Article by Alice Dryden When I turned forty last year, I decided I deserved a proper midlife crisis. Since I already ride a motorbike, a tattoo seemed like the sensible option. It was something I’d been considering for a while, but never quite pulled the trigger on. One problem was that I have a lot…
Article by Frieda Toth Let’s say you want to recreate Bond experiences, and you have a lot of cash. Vegas may be the first place that comes to mind: the thrill of the roulette wheel, the beautiful women bringing you martinis, the sense of danger that comes with a lot of money tossed about casually…
Ian Fleming sits as one of the most famous and successful thriller writers of all time, who casts a long shadow over his peers, and not least his own family. Here we look at some other talented Fleming writers, spanning multiple generations. Peter Fleming Ian’s older brother Peter needs little introduction. As a highly successful travel…
![Goldeneye by ©Richard O'Neill [not for reproduction]](https://literary007.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/goldeneye.png?w=220&h=126&crop=1)
This week we see the return of the Field Report with the talented artist Richard O’Neill. What is your favourite Richard Chopping cover and do you own any 1st editions? Probably From Russia With Love, though I also like Octopussy and The Living Daylights and The Man with the Golden Gun. Unfortunately not – they’re…
This week to whet your whistle, Bobby Hiddleston from London’s Swift Bar discusses some of the inspirations that went into the new literary James Bond cocktail book, SHAKEN. What process did you take, in deciding what new creations to make? There was a fairly lengthy brief for each drink – lots of Bond quotes, loads…
The Folio Society’s Ian Fleming James Bond series continues with Diamonds Are Forever in the sixth volume in the collection, featuring the distinctive and stylish binding design inspired by the secret agent’s impeccable suits, and a stunning illustrated slipcase. Writing to a friend, Fleming commented with typical humour that for this novel he had included:…
This week’s castaway is Julian Parrott, who is no stranger to the Caribbean, so he might even feel at home stranded! 001. Casino Royale, Ian Fleming. The first novel and therefore holds a special place in the Bond pantheon. Although, for me, it’s not the best Fleming novel, but there is something engaging about the…
This week’s exclusive interview is with Craig Cabell. Craig has written two books about Ian Fleming’s experiences during WW2, and discusses the influences of Dennis Wheatley and Peter Fleming, as well as his friendships with the late, great Sir Christopher Lee and Frederick Forsyth. 001. What drew you write about Ian Fleming, specifically his war-time…
It’s James Bond Day today and we’re giving away 5 copies of the majestic new book Shaken: Drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming, the official cocktail book’. The 007 official cocktail book – created in association with the Ian Fleming Estate, with a foreword by Fergus Fleming. Explore Bond creator Ian Fleming’s writings on the pleasures…
Luxury holiday provider eShores have developed a new James Bond holiday package, touring locations used in the filming of Casino Royale, which the company was inspired to create the package by requests from customers. Gavin Lapidus, co-founder of eShores, said about the new package: “We’re always looking for great new ways to engage our customers…
Mark Simmons comes from a family with a long tradition of service in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and in the 1970s he served in the Royal Marines. We caught up with him to talk about his latest book, ‘Ian Fleming and Operation Golden Eye: Keeping Spain out of World War II’, concerning the various Allied…
This week’s hapless castaway is ALR favourite Edward Biddulph who might be able to survive with plenty of coffee while working on his golf game! 001. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service OHMSS is the first James Bond novel I read. It was my grandparents’ copy of the Book Club edition, and I was 11 or…
Ian Fleming was rarely photographed without a cigarette in his hand, but more iconic was the cigarette holder he used. He had several of them, which were all by Asprey. We are delighted to reveal one of Fleming’s original Asprey cigarette holder that was originally owned by Lord Woodrow Wyatt (father of Petronella Wyatt) as he and Ian…
Article by Claire Hines Last year the news of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner’s death at the age of 91 caused some Bond fans to recall the connection between James Bond and Playboy – it’s a connection that my recently published book The playboy and James Bond analyses in the context of broader issues of culture…
Article by David Salter and Jonathan Cull. For Bond devotees of London’s clubland, it is of some interest to watch Blade’s, M’s club, gradually turn, as the books progress, from a 20th century version of its sybaritic predecessor, the Scavoir Vivre*, into straightforward Boodle’s. Fleming usually lunched at Boodle’s and was devoted to it. He stated that a…
By Wesley Britton. Re-published with additional material by Matt Sherman. It all began with Ian Lancaster Fleming’s richly descriptive James Bond novels. During the 1950s, when the first seven 007 books appeared, Bond was a globetrotting tourist with many travel scenes at a time when thrillers were designed for an international market. Descriptions of gentlemen’s…
Bond scholars rejoice! The International Journal of James Bond Studies, is the first of its kind to focus on one of British literature’s most famous characters. This week we find out more from its editor, Dr Ian Kinane. 001. Can you tell us about how the International Journal of James Bond Studies came into being? The journal…
This week, we hear from spy thriller writer Graeme Shimmin, on the influence of Bond on his book, A Kill in the Morning… ‘My dad had a whole collection of the 1960s paperback versions of the James Bond novels. I was something of a precocious reader and when I was about seven (definitely not more than…
Article by Jonathan Hopson “About three years ago, P. H. Muir of Elkin Mathews had a customer (I believe an Englishman) to whom he could sell practically any book (mainly XVIIIth and XIXth century) which was the first about any discovery or social innovation”. So wrote Graham Pollard, bookseller and bibliographer. He was also a…
“Have no fear,” Fleming advises reporter Antony Terry in 1955, “you are by far the best correspondent in Germany and all you have to do is to write what you think and not be afraid of it” (Lenart, Judith, comp. Yours Ever Ian Fleming: Letters to and from Antony Terry. Nelson, New Zealand: Printhouse Nelson…
Artistic Licence Renewed 