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The Man with the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters

by Ian Fleming

Other authors: Fergus Fleming (Editor)

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803332,907 (4)15
On 16 August 1952, Ian Fleming wrote to his wife, Ann, 'My love, This is only a tiny letter to try out my new typewriter and to see if it will write golden words since it is made of gold'. He had bought the gold-plated typewriter as a present to himself for finishing his first novel, Casino Royale. It marked in glamorous style the arrival of James Bond, agent 007, and the start of a career that saw Fleming become one of the world's most celebrated thriller writers. And he did write golden words. Before his death in 1964 he produced fourteen bestselling Bond books, two works of non-fiction and the famous children's story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Fleming's output was matched by an equally energetic flow of letters. He wrote constantly, to his wife, publisher, editors, fans, friends and critics, charting 007's progress with correspondence that ranged from badgering Jonathan Cape about his quota of free copies -- a coin was tossed; Fleming lost - to apologising for having mistaken a certain brand of perfume and for equipping Bond with the wrong kind of gun. His letters also reflect his friendships with contemporaries such as Raymond Chandler, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham. Before the world-famous films came the world-famous novels. This books tells the story of the man who wrote them and how he created spy fiction's most compelling hero.… (more)
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This collection of the letters of Ian Fleming shows that Fleming, in contrast to most writers of thrillers, was a highly social member of high society, and an old boy of the old school. His neighbor at his Jamaica retreat, Goldeneye, was Noël Coward (who thought Fleming's house looked like a doctors' office and called it "Golden Eye, Nose, and Throat"). He was urbane and dryly witty and responded well to letters of criticism. Unfortunately, you can learn all this from reading the Introduction and a sample chapter or two. Additional material won't add much.

The book is organized not strictly chronologically, but around each of Fleming's works, so devotees of Bond will know where to look for trivia. ( )
  john.cooper | Jan 15, 2022 |
This collection of various Ian Fleming letters serves as a fascinating counterpoint to the Fleming of his biographies. While the selected correspondence around the production of the Bond books (and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) provide interesting insights, it’s the letters responding to fans who point out errors in the famously fact driven Bond adventures that delight. Fleming comes across as courteous, amusing, and above all appreciative of their expertise, even recruiting several to become his own resident experts on various aspects of 007’s operations (perhaps most famously with gun expert Mr. Boothroyd). It’s also apparent just how quickly the character of 007 took on a life outside of the books as Fleming starts to consider himself Bond’s biographer rather than creator. ( )
  gothamajp | Oct 5, 2020 |
A brilliantly informative, well edited and well informed journey and discussion about Ian Fleming's letters. Whilst an understanding of the man & his life would be useful, this stands alone as a testament so the many interests and fascinating life of Ian Fleming. If you're interested in literary Bond, you'll like this. Fans of the films, and only the films, less so. The real Fleming afficiandos will love it, however. I would say, as a real fan, this really appealed to me, but for a casual reader some of the references are probably too esoteric. If you're into Fleming and literary Bond, you'll love it. If you're not, or only got a passing interest this might be hard work for you. ( )
  aadyer | Apr 10, 2016 |
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Fleming, Ianprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Fleming, FergusEditorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
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On 16 August 1952, Ian Fleming wrote to his wife, Ann, 'My love, This is only a tiny letter to try out my new typewriter and to see if it will write golden words since it is made of gold'. He had bought the gold-plated typewriter as a present to himself for finishing his first novel, Casino Royale. It marked in glamorous style the arrival of James Bond, agent 007, and the start of a career that saw Fleming become one of the world's most celebrated thriller writers. And he did write golden words. Before his death in 1964 he produced fourteen bestselling Bond books, two works of non-fiction and the famous children's story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Fleming's output was matched by an equally energetic flow of letters. He wrote constantly, to his wife, publisher, editors, fans, friends and critics, charting 007's progress with correspondence that ranged from badgering Jonathan Cape about his quota of free copies -- a coin was tossed; Fleming lost - to apologising for having mistaken a certain brand of perfume and for equipping Bond with the wrong kind of gun. His letters also reflect his friendships with contemporaries such as Raymond Chandler, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham. Before the world-famous films came the world-famous novels. This books tells the story of the man who wrote them and how he created spy fiction's most compelling hero.

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Legacy Library: Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.

See Ian Fleming's legacy profile.

See Ian Fleming's author page.

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