, was one of the most significant events that enabled Wellington to conclude his military operations in the Peninsula and drive the French out of Spain. Whether he would have been able to do had the code not been broken we can never know, but inside of some 18 months after the breaking of the code the French were on the run. Knowledge of the code gave knowledge of French maneuvers, political rivalries and dissentions, troop strength, etc., which enabled Wellington to plan his strategy and attack on his own choosing.
How the code worked is clearly explained; Durban also gives insights to what life was like in Wellington's army at the time and also gives due praise (which is often neglected by other authors) to the Spanish irregular forces that helped weaken the French troops and also supply the coded messages to Wellington. This book changed greatly my idea of Wellington; nonetheless like all of us his views and prejudices were formed by his society and we must ask ourselves what important things are our views and prejudices blinding us to.
if you are interested in the Peninsular War or the history of the British army or of coding used in war and in politics this is an important book to read for Scovell brought decipherment forward into modern methods. A brilliant, painstaking man and fluent in several languages he should be better known for his work.
December 30, 2024
Mark Urban’s book about a British staff officer breaking Napoleon’s (well - at least his diplomatic corps’) Great Paris Cipher is an intimate study of codebreaker’s battle against the cipher, as well as a broader analysis of the Peninsular War itself.
Urban is clinical in his research yet writes in a narrative style which makes for an enjoyable retelling of this obscure element of the Peninsular War. It is amazing that Scovell survived continuous service from Corunna to Waterloo, without a break or serious injury. There is also interesting insight into the character of the Duke of Wellington when dealing with one of his most loyal staff officers (Scovell), but certainly not one of his ‘boys’; the aristocrat group of staff officers surrounding Wellington, which Scovell was definitely not coming from a working-class background.
This is a highly satisfying read on two-levels. One, being the deep examination of those that work tirelessly behind the scenes without recognition during war. Two, a flowing general history of the Peninsular War. Well worth the purchase price, whatever that may have been.
Urban is clinical in his research yet writes in a narrative style which makes for an enjoyable retelling of this obscure element of the Peninsular War. It is amazing that Scovell survived continuous service from Corunna to Waterloo, without a break or serious injury. There is also interesting insight into the character of the Duke of Wellington when dealing with one of his most loyal staff officers (Scovell), but certainly not one of his ‘boys’; the aristocrat group of staff officers surrounding Wellington, which Scovell was definitely not coming from a working-class background.
This is a highly satisfying read on two-levels. One, being the deep examination of those that work tirelessly behind the scenes without recognition during war. Two, a flowing general history of the Peninsular War. Well worth the purchase price, whatever that may have been.
March 4, 2021
It's amazing how many people seem to have left journals covering the Peninsula campaigns (I suppose there were fifty thousand or so of them out there, a decent percentage of whom were literate), but this codebreaking story is material I genuinely haven't come across before. The author comes across as perhaps somewhat partisan towards his overlooked and neglected protagonist (was he really frustrated and heartbroken by being forbidden to turn the Army college into a radical reforming institution in old age, or had he just settled down to enjoy the fruits of a well-earned sinecure once he had achieved sufficient seniority, as his contemporaries considered to be their right?), but Scovell is definitely an intriguing character, and the details of how the codes were broken pitched at just about the right level to be interesting without becoming tedious.
It's a well-written summary of the Peninsula campaigns into the bargain, with - thanks to the focus on enemy despatches - a lot more background than usual as to what was going on on the Napoleonic side as well.
It's a well-written summary of the Peninsula campaigns into the bargain, with - thanks to the focus on enemy despatches - a lot more background than usual as to what was going on on the Napoleonic side as well.
October 15, 2018
Major Scovell was a humble officer in the British army headed for obscurity until he found himself in the Iberian Peninsular in Wellington’s army fighting the French. His abilities as an organiser and capacity for hard work led to him being a part of Wellington’s staff. But his coup de main was being in the right place to be given the task of making sense of the encrypted messages brought in to the British by Spanish and Portuguese guerillas. Scovell excelled at unravelling these notes and he developed his skills, keeping pace with the growing sophistication of the French ciphers.
The book is an exciting read and it explains how Wellington was able to outwit Marshall Marmont at Salamanca in a way that makes it obvious that his brilliant generalship owed quite a lot to Scovell’s work.
The book also highlights Wellington’s class snobbery, and the rigid hierarchy of British society at that time.
Some of the reviews I’ve read of this book claim that the details about the code breaking are diasappointing. I, however, found that there was plenty of detail, along with enough personal information about Scovell to make it easy to identify with him. Although he owed his career to Wellington his journals never speak of him with any fondness. Wellington was, to him, just his boss. And Scovell seemed to matter very little to Wellington.
I like Mark Urban’s style. All the books 0f his that I’ve read are able to bring their stories to life. This one does that too.
The book is an exciting read and it explains how Wellington was able to outwit Marshall Marmont at Salamanca in a way that makes it obvious that his brilliant generalship owed quite a lot to Scovell’s work.
The book also highlights Wellington’s class snobbery, and the rigid hierarchy of British society at that time.
Some of the reviews I’ve read of this book claim that the details about the code breaking are diasappointing. I, however, found that there was plenty of detail, along with enough personal information about Scovell to make it easy to identify with him. Although he owed his career to Wellington his journals never speak of him with any fondness. Wellington was, to him, just his boss. And Scovell seemed to matter very little to Wellington.
I like Mark Urban’s style. All the books 0f his that I’ve read are able to bring their stories to life. This one does that too.
September 17, 2023
Loved this book. Read on holiday to Northern Spain - very exciting and George Scovell was a brilliant man. This is his story but he was at the heart of so much of the Peninsula War. Really vivid if sometimes slightly confusing (would have appreciated a few more maps and perhaps a wider list of officers at the start rather than the end of the book).
George Scovell goes about everything he does with imagination, a sharp mind and a keen interest. When he sees a better way for things to be - he makes it happen whenever he can - reforming army communications, blacksmithing, spying, intelligence, code breaking, even military policing.
Even during the years he spent (and possibly felt he would never move on from) as a lowly Deputy Assistant Quartermaster he is constantly interested in everything he encounters, he has a thirst for understanding and a tidy mind - sketching and learning Royal Naval flag signals for example. And over time the unique combination of traits - together with a real strength of character and boldness in the heat of battle - that this man has makes a critical difference and a unique contribution to the history of Europe!
(And oh, my gosh, I was sooooooo hot in Spain even in September - I cannot imagine the poor soldiers in their redcoats! I have spent ages googling fortresses and plains, citadels and mountain passes and imagining how it was trying to fight (or strategise against) Napoleon’s armies in such a country)
George Scovell goes about everything he does with imagination, a sharp mind and a keen interest. When he sees a better way for things to be - he makes it happen whenever he can - reforming army communications, blacksmithing, spying, intelligence, code breaking, even military policing.
Even during the years he spent (and possibly felt he would never move on from) as a lowly Deputy Assistant Quartermaster he is constantly interested in everything he encounters, he has a thirst for understanding and a tidy mind - sketching and learning Royal Naval flag signals for example. And over time the unique combination of traits - together with a real strength of character and boldness in the heat of battle - that this man has makes a critical difference and a unique contribution to the history of Europe!
(And oh, my gosh, I was sooooooo hot in Spain even in September - I cannot imagine the poor soldiers in their redcoats! I have spent ages googling fortresses and plains, citadels and mountain passes and imagining how it was trying to fight (or strategise against) Napoleon’s armies in such a country)
November 28, 2023
I really enjoyed it. In my edition the maps are few and a bit naff but otherwise it was a good book.
I think I expected a more in depth explanation on how the codes were cracked, and I expected those codes to be more in the direction of our current encryption techniques. It turns out that at the time they weren't much more than number/word replacements which makes sense when you consider that these things were sometimes transcribed by hand, on horseback, with metal in the air. Certainly encoding and not encryption. That I got something other than what I was expecting doesn't bother me, nor does it detract from the book. The book is definitely "The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes", and not "How The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes Did What He Did" (though it is explained).
Also, Wellington is not a demi-god. Which was nice.
Recommended!
I think I expected a more in depth explanation on how the codes were cracked, and I expected those codes to be more in the direction of our current encryption techniques. It turns out that at the time they weren't much more than number/word replacements which makes sense when you consider that these things were sometimes transcribed by hand, on horseback, with metal in the air. Certainly encoding and not encryption. That I got something other than what I was expecting doesn't bother me, nor does it detract from the book. The book is definitely "The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes", and not "How The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes Did What He Did" (though it is explained).
Also, Wellington is not a demi-god. Which was nice.
Recommended!
November 26, 2024
Simultaneously, covers the British battles in Spain against Napoleon's Army, and then intertwines the story of the person responsible for breaking Napoleons codes.
Like WW2, being able to read the enemy's secret messages helped Wellington immensely, and allowed him to eventually route Napoleon's army out of Spain.
I had never read much on this conflict, so the period and battles were interesting new info to me.
And the ending following the main protagonist though the post war years once again illustrates, at least in that England, it's not how smart or hard working you are, but what family you were born to, and what connections you have....
Like WW2, being able to read the enemy's secret messages helped Wellington immensely, and allowed him to eventually route Napoleon's army out of Spain.
I had never read much on this conflict, so the period and battles were interesting new info to me.
And the ending following the main protagonist though the post war years once again illustrates, at least in that England, it's not how smart or hard working you are, but what family you were born to, and what connections you have....
December 30, 2018
This was an absolute gem of a book! I bought it, heavily discounted Kindle edition, through Amazon which had a price drop and found it terrific overall. Urban, in incisive, gripping writing, tells the story of unsung (until now) Napoleonic era hero George Scovell against the backdrop of Wellington's peninsular campaign -- or is it the other way around? The coda about Waterloo is especially telling.
My own suggestion for improvement would be more maps of force deployments and respective areas of control of the Iberian Peninsula.
My own suggestion for improvement would be more maps of force deployments and respective areas of control of the Iberian Peninsula.
February 7, 2024
Well written, Scovell is a tertiary character in story
This book was interesting and a good summary of British campaign in Portugal and Spain against Napoleons generals. But there was not much focus on Scovell and his work during the campaign.; it was a very minor part of most chapters after describing troop movements and positioning. I was interested enough to finish and I think it was worthwhile but the title was misleading.
This book was interesting and a good summary of British campaign in Portugal and Spain against Napoleons generals. But there was not much focus on Scovell and his work during the campaign.; it was a very minor part of most chapters after describing troop movements and positioning. I was interested enough to finish and I think it was worthwhile but the title was misleading.
July 24, 2017
More exciting than you think
Who knew that the life of a Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General could be so exciting? No sitting behind a desk for George Scovell, he took an active role in the Peninsular War.
The book also gives a slightly different view of the Duke of Wellington himself from that generally held, including by myself until now.
Who knew that the life of a Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General could be so exciting? No sitting behind a desk for George Scovell, he took an active role in the Peninsular War.
The book also gives a slightly different view of the Duke of Wellington himself from that generally held, including by myself until now.
June 5, 2018
Title really should be - Man who served in British Army, and didn't progress because he wasn't well born. Because that's what the author spends a lot of time on.
This adds some interesting info to the story of the Peninsula Wars, especially about the use of spying, interception of messages, and encryption. But not enough to keep me engaged for an entire book.
This adds some interesting info to the story of the Peninsula Wars, especially about the use of spying, interception of messages, and encryption. But not enough to keep me engaged for an entire book.
December 24, 2018
This is an excellent book about a low-class British Army officer struggling against the incompetence of aristocratic officers more concerned with social standing than military success. George Scovell was instrumental in the Duke of Wellington's victories during the peninsular wars against Napoleon, but he was destined to obscurity.
January 2, 2021
It’s a long time since I read this book, but I remember being torn by it. On the one hand the concept and the man himself was intriguing (not really seen again for a hundred years or so) but on the other hand it was a bit heavy going being quite dry in places. Worth persevering for an under-reported part of the war.
May 11, 2021
Readable and interesting, but I was disappointed that the book didn't contain a full set of codes for the grand chiffre. I think the author has a clear case that Scovell's codebreaking changed military tactics, but I would recommend this book to those interested in history rather than to anyone interested in codebreaking.
June 3, 2021
Prequel to the Ultra Secret
History of how British Army code breaker was the key to Wellington's victories in the Peninsula War against Napolean's Armies in Portugal and Spain. Just as in World War II, initially unsung code breakers made their generals look really good, in fact much better than they actuality were.
History of how British Army code breaker was the key to Wellington's victories in the Peninsula War against Napolean's Armies in Portugal and Spain. Just as in World War II, initially unsung code breakers made their generals look really good, in fact much better than they actuality were.
September 22, 2017
Strikes the usual problem of whether/how to tell the whole Peninsular war story as part of this specialist subject. Does not get this part right and loses its way with Scovell which is actually the interesting bit
September 21, 2021
Interesting read. Very detailed. Comprehensive sources. Revelation of the code was a slow process. Spanish guerillas were quite helpful in capturing documents. Scovell certainly outdid the London decoders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2023
An excellent read of an exceptional soldier who helped Wellington end the French occupation of Spain. George Scovell become top notch office and an expert in decipherment during the was
A good read
A good read
February 10, 2023
Don't bother reading this book. There are little details about code breaking. When there is, it was written in disjointed way. Truely disappointing.
August 18, 2025
Great read. Very insightful about a period I realised I knew very very little about
February 27, 2017
For me, this was two and a half stars. The book is well researched and would be great for historians of those Napoleonic wars fought in Spain.
I went into the book interested in coding, what type of person goes into such a field, how was coding and decoding set up before computers, etc. Who was the man who broke the code and why was it an unusual challenge?
I found myself reading long, detailed accounts of troop maneuvers, leadership decisions, and battle details. Large sections continued with minor mention of Scovell, (the man who broke Napoleon's code).
The section I enjoyed the most involved the longest section about Scovell and how, after the war, he eventually gained credit for his work.
Again, if you love wars of this time period, I'm sure you would find the book more fascinating.
I went into the book interested in coding, what type of person goes into such a field, how was coding and decoding set up before computers, etc. Who was the man who broke the code and why was it an unusual challenge?
I found myself reading long, detailed accounts of troop maneuvers, leadership decisions, and battle details. Large sections continued with minor mention of Scovell, (the man who broke Napoleon's code).
The section I enjoyed the most involved the longest section about Scovell and how, after the war, he eventually gained credit for his work.
Again, if you love wars of this time period, I'm sure you would find the book more fascinating.
April 1, 2016
This book was fascinating! I bought it because I like history and as we’ve all heard about the code breakers of Bletchley Park in WWII, I thought it might be interesting (and easier to follow) to learn about similar things from earlier days, and it did prove to be interesting and gave an insight into how and why it is so important to intercept and decipher your enemies’ messages in war. But the book was much more than that. It was a really good and well written overview of the Peninsular War and for someone with only a sketchy understanding of it previously, I found it invaluable. It was well written and unlike some histories, the characters and events were brought to life from the pages and reading it wasn’t just about learning facts, it opening up a much deeper picture of the age and the people in it. Wellington for example wasn’t perhaps the greatest military general we perhaps think him of, and while I knew he was and old aristocratic Tory, I didn’t realise what a huge snob he actually was, to the extent that he jeopardised military matters by preferring incompetent generals from propertied families rather than intelligent and capable ones who had no ties to property. Highly recommended, I will be reading more from Mark Urban and a lot more about this particular period of history.
November 5, 2013
I read the book thinking it would tell me about the man who broke Napoleon's codes. That it did. But most of the book was a history-geek narration of the wellington vs french battles in spain, battle by battle, character by character, who said what to who in London Salons about whoever's reputation. Seriously I finally was able to put together that whole Wellington Napoleon story. And the author did go into details about the code breaking which was pretty cool - and impressive! The thing was to keep it from the french that Scovell had broken their codes. I was amazed how simple the first round of codes were, reminded me of codes I wrote as a kid.
Anyways, if you want to read a book about code breaking, start about half way through the book, skip all the battle chapters, and you will learn a lot about the code breaking. Or if you want the details of all the battles, read this book. But don't expect the whole book to be about code breaking.
Anyways, if you want to read a book about code breaking, start about half way through the book, skip all the battle chapters, and you will learn a lot about the code breaking. Or if you want the details of all the battles, read this book. But don't expect the whole book to be about code breaking.
October 27, 2011
I associate mark Urban with incisive and thoughtful journalism. This book is a logical extension of the same. Without intelligence about your opponents activities, success becomes less likely. Spies are required but the use of coded material will help keep your opponent guessing. Mary, Queen of Scots, was alleged to use five separate ciphers and the cracking of the Enigma Code in the Second World war left the German military orders open to interpretation. Cryptography became increasingly crucial as a branch of warfare - crack the enemy's codes whilst making yours uncrackable. In the Napoleonic War in Portugal and Spain, Napoleon was using a very complx code that one man managed to unravel. This fascinating book looks at the man and his impact on the war that his activities generated. Beautifully written and informative, it reads like a pacy thriller
October 21, 2014
Another book I bought purely for research. The subject of this book, George Scovell, whas Wellington's Code Breaker, and I unashamedly borrowed his career for one of my heroes. This is an easy read, and it focuses not only on Scovel's remarkable career, but it gives you very good context of all of Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsular Wars, if you're interested in a general introduction.
My only gripe with this is that actually, there's a lot of context because I think the author struggled to make Scovel's particular career into an entire book. Maybe it was just me, but it felt like he was scrabbling a wee bit for material at times.
But, it delivered what it promised, and it was perfect for me. And if you're interested in that rare thing, a man who rose up the ranks in Wellington's army, then Scovel is your man.
My only gripe with this is that actually, there's a lot of context because I think the author struggled to make Scovel's particular career into an entire book. Maybe it was just me, but it felt like he was scrabbling a wee bit for material at times.
But, it delivered what it promised, and it was perfect for me. And if you're interested in that rare thing, a man who rose up the ranks in Wellington's army, then Scovel is your man.
March 25, 2016
Scoville, "the man," was very talented in language and solving problems. I am so glad his diaries were finally explored and being discussed in history. To figure out a code of such complexity AND in his spare time, sometimes sitting on horseback, between marching/fighting is pretty amazing. Interesting that he began the first 'military police' group there in Iberia to keep the soldiers in line. I had read, in the past, that Wellington was overly partial to his "titled" officers/aides, but I had no idea that he cared so little for the soldiers who did so much to help him win his battles when they had no title or family name. Hope more people can find out about this exceptional man, even if it is 200 years too late for him. Excellent description of Napoleon's command of his army--never ceased to be astounded at the extent of his ego.
July 10, 2012
7/10
In one sense this is an odd mixture of a book - it gives only a sketchy bio of the title character and the codes & ciphers content is miniscule (somewhat justified by the fact that only 3 or so different schemes were employed).
But what it does do is undermine to some extent the myth of Wellington's brilliant generalship. Always known as a cautious general here it is shown that his great successful offensive battles of the Peninsular War (Salamanca & Vitorio) were only fought by Wellington because he knew the dispositions and condition of the opposition in advance from access to their ciphers.
It lacks the narrative pace of the author's fine 'Fusileers' but is a rewarding read though perseverance is called for.
In one sense this is an odd mixture of a book - it gives only a sketchy bio of the title character and the codes & ciphers content is miniscule (somewhat justified by the fact that only 3 or so different schemes were employed).
But what it does do is undermine to some extent the myth of Wellington's brilliant generalship. Always known as a cautious general here it is shown that his great successful offensive battles of the Peninsular War (Salamanca & Vitorio) were only fought by Wellington because he knew the dispositions and condition of the opposition in advance from access to their ciphers.
It lacks the narrative pace of the author's fine 'Fusileers' but is a rewarding read though perseverance is called for.
October 5, 2012
A random walk through my online library brought me to this interesting book. I found the story absorbing, but requiring a fleshing out through prior reading about the Napoleonic Wars. My interest in this particular book was fueled by my reading and re-reading of Bernard Cornwell's "Richard Sharpe" series which concerns a soldier fighting in the Napoleonic wars. Cornwell's stories even include a character resembling George Scovell., "The Man" in the story. Scovell is an intriguing character, a capable professional soldier who can be heroic when the situation demands. Some of the codes he was breaking were quite complicated where solutions could only be achieved through the application of logical methods to gathered intelligence. And all without computers.
May 25, 2009
Journalist Mark Urban highlights the work of George Scoville, an Assistant Quartermaster-General serving Wellington in the Peninsular War. Scoville was a brilliant linguist and logician, and successfully deciphered encrypted French dispatches delivered to British forces by Spanish guerrillas. Although the evidence is equivocal, Urban provides a reasonable argument that Scoville's insights influenced Wellington's course of action, especially before Salamanca. This highlighting of Scovell's contribution to the war is exciting, and the book is well-written and enjoyable, providing a potted history of the Peninsular War along the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews