Penetrating, sympathetic, poetic, this life by a fellow-mathematician was hailed as "one of the finest scientific biographies".

Along with a lucid exposition of Turing's achievements, Hodges reveals an amusing, honest man who saw no reason why he should hide his sexual orientation.

Despite his massive contribution to the war effort, Turing was found guilty of gross indecency in 1952 and subjected to a drug that produced "gynaecomastic response": he grew breasts.

This idiosyncratic genius ate the Socratic apple.