James Bond The Man and His World by
Henry Chancellor
hbk out October 05
Published by John Murray
at £20
More than 40 years after Ian Fleming's premature death, James Bond remains the
most famous fictional spy of all time. This is largely due to the continuing success of
the film franchise, but it is also a tribute to the cleverness and commerciality of
Fleming's idea in creating 007 and the world of sex, sadism and snobbery – so
alluring to millions of readers - that he inhabits. This copiously illustrated coffee table
book is 'the official companion to Ian Fleming's creation' and it benefits from the
access given to the Fleming archive: the handwritten letters and manuscript extracts
lend the text an authenticity lacking in mere 'cut and paste' tributes. Each of the
original Bond novels is given distinct treatment, and Chancellor sensibly includes
some of the negative reviews, as well as fascinating snippets from fan letters, to round
out the picture. The backbone of the book is a snappily written account of Fleming's
life: he was a complex mix of charm, arrogance and selfishness. It is easy to dismiss
Fleming as a novelist, but the failure of those capable authors (such as Kingsley
Amis) who have continued the Bond series to match his verve show that he was a true
original, with a genuine if narrowly circumscribed gift for popular fiction.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
James Bond The Man and His World by
Henry Chancellor
