Henry Chancellor John Murray, £20 Can you name your favourite James Bond? Sean Connery? Pierce Brosnan? Perhaps it should be Ian Fleming, whose first 007 adventure was published in 1953. Certainly, many events in the novelist’s life, be it working for Naval Intelligence or going scuba diving with Jacques Cousteau, are echoed in his famous creation’s exploits. And that’s not really surprising, as Fleming found it impossible to write about anything he didn’t know or a place he hadn’t been. Chancellor’s meticulously researched book is based on information gleaned from a vast array of sources including Fleming’s annotated manuscripts and letters.
A detailed account of the novelist’s life gives way to an analysis of his books’ main elements, including Bond’s weapons, enemies and, of cours e , sexual exploits, which aren’t as frequent as those enjoyed by his movie counterpart. Chancellor makes Fleming’s 007 seem almost monogamous by claiming that the films feature 58 Bond girls compared to 14 in the books. This is a fitting tribute, which will leave you reaching for Fleming’s books, even if you’ve read them before.
Verdict: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ More enjoyable than watching Die Another Day!
