ORIGINAL CONTENT

In 1897, Sir Edward Elgar (a famous British composer) sent an encoded letter to Dora Penny, a young woman whose stepmother was friends with Elgar’s wife. She was unable to read it. Today this is known as the ‘Dorabella Cipher’, and it is recognised as one of the world’s most mysterious unbreakable codes.

Numerous people have tried to solve it. They have been drawn to the challenge it presents, or to speculation about what it could contain. All have failed and no solution has been accepted. Some believe that this cipher is too complex, and some suggest that it was designed to be meaningless.

This book unlocks the secrets of the Dorabella Cipher. It provides my explanation of how I broke Elgar’s cipher technique, what the letter contains and why he sent it. During this fascinating journey, it also explores the life of the recipient, surprise results, unexpected challenges, unexplained coincidences, and offers previously unknown insights into Elgar’s life.