Author Edward Biddulph has returned, this time with a handy travel guide.
The scribe of Double-O Dining: A James Bond Cookbook has travelled Britain to compile an excellent resource of locations that have strong connections to the literary and film sides of 007.
Starting off in London, an essential hub of Bond activity, the guide escorts you throughout the city, replete with current photos to help you get your bearings. From London, Biddulph then takes readers to all points of the compass, on the road, and then finally to Wales and Scotland.
The book goes beyond just pointing out the locations, giving you the history of the site, and noting what aspect of Bond it connects to (novels are in italics, film titles in capitals). I greatly appreciate all the research put into it, particularly what the location is today if it has changed from what the original 007 tie was, like the Scott’s of Moonraker now being a Five Guys. (It breaks the heart, but such is progress.)
The colour photos should help the reader with identification, with practically each turn of the page offering a new visual. Postal codes and websites are also provided to assist with locations, although the author recommends Ordnance Survey maps for some of the rural sites.
The scope goes beyond the books and movies, including key sites related to Aston Martin, Walther, Roald Dahl, where Fleming’s grandparents lived, where Sean Connery was born, and Fleming’s final resting place.
I particularly want to note the great effort and research that went into the chapter, “On The Road with James Bond”. Reconstructing routes that Bond would have taken in the 1950s and ‘60s could not have been easy with all the changes that have taken place since that time. Biddulph has certainly done his due diligence throughout the book.
Clocking in at 174 pages, there is plenty of information to pour over, printed at a convenient size suitable for travel. Biddulph presents the locations in an engaging way, getting you into the story of a location in a brisk fashion before moving you on to the next location and more insightful trivia. If there is a future edition, an index would be appreciated, but the guide is very easy to navigate if you are familiar with what area you want to explore.
Keeping the book focused on Britain keeps the book from being too overwhelming and makes it an essential guide for those simply wishing to visit the UK and see some key locations pertaining to the world of James Bond.
The James Bond Lover’s Guide to Britain is available direct from publisher Pen & Sword and from Amazon.
