Article by David Craggs In October 2016, this sexagenarian espionage aficionado waxed lyrical about Fleming’s legacy and the door he opened for realistic spy fiction. A literary furrow that was initially plowed with great aplomb by Len Deighton and Le Carre and which has been studiously followed ever since. Although Fleming can be credited for…
This week we sent in one of our top field agents David Craggs, to talk with Crime Writer’s Association winner Mick Herron, about his ‘Slough House’ series of spy novels. Mick’s rise to the top of spy fiction aficionados reading pile is remarkable, so we wanted to find out what his secrets are, if indeed…
Article by David Craggs For many Bond literary aficionados The Spy Who Loved Me was and remains an anomaly. It represented a brave departure in terms of format and style and when published back in 1962, it garnered Ian Fleming the worst critical reviews of his career. He consequently lobbied Jonathan Cape to suppress the…
Article by David Craggs. As a sexagenarian espionage aficionado who had first-hand experience of the 1960s, this particular ‘Field Agent’ has long been as obsessed with the literary phenomena brought about by ‘Bond Mania’. As with most things ‘60s, you had to have been there to appreciate it. The absolute tsunami of literary spies that…
Article by David Craggs. Much has been written about Ian Lancaster Fleming. The enduring success of the world’s most famous secret agent has ensured that his creator continues to generate unprecedented scrutiny. We have had esteemed biographies. A book about his life in Jamaica. Two screen biopics – with another rumoured to be under development and…
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…
Artistic Licence Renewed 