Widely regarded as the greatest English poet to arise after the second world war, Philip Larkin was, like his close friend Kingsley Amis, a fan of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels. In the following article, published in the July 8, 1966 issue of The Spectator, he reviews the final Bond book. These two stories, according to…
The new paperback cover art for William Boyd’s SOLO, to be published in the UK by Random House on 8th May . The new design combines the SOLO typeface featured on the hardback edition with elements of the photographic style seen on the 007 contemporary Vintage series. The single eye that stares boldly from the centre is reminiscent of…
The late Christopher Hitchens once said: “What is James Bond really doing when he specifies the kind of Martini he wants and how he wants it? He is telling the bartender that he knows what he is talking about and is not to be messed around” These days, anyone and everyone can order a good…
The remarkable lives of Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl criss-crossed each other for many years; the impact of both have and will, be felt for many more years to come. Cut from similar cloth, they had a lot in common and enjoyed each other’s company with a dash of friendly rivalry thrown in. Donald Sturrock author…
There is much more focus on Ann Fleming these days with the airing of the BBC series ‘Fleming’, with Ann portrayed by Lara Pulver. It’s probably time, that Ann got a fair crack at the whip so to speak, but we shall see how accurately this turns out to be. To really get an insight…
It is often challenging to locate ‘very good’ or ‘near fine’ examples of James Bond / Ian Fleming novels due to condition qualities, that are specific to certain titles and make them increasingly scarce. To save you some time, I’ve collected up the 7 best companies for sourcing James Bond 1st Editions and other Ian…
Francis Bacon provides an interesting footnote into how Richard Chopping ended up creating the James Bond dust jackets for Ian Fleming; it was at one of Bacon’s art exhibitions that Ann Fleming, a close friend of Bacon, made the introduction. Chopping recalled: “He [Bacon] took her [Ann Fleming] upstairs to see mine, which was very good of him,…
In 1982, Bond aficionado and the first Bond continuation author – Kingsley Amis – wrote a review of John Gardner’s ‘For Special Services’. By Kingsley Amis Ian Fleming’s last novel, The Man With The Golden Gun, appeared in 1965, a year after its author’s death. I published Colonel Sun: a James Bond Adventure under the…
Heads, Bodies and Legs is a children’s book written and illustrated by the late Richard Chopping and Dennis Wirth-Miller. Mike Simkin writes to The Guardian in 2008: “Having been one of his students at Colchester School of Art (1958-62). Nobody gave more encouragement with their work and spirit for life. He never spoke of his illustration work…
Here is a poem that Chopping contributed to the Grasshopper in 1931: O DRAGON-FLY, you lovely thing, I love to see you on the wing; Oh, when I hear you whirring by, I raise an aching, weary eye From off my tiring, awful task, To gaze upon your lovely mask, Your slender legs, your rainbow…
by Benjamin Welton I’ve sat in enough literature classrooms to know the refrain well. A young woman full of earnest conviction but enough neo-Marxist and Lacanian theory to sink a dreadnought will speak up and say “I cannot relate to this.” During one such case, a peer of mine took it step further by claiming…
1. What are the rarest Bond 1st Editions you have? One of the most desirable James Bond titles we currently offer is Ian Fleming’s first book, Casino Royale, a fine first edition in a near fine dust wrapper, quite scarce in the trade. Less than 3,000 books were printed in the first state, only few survive in such excellent condition. We generally have a rather comprehensive offering of first editions from…
With kind permission from Revelator: Here’s a little treat to kick off 2014. In 1981 a thick reference book was published, titled The Dictionary of National Biography, 1961-1970 and containing biographies of notable figures who had died during that decade. As one of the best-selling authors of century, Ian Fleming was naturally included, and the editors wisely…
Back on October 24th, 2011, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a special 27-minute reading of Ian Fleming’s James Bond short story ‘The Living Daylights‘ read by Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens. The broadcaster recently repeated the recording as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s ‘The Spying Game’ series. Dan also lent his voicing talents to the 007…
Written by James Bond Memes blog author Edward Biddulph, this cookbook is full of exciting recipes inspired by the food that Bond eats in the novels and short stories of Ian Fleming. The recipes, devised by the author, are modern, but have a period twist. This book is very well written with attention to detail…
1. What is your favorite Chopping cover and why? From Russia With Love. I think the combination of the revolver and the rose is timeless, and it is the origin of the Chopping-Bond style. In addition, it is my favourite novel so I’m inclined to be biased. 2. Do you own any 1st editions? No…
Chopping’s love of nature was evident in Butterflies in Britain (1943) and his Butterflies book was a best seller, in print for many years. Best known for his jackets for Ian Fleming’s James Bond books he also illustrated a number of children’s books for Noel Carrington. Typically concise was his description of the Painted Lady, which:…
Novelist, poet, critic, teacher and professional drinker Kingsley Amis‘ contribution to the James Bond franchise, cannot be overlooked. His enthusiasm for Bond and his many arguments in defense of Bond and Ian Fleming against criticism found various literary avenues, not to mention the marvelous first bond continuation novel after Fleming’s death, Colonel Sun. Amis on Fleming: “Ian…
1. What is your favorite Chopping cover and why? From Russia With Love (FRWL) because it is completely iconic and Richard Chopping’s painting is the greatest piece of art ever to grace a dust jacket. Coincidently it also happens to enrobe Fleming’s best Bond book and payed an extremely significant part in elevating him from…
‘The Education of a Poker Player’ is a masterwork of poker lore and advice, with a suitably acerbic introduction from Mr. Fleming, in fine sarcastic form. Ian Fleming was drawn to Herbert O. Yardley not least for gaming and high living, but as an icon in U.S. intelligence. If it were possible to have worse laws…
Artistic Licence Renewed 