Customer Reviews

Life of Ian Fleming

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John Pearson's biography of Ian Lancaster Fleming tells all about the checkered career of this writer. Fleming's grandfather became a millionaire through his banking investment trusts in American railroads. Fleming's father was a banker, country squire, Member of Parliament, and Major. Young Ian was the second son and a difficult child who had troubles at schools. Fleming was sent to Europe to learn French, German, and Russian; all practical skills for his future as a reporter (spy trials in Moscow) and Commander in Naval Intelligence during WW II. Fleming set up an "Intelligence Commando" to quickly seize information from freshly captured enemy command posts. "Advance Unit 30" was commemorated in the "AU 30" license plate on Goldfinger's limousine. Great success came around 50 with his action novels, and the films of these stories. These films have been successes for over 40 years, even when they repeat earlier stories and the action scenes therein.

Fleming had an important career as a journalist before his fame as the author of "James Bond". He often used the names of friends and relatives for characters in his books. "Quarrel" was based on Red Grant, whose name was used for the killer in "From Russia With Love". When these novels gained popularity after 1961 "James Bond" was criticized for his cruelty, hedonism, and amorality. When you read this biography you will understand the basis for this fictional character. Fleming was a model for some of these deeds, but "James Bond" is the fantasy character Fleming wanted to be (pp.177-178). The last half of this book covers Fleming's last twelve years, when he found fame and fortune as an author. The continuing films keep his memory alive, unlike John Buchan or E. Philip Oppenheim.

The existing censorship at the time prevented any mention of Ian Fleming's meeting with J. Edgar hoover in July 1941. Fleming brought Dusko Popov, Yugoslav playboy, Nazi spy, and British double-agent to tell of Popov's orders to spy on Pearl Harbor. Hoover wasn't interested, and Popov was then forced to leave the country.

Biographer John Pearson takes a quite detailed life story and tells it in a concise and consistently engaging fashion. So vividly is Ian Fleming portrayed in these pages that you'll feel like you've been "with" him all his life!

I would have given it 5 stars if there had been pictures. Mind you that cover is magnificent!