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Alan Turing

Dermot Turing

201532 pagesabout 30–45 minutes
2015
first published
  • 2015History Press Limited, The · ENGISBN 9780750965248
  • 2015Pitkin Publishing · 319 pages · ENGISBN 9781841656434
  • 2016History Press Limited, The · ENGISBN 9781841656601
  • 2019Pavilion Books · 32 pages · ENGISBN 9781841658773
  • 2021History Press Limited, The · ENGISBN 9780750998673
  • 2021History Press Limited, The · ENGISBN 9780750999243
  • 2017Pitkin · 36 pagesISBN 9781841657561

**Following hot on the heels of The Imitation Game, this is the first modern biography of Alan Turing by a member of the family—Alan’s nephew, Sir Dermot Turing.** Alan Turing was an extraordinary man who crammed into a life of only 42 years the careers of mathematician, codebreaker, computer scientist, and biologist. He is widely regarded as a war hero grossly mistreated by his unappreciative country and it has become hard to disentangle the real man from the story. It is easy to cast him as a misfit, the stereotypical professor. But actually Alan Turing was never a professor, and his nickname "Prof" was given by his codebreaking friends at Bletchley Park. Now, Alan Turing’s nephew, Dermot Turing, has taken a fresh look at the influences on Alan Turing’s life and creativity, and the later creation of a legend. Dermot’s vibrant and entertaining approach to the life and work of a true genius makes this a fascinating read. This unique family perspective features insights from secret documents only recently released to the UK National Archives and other sources not tapped by previous biographers, looks into the truth behind Alan’s conviction for gross indecency, and includes previously unpublished photographs from the Turing family album.

Worth knowing

ViolenceFrequent

When and where

ThemesWar

Content notes

  • Warmoderateunreviewed
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