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The Rohonc Code: Tracing a Historical Riddle…
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The Rohonc Code: Tracing a Historical Riddle (original 2011; edition 2021)

by Benedek Lang (Author)

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1111,753,485 (4.75)None
First discovered in a Hungarian library in 1838, the Rohonc Codex keeps privileged company with some of the most famous unsolved writing systems in the world, notably the Voynich manuscript, the Phaistos Disk, and Linear A. Written entirely in cipher, this 400-year-old, 450-page-long, richly illustrated manuscript initially gained considerable attention but was later dismissed as an apparent forgery. No serious scholar would study it again until the turn of the twenty-first century. This engaging narrative follows historian Benedek Láng's search to uncover the truth about this thoroughly mysterious book that has puzzled dozens of codebreakers. Láng surveys the fascinating theories associated with the Codex and discusses possible interpretations of the manuscript as a biblical commentary, an apocryphal gospel, or a secret book written for and by a sect. He provides an overview of the secret writing systems known in early modern times and an account of the numerous efforts to create an artificial language or to find a long-lost perfect tongue--endeavors that were especially popular at the time the Codex was made. Lastly, he tests several codebreaking methods in order to decipher the Codex, finally pointing to a possible solution to the enigma of its content and language system. Engagingly written, academically grounded, and thoroughly compelling, The Rohonc Code will appeal to historians, scholars, and lay readers interested in mysteries, codes, and ciphers.… (more)
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Title:The Rohonc Code: Tracing a Historical Riddle
Authors:Benedek Lang (Author)
Info:Penn State University Press (2021), Edition: 1, 176 pages
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The Rohonc Code: Tracing a Historical Riddle by Benedek Láng (2011)

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About the best introduction to the Rohonc Codex you are going to get. Though you can supplement it with some internet sites, like Nick Pelling's CipherMysteries. Láng is a credentialed scholar, but he writes in a easy-to-understand form. If you enjoy codebreaking and strange scripts, like the Voynich Manuscript, etc., then you will like this introduction. Láng gives the history of the codex, he describes it well, he talks about codemaking and codebreaking, he discusses various attempts to decipher the Rohonc Codex. But, since it is still undeciphered, he makes no final judgement on the matter. Though he has some general ideas. My only quibble is that there could and should be many more images from the codex directly in the text.

Thus a half point off: 4.5 out of 5 stars. ( )
  tuckerresearch | Feb 10, 2023 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Benedek Lángprimary authorall editionscalculated
Király, TeodóraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Palmer, NickTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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First discovered in a Hungarian library in 1838, the Rohonc Codex keeps privileged company with some of the most famous unsolved writing systems in the world, notably the Voynich manuscript, the Phaistos Disk, and Linear A. Written entirely in cipher, this 400-year-old, 450-page-long, richly illustrated manuscript initially gained considerable attention but was later dismissed as an apparent forgery. No serious scholar would study it again until the turn of the twenty-first century. This engaging narrative follows historian Benedek Láng's search to uncover the truth about this thoroughly mysterious book that has puzzled dozens of codebreakers. Láng surveys the fascinating theories associated with the Codex and discusses possible interpretations of the manuscript as a biblical commentary, an apocryphal gospel, or a secret book written for and by a sect. He provides an overview of the secret writing systems known in early modern times and an account of the numerous efforts to create an artificial language or to find a long-lost perfect tongue--endeavors that were especially popular at the time the Codex was made. Lastly, he tests several codebreaking methods in order to decipher the Codex, finally pointing to a possible solution to the enigma of its content and language system. Engagingly written, academically grounded, and thoroughly compelling, The Rohonc Code will appeal to historians, scholars, and lay readers interested in mysteries, codes, and ciphers.

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