About Ian Fleming
Ian
Lancaster Fleming was born in London on 28 May 1908 and was educated at Eton
College before spending a formative period studying languages in Europe. His
first job was with Reuters news agency, followed by a brief spell as a
stockbroker. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was appointed assistant
to the Director of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Godfrey, where he played a key
part in British and Allied espionage operations.
After
the war he joined Kemsley Newspapers as Foreign Manager of The Sunday
Times, running a network of correspondents who were intimately involved in the
Cold War. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and
introduced James Bond, Special Agent 007, to the world. The first print run
sold out within a month. Following this initial success, he published a Bond
title every year until his death. His own travels, interests and wartime
experience gave authority to everything he wrote. Raymond Chandler hailed him
as 'the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England.' The fifth
title, From Russia With Love, was particularly well received and sales
soared when President Kennedy named it as one of his favourite books. The Bond
novels have sold more than 100 million copies and inspired a hugely successful
film franchise which began in 1962 with the release of Dr No, starring
Sean Connery as 007.
The
Bond books were written in Jamaica, a country Fleming fell in love with during
the war and where he built a house, 'Goldeneye'. He married Ann Rothermere in
1952. His story about a magical car, written in 1961 for their only child,
Caspar, went on to become the well-loved novel and film, Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang.
Fleming
died of heart failure on 12 August 1964.
www.ianfleming.com
