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James Essinger

Ada's Algorithm: How Lord Byron's Daughter Ada Lovelace Launched the Digital Age Hardcover – October 14, 2014

by James Essinger (Author)

(4.0) 131 ratings

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“[Ada Lovelace], like Steve Jobs, stands at the intersection of arts and technology."—Walter Isaacson, author of The Innovators

Over 150 years after her death, a widely-used scientific computer program was named “Ada,” after Ada Lovelace, the only legitimate daughter of the eighteenth century’s version of a rock star, Lord Byron. Why?

Because, after computer pioneers such as Alan Turing began to rediscover her, it slowly became apparent that she had been a key but overlooked figure in the invention of the computer.

In Ada Lovelace, James Essinger makes the case that the computer age could have started two centuries ago if Lovelace’s contemporaries had recognized her research and fully grasped its implications.

It’s a remarkable tale, starting with the outrageous behavior of her father, which made Ada instantly famous upon birth. Ada would go on to overcome numerous obstacles to obtain a level of education typically forbidden to women of her day. She would eventually join forces with Charles Babbage, generally credited with inventing the computer, although as Essinger makes clear, Babbage couldn’t have done it without Lovelace. Indeed, Lovelace wrote what is today considered the world’s first computer program—despite opposition that the principles of science were “beyond the strength of a woman’s physical power of application.”

Based on ten years of research and filled with fascinating characters and observations of the period, not to mention numerous illustrations, Essinger tells Ada’s fascinating story in unprecedented detail to absorbing and inspiring effect.

Print length

272 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Melville House
Publication date

October 14, 2014
Dimensions

5.78 x 1.16 x 8.54 inches
ISBN-10

9781612194080
ISBN-13

978-1612194080
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Ada's Algorithm

“[An] engrossing biography."
—New York Times Book Review

“A tantalizing topic… The story of a society proceeding irrevocably but ambivalently into the modern age, enthralled by advances in science and technology, adapting to new social mores, and yet still beholden to many antiquated traditions.”
—Wall Street Journal

“Essinger is a terrific storyteller, and he knows a great story when he sees it. Ada’s Algorithm is a riveting read."
—American Scientist

“Irresistible ... If more people could have understood Babbage's machine the way Lovelace did — indeed, if they had not all but ignored her paper, perhaps because the author was a woman — computing might have had a far earlier start."
—Chicago Tribune

“A revealing firsthand look into Ada’s life and her relationship with Babbage, relying heavily on their journal entries and letters to each other… One of the most innovative minds of the 19th century.”
—Boston Globe

“A fine new Lovelace biography… We need her as a symbol…of all the women who have contributed to the progress of science and technology, and of all the women who might have contributed if given the chance.”
—Slate

“A portrait of a particularly fascinating woman."
—Jezebel

“A window on the life of one of the world's first celebrity scientists."
—io9

“An absorbing account of a woman who was far ahead of her time."
—Bust

“The biography contains just the kind of moments of triumph I like to read about: Ada overcoming obstacles to get an education and make genius contributions to science."
—Bitch Magazine, Gift Guide for Science Nerds

“The title says it all. Badass tech ladies rule."
—Book Riot, Liberty Hardy (RiverRun Bookstore) picks 2014's Must-Read Books from Indie Presses

“Readers are treated to an intimate portrait of Lovelace’s short but significant life along with an abbreviated history of 19th-century high-society London."
—New Criterion

One of the AV Club's Notable Releases for October

“If you want to focus on just one singular genius, start with this story. It’s about a woman who was born to notoriety, as Lord Byron’s daughter, who ended up writing the first computer program and changing the world."
—Flavorwire, Must-Reads for October

“Essinger describes [Lovelace's] life with obvious respect, perhaps admiration, but also with a careful sense of journalistic objectivity and precision."
—Geeky Library

“Stepping out of the long shadow of Lord Byron's legacy, Essinger follows the visionary mind of Lovelace as she, applying her educated mind to the 'Analytical Engine,' creates the first recognized algorithm and casts a shadow on modern technology as long as her father's on poetry."
—Biographile

“Ada Lovelace's vision has an indelible power, and we can learn so much from it almost 200 years later. In the mechanics of weaving machines, young Ada saw a new age for creative technology; the energy and passion in her letters is completely infectious! Essinger's absorbing and well-crafted book will no doubt inspire other women in tech, or anyone who sees in one small motion the potential to change the world.”
—Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and author of Women Who Don't Wait in Line

“Entertaining and illuminating.”
—Times Literary Supplement (UK)

“Essinger displays not only verve and affection . . . but also great scholarship.”
—Times Educational Supplement (UK)

“[Essinger] presents Ada’s story with great enthusiasm and rich detail… Ada continues to inspire, and by using her own voice via letters and research, the author brings her to life for a new generation of intrepid female innovators. A robust, engaging and exciting biography."
—Kirkus Reviews

A Library Journal Editor's Pick for Fall 2014

One of Publishers Weekly's Big Indie Books of Fall 2014

“Absorbing... Essinger’s tome is undergirded by academic research, but it is the author’s prose, both graceful and confident, that will draw in a general readership. Readers are treated to an intimate portrait of Lovelace’s short but significant life...along with an abbreviated history of 19th-century high-society London."
—Publishers Weekly

“The author provides an engaging...look at [Lovelace's] parents’ romance, her childhood, her lifelong fascination with mathematics, and, mostly, her friendship with [Charles Babbage]."
—Booklist

Praise for Jacquard’s Web by James Essinger
“Essinger tells his story with passion and with a gracious willingness to help the lay reader grasp the intricacies of technology.”
—Wall Street Journal

About the Author

JAMES ESSINGER is a writer with a particular interest in the history of ideas that have had a practical impact on the modern world. His previous book, Jacquard’s Web: How a Hand-Loom Led to the Birth of the Information Age (2004), was chosen as one of the top 5 popular science books of the year by the Economist.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1612194087
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Melville House; 1st edition (October 14, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781612194080
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1612194080
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.78 x 1.16 x 8.54 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,897,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Ada Programming Language
- #449 in Computing Industry History
- #19,296 in Women's Biographies

Customer Reviews:
(4.0) 131 ratings

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4 out of 5

131 global ratings

5 star		48%
4 star		19%
3 star		21%
2 star		8%
1 star		4%

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C. Chappell

Living in the wrong time period

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 8, 2015

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This is a fascinating biography of a brilliant woman who, in spite of being restricted by the customs of her time, learned much about mathematics. She helped Charles Babbage with his calculating machine. Ada is credited with being of great importance to the invention of computing and data processing. Babbage did not see beyond the computing skills of his machine, but Ada saw limitless possibilities for a machine that could be used to store, share and add to knowledge of all kinds. Unfortunately, Ada's life was cut short by cancer. It is interesting too that Tom Stoppard's play "Arcadia" is partly based on the life of Ada Lovelace. An early computer program was named in her honor. Had Ada lived longer, the world might have had computers in the early 20th century, such was her vision and genius.

3 people found this helpful

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eledavf Vivian

Byron's daughter...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 13, 2016

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I chose this book only as a general biography of Ada Lovelace since I know nothing about science or mathematics and have no interest in them.

This book gives full justice to a woman of astonishing intellect and immense consequence for the modern world as one who foresaw and even diligently worked out how a computer could be constructed. The author states that it is "abundantly reasonable to describe her as a genius."

Until her death at the age of thirty-three, she co-operated closely with Charles Babbage in planning such a machine, and it was her brilliant mind that found new ways of thinking about the problems presented.

It is true that the reader gleans a significant understanding of the cooperation of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage in the working out of the principles behind a computer and of Ada's leading role in the enterprise. So that insight alone makes this recital of the details worth the reader's time.

But there is also an interesting and full account of the role played by the Jacquard loom in the inspiration for the Babbage prototype. For an understanding of Babbage's difficulties in developing his prototype this book will no doubt answer your questions.

One surprising revelation for me was the true character of her mother, Lord Byron's widow. This woman's miserable nature is revealed in the final agonizing days of her gifted daughter. No wonder Ada chose to be buried beside her father, where her mother would never intrude. (After writing this, I read the much, much better book -- the biography of Ada's mother, "Lady Byron and Her Daughters" by Julia Markus -- which exonerates Lady Byron of all the old accusations and prejudices leveled against her. I highly recommend that book.)

Unfortunately this book is poorly edited; there are missing words which radically affect the meaning of several important sentences. I would say that the editing, if there was any, was extremely sloppy.

Also because of its careless style, I cannot rank this book beyond three stars.
It is often a frustrating read.

18 people found this helpful

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Joyce Cooke

If you like history and appreciate math

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 15, 2018

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After I began to read this book I had to attend to a project which took a while. At first, it took a while to get into the book but when I began to read it again, it was very interesting. I almost wanted to reread some 19th century history to fill in some blanks. If you like history and appreciate math, you'll enjoy this book. It didn't hurt to be watching the Masterpiece series, Victoria, on PBS. although each is a complete work, they complement each other nicely.

2 people found this helpful

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It All Adds Up!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 8, 2015

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I found this to be an interesting and informative read. I learned that the famous poet, Lord Byron, had a daughter, Ada Lovelace and it was a look into his life as much as hers. Ada's natural aptitude for math and her determination to put it to use demanded great courage in a time when women's roles were narrowly defined. It re-enforced my belief that if each of us use our gifts to the best of our ability in the time and space we find ourselves in, we will be contributing to the Grand Design.

One person found this helpful

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KL

A grand effort, but a disappointing read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 17, 2019

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I had high hopes for this book, but I was disappointed by a deluge of incidental facts. I wish there were more information about Ada’s algorithm and fewer details about birthdays and nicknames.

3 people found this helpful

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A. Malpas

A Sad Story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2018

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I was interested by the historical setting and description of the ideas of Ada and Babbage. The book was overshadowed by the very sad story of Ada's personal life.
In particular the story of her last illness was really harrowing. I think we often forget, in feeling nostalgia for the past, what life was like for people unlucky enough to get sick.
Ada suffered a prolongued illness and eventually death from uterine cancer. This was at a time when pain-killing medication could only be taken by mouth rather than IV injections. The illness caused her to bleed frequently. This was at a time when modern women's sanitary products were not available.

3 people found this helpful

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D. M.

A- for research and biographical details, B- for prose

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 31, 2019

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Wanted to read a proper biography of Ada Lovelace, and this was the only one I could find. Learned a lot about this genuinely fascinating person, as well as a good bit of detail about her mother and the impact Lord Byron had on the family, much of which led to Ada's education and interest in mathematics. Unfortunately the writing was pretty sloppy, and took away from the story more than it contributed. Still, worth reading for the biographical details.

3 people found this helpful

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I love the book and the premise

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 9, 2018

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I love the book and the premise. However, I think the author spends too much time defending Ada's reputation and gets sidetracked on many of the ancillary characters in her life. The back story on Lord Byron alone though was worth the read. I wished he had spent more time on Ada's papers than was given, but I guess if you are really interested, it may be better to read Ada's papers directly. I know it is on my to do list now.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

sheila l.

Bringing the past to Life!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 27, 2013

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Mr. Essinger has taken on the difficult task of producing an interesting, very readable book from the unlikely subjects of a fiendishly complicated calculating machine, its inventor the 19th century mathematician Charles Babbage, and a largely unknown heroine Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron.....and he has succeeded admirably. Few of us today have ever heard of Charles Babbage, let alone Ada Lovelace, a brilliant mathematician in her own right who became Babbages's friend, confidante and collaborator. She, alone, was able to see the enormous future potential of his calculating machine, far beyond mathematics. Sadly, the machine was never built during their lifetimes due to the enormous expense involved and Babbage's poor public relations skills in his approaches to Sir Robert Peel, the Prime Minister of the day, but there is no doubt that their combined genius laid the groundwork for modern-day computing.

7 people found this helpful

Barbara

a very inspirational story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 24, 2013

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I knew very little about Ada Lovelace before picking up this very interesting and readable book. The story of her unconventional upbringing and her refusal to be denied education, along with her ability to fuse science, maths and creativity was very uplifting and inspirational to read.
This book was easy to read and gave a real flavour of the lives and times of Ada, her father - Lord Byron, and her friend Charles Babbage.

3 people found this helpful

Chris Howell

A great read, particularly good if like me you didn't ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 1, 2014

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A great read, particularly good if like me you didn't know much about Lord Byron or Charles Babbage let alone Ada Lovelace before reading it. Very revealing about the 19th century attitude to women in science. As a former computer geek myself I could have handled more technical details of the mechanical computers and their programming (did Ada's programs turn out to be bug-free when the machine was finally built?) but maybe that's another book..

Ian

Although the author uses 'Ada' 10 times in one paragraph ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 16, 2016

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Although the author uses 'Ada' 10 times in one paragraph, I think the entire thing was impressive and helped me with my coursework.

Judith Halls

A lot of padding around a fairly small interesting nub of the story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 16, 2019

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Interested in a history of a woman scientist.
Did not agree with author's theory that she was a genius or that there was a romance between her and her co-researcher Babbage. Much was made of little.

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