35 Ian Fleming (James Bond -The Books)
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This article is from the James Bond FAQ, by Michael Reed reed55@core.com with numerous contributions by others.
35 Ian Fleming (James Bond -The Books)
Ian Lancaster Fleming created James Bond. He was born May 28, 1908, (a date
he gave to Ernst Stavro Blofeld as well) in London. Quitting his schooling
at the prestigious Eaton, he held a job as a reporter with Reuters. Fleming
eventually joined the R.N.V.R. and later worked in Naval Intelligence field,
earning the rank of Commander.
On his two month sabbatical from a newspaper job in January 1952 Fleming was
feeling pressure due to his impending marriage. To relieve some stress he
began writing a short novel. Fleming held a meticulous schedule and spent
two periods a day writing. Before leaving in March he had completed what
would be the first Bond book, "Casino Royale". It opened Fleming's eyes to a
muse inside him.
While not the rogue secret agent, Fleming did have a hand in helping the
Ultra Network score a coup over Germany in World War II by decoding the
Enigma, a machine similar to the fictitious Spektor decoder Fleming used as
a plot piece in "From Russia With Love". Fleming often dropped names of his
friends and acquaintances into characters in his book. (There was a Jamaican
boater named Red Grant, a friend named John Fox-Strangways, etc.)
It should be noted that as a reporter Fleming wrote on a multitude of
subjects. He is also the author of the children's work "Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang".
Ian Fleming wrote fourteen complete books about Bond, and only stopped when
he died on August 12, 1964. He left behind wife, Anne, and son Caspar, who
tragically committed suicide in 1975. Anne died in 1981.
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