The Golden TypewriterIan Fleming (1908 to 1964)
Ian Fleming was a British journalist and former naval intelligence officer who created James Bond. He began the first Bond novel at Goldeneye, his house in Jamaica, in 1952, and wrote Bond books until his death in 1964.
Early life
Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London on 28 May 1908. His father, Valentine, a Member of Parliament, was killed in the First World War. Fleming went to Eton and then studied languages in continental Europe.
He worked as a journalist for Reuters and spent a short time as a stockbroker in the City.
Naval intelligence
During the Second World War he was assistant to Admiral John Godfrey, the Director of Naval Intelligence. The job put him close to secret planning and to the people who ran wartime operations. The novels draw on that world for atmosphere and detail; they are invented stories, not accounts of real missions.
Journalism and Jamaica
After the war he joined Kemsley Newspapers as foreign manager of The Sunday Times, running its overseas correspondents in the early Cold War. Travel and reporting sharpened his eye for specialist detail: cards, golf, cars, food and surveillance all turn up in the books.
In 1946 he bought land at Oracabessa Bay in Jamaica and built a house there, Goldeneye. He began Casino Royale at Goldeneye in February 1952, and it came out the following April.
A book a year
From then on he wrote roughly one Bond book a year. Bond's job let him move freely between crime, Cold War rivalry and pure escapism, and he sometimes pushed against his own formula: The Spy Who Loved Me is told by a young woman, not by Bond. His reporting produced two books of non-fiction, The Diamond Smugglers and Thrilling Cities.
Last years
After a heart attack in 1961 he wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on bedtime stories he told his son, Caspar. He saw Dr. No reach cinemas in 1962, with Sean Connery as Bond. He died of heart failure on 12 August 1964, aged 56. His children's book, his last novel and his last collection were all published after his death.
His reputation
Ian Fleming Publications says the Bond books have sold more than 100 million copies; that is the publisher's figure, not an independent count. It also records admiration from Raymond Chandler, and says President John F. Kennedy was a well-known reader of From Russia with Love.
Timeline
| 28 May 1908 | Born in London. |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Buys land at Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica, and builds Goldeneye. |
| February 1952 | Begins writing Casino Royale at Goldeneye. |
| 13 April 1953 | Jonathan Cape publishes Casino Royale. |
| 1957 | From Russia with Love and The Diamond Smugglers published. |
| 1960 | For Your Eyes Only, the first story collection. |
| 1961 | Suffers a heart attack; writes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. |
| 1962 | The first Bond film, Dr. No, is released. |
| 1963 | On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Thrilling Cities published. |
| 12 August 1964 | Dies of heart failure, aged 56. |
| 1964 to 1966 | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Man with the Golden Gun and Octopussy and The Living Daylights appear after his death. |
Places connected with Fleming
You can see his blue plaque in Belgravia, visit his grave in Wiltshire, and stay at Goldeneye, now a resort. Our places guide has the details.
Who looks after his work now
Ian Fleming Publications and the Ian Fleming Estate look after the rights to his books. This site is independent and has no connection with either.
Sources
- Ian Fleming Publications: Meet the manConfirmed
- Ian Fleming Publications: author pageConfirmed
- Ian Fleming Publications: bibliographyConfirmed