Enchantress Of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace

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New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini illuminates the fascinating life of Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace-Lord Byron's daughter, the world's first computer programmer, and a woman whose exceptional contributions to science and technology have been too long unsung. The only legitimate child of Lord Byron, the most brilliant, revered, and scandalous of the Romantic poets, Ada was destined for fame long before her birth. Estranged from Ada's father, who was infamously "mad, bad, and dangerous to know," Ada's mathematician mother is determined to save her only child from her perilous Byron heritage. Banishing fairy tales and make-believe from the nursery, Ada's mother provides her daughter with a rigorous education grounded in mathematics and science. Any troubling spark of imagination-or worse yet, passion or poetry-is promptly extinguished. Or so her mother believes. When Ada is introduced into London society as a highly eligible young heiress, she at last discovers the intellectual and social circles she has craved all her life. Little does she realize that her delightful new friendship with inventor Charles Babbage-brilliant, charming, and occasionally curmudgeonly-will shape her destiny. Intrigued by the prototype of his first calculating machine, the Difference Engine, and enthralled by the plans for his even more advanced Analytical Engine, Ada resolves to help Babbage realize his extraordinary vision, unique in her understanding of how his invention could transform the world. All the while, she passionately studies mathematics-ignoring skeptics who consider it an unusual, even unhealthy pursuit for a woman-falls in love, discovers the shocking secrets behind her parents' estrangement, and comes to terms with the unquenchable fire of her imagination. In Enchantress of Numbers, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini unveils the passions, dreams, and insatiable thirst for knowledge of a largely unheralded pioneer in computing-a young woman who stepped out of her father's shadow to achieve her own laurels and champion the new technology that would shape the future.

Reviews

Praise for Enchantress of Numbers

"[An] exquisite biographical novel...a quintessential example of the form...Wholeheartedly recommended for historical-fiction fans and STEM enthusiasts."--Booklist

"Cherished Reader, Should you come upon Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini...consider yourself quite fortunate indeed...Chiaverini makes a convincing case that Ada Byron King is a woman worth celebrating."--USA Today

"An enchanting story about one woman's struggle for intellectual recognition and independence."--People Magazine, Book of the Week

"[A] fascinating homage."--Real Simple

"While Lovelace may not have received the credit she was due in her own time-period, Chiaverini's novel stands as a fitting ode to one of the greatest women in the history of science."--Harper's Bazaar

"Chiaverini writes captivating stories of forgotten women in history, including that of the young math and science genius Ada Lovelace, responsible for writing the world's first-ever computer code...Chiaverini brings [Ada Lovelace] to life around you...Emotionally evocative and rich in detail, this historical novel will keep you enthralled until the very end."--Bustle

"You'll come away from this book wondering how many other pioneering women in science have been overlooked."--Bitch Media

[Enchantress of Numbers] is a fascinating look at how science and art do not stand at opposite ends of the spectrum, but rather--at their best--work together, and bring us toward a new, undreamed-of future."--Nylon

"Jennifer Chiaverini is a master of historical fiction, and her latest novel, Enchantress of Numbers, is no exception...You'll be glued to the page."--PopSugar

"Enchantress of Numbers tells the story of [Ada Lovelace's] fascinating (and too-short) life. Historical fiction STEM is the literary genre we never knew we needed."--HelloGiggles

"This fascinating portrait of Lord Byron's only legitimate child is not only a picture of a time and place, but of a woman struggling with her nature, passion and desire for learning. Chiaverini's novel, with its straightforward prose, is both inspirational, touching and memorable."--RT Book Reviews

"[An] enthralling historical novel."--Paste

"Chiaverini once again shows her considerable skill breathing life into historical figures that are too little known."--Shelf Awareness

"Fascinating."--The National Examiner

Author Bio

Jennifer Chiaverini is theNew York Timesbestselling author ofMrs. Lincoln'sDressmaker,Fates and Traitors, and other acclaimed works of historical fiction, aswell as the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She lives with her husband and two sonsin Madison, Wisconsin.