Congress's Cryptographer: A Novel of James Lovell and the American Revolution

In Congress's Cryptographer: A Novel of James Lovell and the American Revolution, Jean C. O'Connor highlights an extraordinary moment in US history.

The historical fiction novel, Congress's Cryptographer, based on primary source research, tells a true story of James Lovell's years in Congress during the American Revolution. A biographical portrait of a forgotten founding father, Lovell is our first Foreign Affairs Secretary, writing to Adams, Franklin, and other diplomats. In this inspirational story, James Lovell's previous prison experiences in British jails, both in Boston and Halifax, fuel his desire to help the American cause. He befriends Abigail and John Adams, and works with Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin, General Nathanael Greene, and General Washington. Knowledgeable in cipher and cryptography, he instructs diplomats in the use of his keyword cipher and breaks British code, an invaluable feat.

Decoding an intercepted letter penned by British General Cornwallis while surrounded by Americans and French at Yorktown, Lovell opens a window into the depleted state of the British army for American generals. The ups and downs of the Americans during the Revolutionary War, the struggles of the Continental Army and of Congress, make this enlightening war fiction. Images of James Lovell's cipher included Congress's Cryptographer offer a glimpse into the world of the American Revolution, where a spy, a code, or a secret could change everything.

James Lovell is honored in the 2023 inductees to the Cryptologic Hall of Honor at the National Security Agency for his work deciphering British code and for promoting cipher. He is called "Congress's one-man NSA for the Revolution."

From the author of The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution (Knox Press, 2021)