How much didJames Bondcreator Ian Fleming resemble the fictional super spy?
“He was to be sort of emotionless, he wasn’t to be part of the establishment.
That was part of the thing about his name, it was just rather anonymous: James Bond.
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Nevertheless, Bond had several of Ian Fleming’s characteristics, there’s no doubt about that.
So, basically, Bond ended up with many of the personal characteristics of Ian Fleming.”
Fleming, who was born May 28, 1908, definitelywaspart of the British establishment.
He finished the book, which he titledCasino Royale, within two months.
The novel was reviewed warmly in the U.K. and its initial print run of 4750 copies swiftly sold out.
Several U.S. companies rejectedCasino Royale, with Macmillan eventually published the book in March, 1954.
The American public showed little interest in Fleming’s creation, at least at first.
Fleming swiftly followedCasino RoyalewithLive and Let Dieand thenMoonraker,DiamondsAre Forever,From Russia with Love,Dr.
Fleming was enthusiastic about Bond being adapted for the screen.
“The books were successful, but they weren’t huge like they ultimately became.
He was desperate to make a movie deal.
In that sense, he was kind of ahead of his time.
Because if you look at his contemporaries, they were only interested in the books and the literary pursuit.
The last film Kennedy ever saw before his assassination was reportedly the second Bond movie, 1963’sFromRussia with Love.
Of course, it was Bond’s arrival on the big screen, starting with 1962’sDr.
No, which really turned 007 into a publishing phenomenon.
Fleming visited the set ofDr.
Nowhen the movie shot in Jamaica and later traveled to Istanbul to see some shooting onFrom Russia With Love.
The author would witness only a small part of his creation’s extraordinary success.
Fleming’s health had been failing for some years and he had suffered a heart attack in 1961.
“I think there was an old-English, Eton boarding school arrogance,” he says.
“I think he would have said, ‘Of course this thing is a huge success!
It was my brilliant idea!'”
