Sarah Dillon reveals new short story by Alan Turing depicts the codebreaker as a playful, literary man rather than an isolated genius.

Sarah Dillon, a professor of literature at the University of Cambridge, has published a full transcription of a previously overlooked short story by Alan Turing. The six-page piece, titled "Pryce’s Buoy," was written around 1952 or 1953, the year after Turing was prosecuted for gross indecency. Dillon argues that the story challenges the common perception of Turing as a one-dimensional, isolated mathematician. Instead, the narrative reveals a man who was "playful, funny, cheeky, literary, and someone who really liked sex." The story features a scientist named Alec Pryce, who serves as an autofictional representation of Turing himself. While Turing is famously remembered for his pivotal role in cracking the German Enigma code during World War II, he was often treated harshly by the government for his sexuality. Despite his immense contributions to modern computing, he was forced to undergo chemical castration in 1952. Dillon notes that the short story shows Turing’s "sexual spirit was not dampened" by these legal hurdles, offering a fresh perspective on his creative personality.

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