Code Name Purple

The thrilling true story of the unlikely American codebreakers who cracked Japan’s top cipher machine, eavesdropped on Hitler, and helped win World War II.

In 1937, Japanese engineers invented Purple, a cipher machine capable of scrambling a message more than 500 quadrillion ways. It encrypted many of the Axis powers’ deepest secrets, including crucial conversations with Hitler and his inner circle. Because the machine was so advanced, Japanese leaders believed it was perfectly secure.

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

Sweeping from the Great Depression through to the final victories of World War II, Code Name Purple tells the riveting story of the outsiders who broke Purple. Mostly civilians, they came from a myriad of backgrounds, faiths, and life experiences. Many were women, Jewish, or disabled. Working in shabby rooms on a shoestring budget, they accomplished one of the greatest codebreaking feats of all time. Their work helped defeat the Axis powers, including the Nazi regime that considered so many of them subhuman.

Drawing on thousands of pages of interviews, personal papers, and recently declassified documents, award-winning historian Amy Butler Greenfield brings these outsized characters to life. Among them are William Friedman, an enigmatic genius who risked his sanity to solve Purple; John Hurt, an ailing language whiz who worked from a bed in a secret vault; Genevieve Grotjan, a shy mathematician who made a brilliant breakthrough; and Leo Rosen, a young engineer who braved the journey to Britain’s Bletchley Park, where a secret Purple-Enigma exchange supercharged Allied codebreaking.

This enthralling narrative history captures not only the team’s work, but their lives—their parties, arguments, anguish, friendships, romances, and courage in peace and war. Set in an era when no one knew if people could keep up with machines, Code Name Purple is a powerful story of challenge, 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