The American Black Chamber

The American Black Chamber is a 1931 book by Herbert O. Yardley. The book describes the inner workings of the interwar American governmental cryptography organization called the Black Chamber. The cryptography historian David Kahn called the book "the most famous book on cryptology ever published."[1] By describing the inner workings of the organization, the book created large interest public awareness of the United States's cryptographic abilities. In particular, the Japanese government became aware of the extent of experience the American government had with cryptography and increased the strength of their own knowledge in cryptography in response. Reviewers suggested the book may have cost the United States significantly in the Pacific theater against Japan in World War II.[2]

The American Black Chamber
AuthorHerbert O. Yardley
LanguageEnglish
PublisherThe Bobbs-Merrill Company
Publication date
1931
Pages375
OCLC5665835
940.4/8673
LC ClassD639.S7 Y3 1931

References
  1. Kahn, David (1967). The Codebreakers. p. 176. Yardley, in desperation, sat down to write what was to be the most famous book on cryptology ever published.
  2. Newton, David E. (1997). Encyclopedia of Cryptography. Santa Barbara California: Instructional Horizons, Inc. p. 12.


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