This is an exciting and entertaining global investigation that explores the history and mystery of coded information and how it's been harnessed. The book includes a comprehensive survey of international codes explaining how codes and ciphers work, why they were invented and how they have been cracked. The book is highly illustrated with over 500 photographs and illustrations including visual galleries of graphic codes and in-depth analyses of secret communications. The result is a fascinating book whose scope covers everything from hieroglypics and naval pennants to stained glass windows and heraldic shields. Anyone who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code will be enthralled by this book.