Code Name Purple

The thrilling true story of the unlikely American codebreakers, chiefly composed of civilians, Jews, and women, who cracked Japan's impenetrable communications with the Nazis and helped end World War II—from an award-winning historian

In 1937, Japanese engineers invented the Purple Machine, a cypher capable of scrambling a message more than 500 quadrillion ways. It was a near-perfect encryption device, used by Japan to communicate many of the Axis powers’ deepest secrets during World War II. Japanese intelligence believed Purple would remain secure for decades to come.

In 1940, a small, scrappy group of American codebreakers in Washington DC proved them wrong.

Code Name Purple is the story of the team of outsiders that broke Purple. For years, high-level codebreaking had been dominated by military men, but this group was largely recruited as civilians, coming from a myriad of backgrounds, faiths, and life experiences. Working in shabby, poorly insulated rooms, they accomplished one of the greatest codebreaking feats of all time—and in doing so, they helped defeat the Nazi regime that considered so many of them subhuman.

Based on thousands of pages of interviews, personal papers, and recently declassified archival documents, award-winning historian Amy Butler Greenfield brings these outsized characters to life, including William Friedman, the troubled Jewish genius who hand-picked the team, and Genevieve Grotjan, the brilliant young mathematician who would make the most crucial breakthrough.

Amy Butler Greenfield crafts a stunning narrative history, not only of their work, but of their lives—poker games, parties, arguments, anguish, friendships, romances, and their courage in peace and war. Set in an era when no one was sure if humans could keep up with machines, Code Name Purple is a rigorously reported and powerfully told story of frailty, resilience, and what it means to be human.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs