Ian Fleming and Sunspel have a natural and longstanding affinity. Sunspel have dressed his iconic creation James Bond, while Fleming himself was famously an advocate of the Sea Island cotton used in Sunspel’s most luxurious garments – an appreciation he passed on to the Bond character. This season, Sunspel have worked in collaboration with the […]
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Epitaph to James Bond author removed from family tomb. A plaque commemorating the life of Ian Fleming has been stolen from the obelisk marking his grave, as well as those of his wife Ann and son Caspar. The plaque appears to have been levered out from the side of the memorial. Fleming, who died in […]
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In this second of three articles Kathryn Smith shares her thoughts and impressions of five more James Bond books by Ian Fleming. Read part 1 here At the end of From Russia, with Love Bond was poisoned by Rosa Klebb, leaving the series on a cliff hanger. But while he looked death in the face, […]
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In the first of three articles Kathryn Smith pens her thoughts and impressions of Ian Fleming’s 007 books. Like many people around the world I enjoy the exploits of Britain’s greatest secret agent. But during 2019 I set myself the task of reading all of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books. Many of you must be […]
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Sunspel to launch line inspired by 007 and his author in March. Ian Fleming was a devoted fan of Sea Island cotton. He frequently wore the fabric, and often dressed his literary creation, James Bond, in it too. In homage, Sunspel and The Ian Fleming Estate have come together to produce a range of menswear […]
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New hardback editions of three Bond titles now available from Vintage Classics. Back in the summer, Vintage Classics announced they would be releasing new hardback editions of three Bond titles. The books are Casino Royale, Live And Let Die and Goldfinger and include artwork by Levente Szabó and by John Cork. Each book also includes archive material […]
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A unique typescript of The Man With The Golden Gun corrected by Ian Fleming is available from Jonkers Rare Books. According to the listing on Jonkers’ website: 182 numbered pages of typed foolscap, five further preliminary pages and a single sheet of suggested (later adopted) corrections by Kingsley Amis, all bound in a cloth folder. […]
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Looking for James Bond box office earnings? In chapter 1 of Moonraker James Bond is in his office ploughing through a mound of paperwork. Fleming tells us a little about Bond’s routine while in London between assignments. He also tells us his income: He earned £1500 a year, the salary of a Principal Officer in […]
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Casino Royale is Ian Fleming’s first novel and the book that introduced James Bond to the world. In it Fleming also introduced Bond’s taste for high living – and his vices – in a vivid writing style that led to accusations of “sex, sadism and snobbery”. Author: Ian Fleming Publication date: 13th April 1953 Publisher: Jonathan Cape […]
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Ian Fleming joins Ernest Hemingway, JRR Tolkien, F Scott Fitzgerald and James Joyce as the five twentieth century authors whose first editions are most expensive. Casino Royale lies fourth in that list, after Joyce’s Ulysses ($460,500), Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby ($300,000), Tolkien’s The Hobbit ($210,500) and ahead of Hemingway’s In Our Time ($25,000). Remember though that […]
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