Ian Fleming

by Andrew Lycett

Book Overview

We all know who James Bond is, but how many of us know much about his creator, Ian Fleming, a master of espionage and thrillers? In this full-length biography, author Andrew Lycett tells the story of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570363439
• ISBN13: 9781570363436
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Turner Publications Inc
• Length: 486 Pages
• Weight: 1.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A great read for the serious Fleming fan

This was a fantastic read. It took me a couple of chapters before I got into the flow of the book (hence why I rated this a 4 star not 5 star rating), but once the biography picked up where the Bond novels begin, I found myself rereading the Bond novels along with the biography. By reading the biography this way, it will enhance your reading pleasure. Lycett's book will unravel the "how and why" Ian wrote what he did as well as suggest who the real people were behind the villains and characters-including 007 and how the number came to being. It also goes into the explanation of how Ian approached the movie industry and why Dr. No ended up being the first of the books to be turned into a cinematic experience. The little details that Lycett added to this book only enhanced the end product. Upon finishing it (and the novels), I felt I knew a great deal about the man who created one of the greatest literary and cinematic fictional characters of modern times.

The Man Behind 007 & The Bio Behind the Myth

This biography is worth reading for two very good reasons: The most obvious is to get a look at the man who created one of the greatest iconic figures of the 20th Century. "Bond, James Bond" is usually on every list of popular and enduring characters from the previous century and his simple introduction is normally cited as the most memorable movie line in cinema history. The 007 machine is still very much alive in the 21st Century with all of Fleming's adventures in print and the secret agent still drawing millions at the box office with last year's "Casino Royale." The second fascinating reason for reading this biography is the author's frank and open access to Fleming's family and friends. A great deal is revealed through their interviews as well as their diaries and letters. When I read through the reviews for the hardcover edition, I found some complaints about the constant name-dropping throughout the book, but that was their world. Ian's wife Ann seemed to live to socialize and while most of the names probably mean very little to most readers today, some still jump out--from mobsters like Lucky Luciano to real intelligence figures like Allen Dulles, former CIA boss. This is a sharp, genuine look at Bond's creator after decades of mythmaking about the life of Ian Fleming. As the quote on the cover says, "This is an exemplary biography, beautifully written, fast-paced and extremely perceptive."

007's creator revealed

This was an excellent book. The research was excellent, and Lycett's ability to portray characters from the early to mid 19th century should not be overlooked. My only gripe was there seemed to be two oft-repeated phrases: "In a letter to Evelyn Waugh, Ann..." and "En route to Jamaica in New York, Ian...." But all things considered, this is an essential read for any 007 fan - casual or the vodka-martini drinking type.

Delve a bit deeper into the origins of 007

This biography of Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett is an essential read for anyone wanting to learn more about the creative forces behind one of popular culture's enduring icons, James Bond. Fleming's childhood, wartime exploits, travels - any element which helped develop 007 - are explained in great detail. The book jacket describes Fleming as "a more interesting" man than his creation, and it's true ten times over. This book is about as readable as a biography can get - due no doubt to Fleming's action-packed, turmoil-filled life. As an added bonus, Lycett offers fascinating bits of information on each of the Bond novels - character name origins, methods of research, etc. Any and every 007 enthusiast should take in this commendable work, obviously researched extensively. If nothing else, "Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond" could pass as a "How NOT to Live to be One Hundred Years Old" how-to guide. Given Fleming's terrible health habits, it's a wonder he lived to see fifty-six years.

Highly recommended biography of a fascinating man

Ian Fleming was not a particularly likeable character, but he led a fascinating life. This biography, which has obviously been thoroughly researched in Britain, in the U.S., and in the West Indies, succeeds brilliantly. Part social history, part biography of a fascinating man (whose real life love-life and sexual exploits were much more interesting than James Bond's, this book moves along at a cracking pace. Considering that I was never a particular fan of the Bond movies, I thought this book succeeded at many levels - the sections on wartime intelligence, and the influence that Fleming had both on the establishment of the CIA and, possibly, on JFK's Cuban policy, are terrific reading. The ideal present for anyone with flair and imagination!