Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's Story 1941-1945
Encyclopedia
Between Silk and Cyanide is the title of a book by former Special Operations Executive
(SOE) cryptographer Leo Marks
, describing his work during the Second World War. More fully, its title is Between Silk and Cyanide, The Story of SOE's Code War. It was published in 1998, by Harper Collins: ISBN 0-00-255944-7.
The title is derived from an incident related in the book, when Marks was asked why agents in occupied Europe should have their cryptographic material printed on silk (which was in very short supply). He summed his reply up by saying that it was "between silk and cyanide", meaning that it was a choice between the agent's surviving by making reliable coded radio transmissions with the help of the printed silk, and having to take a suicide pill. Unlike paper, which would be given away by rustling, silk would not be detected by a casual search if it was concealed in the lining of clothing.
His interest in cryptography dated from reading The Gold-Bug
as a child. His father Benjamin was a partner in the book shop, Marks & Co
at 84 Charing Cross Road
. As a boy, Leo had begun his code breaking with that used by his father, in noting the prices in his second-hand books.
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE) cryptographer Leo Marks
Leo Marks
Leopold Samuel Marks was an English cryptographer, screenwriter and playwright.-Early life:Born the son of an antiquarian bookseller in London, he was first introduced to cryptography when his father showed him a copy of Edgar Allan Poe's story, "The Gold-Bug"...
, describing his work during the Second World War. More fully, its title is Between Silk and Cyanide, The Story of SOE's Code War. It was published in 1998, by Harper Collins: ISBN 0-00-255944-7.
The title is derived from an incident related in the book, when Marks was asked why agents in occupied Europe should have their cryptographic material printed on silk (which was in very short supply). He summed his reply up by saying that it was "between silk and cyanide", meaning that it was a choice between the agent's surviving by making reliable coded radio transmissions with the help of the printed silk, and having to take a suicide pill. Unlike paper, which would be given away by rustling, silk would not be detected by a casual search if it was concealed in the lining of clothing.
His interest in cryptography dated from reading The Gold-Bug
The Gold-Bug
"The Gold-Bug" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the plot follows William Legrand, who was recently bitten by a gold-colored bug. His servant Jupiter fears him to be going insane and goes to Legrand's friend, an unnamed narrator who agrees to visit his...
as a child. His father Benjamin was a partner in the book shop, Marks & Co
Marks & Co
Marks & Co, also incorrectly referred to as "Marks & Company" or colloquially as "84", was a well-known antiquarian bookseller located at Cambridge Circus - 84, Charing Cross Road, London....
at 84 Charing Cross Road
Charing Cross Road
Charing Cross Road is a street in central London running immediately north of St Martin-in-the-Fields to St Giles Circus and then becomes Tottenham Court Road...
. As a boy, Leo had begun his code breaking with that used by his father, in noting the prices in his second-hand books.