I enjoyed reading that, thanks.
Interesting that no mention was made of the 26 years in between going to the Alps and writing CR, his time in the services and what have you.
It also doesn't mention the fact that Fleming's father died a WWI hero and the effect of that on him; his relationship with his rather overbearing mother, or the fact that he felt himself in the shadow of his elder brother (sooner acclaimed and far more accomplished writer), Peter. Fleming did say that he meant Bond to be a blank canvas, an instrument; which makes the condescension to such specificity in relation to drinks, food and cars and all the arcane knowledge about the soft life, rather odd. No mention either of his rather miserable marriage (which began around the time of the writing of CR) and their son's suicide. However, an interesting piece, for all that it might have said more and deeper.
I am more interested in Fleming the man, than his creation of Bond. Same with Dennis Wheatley.
A good article, would like the Jungian perpsective explored further.
Last edited by 4F Hepcat (2013-11-03 01:59:45)
You got that off my Edith Sitwell link! There are several Face to Face interviews on there - Freeman even (unintentionally) reduced Gilbert Harding to tears. I think that Waugh appears on edge - cigar and drink constantly on the go. The first question might be, of course - was Evelyn Waugh great.
I enjoyed Colonel Sun very much. My copy is long gone now... One chapter was 'The theory and practice of torture'.
By 11 (1976) I'd read all of Bond up to that point. What I always hated were the overly long descriptions of golf games and card games... But that's just me.
Good reads though. I should revisit.
Didn't Bond smoke 80 a day ?
Top Man !
And Bond, or was it Fleming himself, never drank less than half a bottle of Bourbon each evening, excluding wine over dinner.
Many boys named James in the year of my birth (1965). I was one. It became a cliché. My Dad was a huge fan.
read a William Boyd years ago, one called Stars and Bars, set in the South ... enjoyed it ... .
the new Bond by Boyd received mixed but respectful reviews in the NYT last month:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/books/solo-a-new-james-bond-novel-by-william-boyd.html?ref=bookreviews
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/books/review/william-boyds-solo-a-james-bond-novel.html?ref=bookreviews
I've got Colonel Sun, an old hb, liked it the first time, couldn't get into it a second time ....
As to the films, of course we've seen them all a million times, we always use Bond shorthand to describe people's looks whenever we see somebody in real life who resembles a character we instantly mutter "Shady Tree" or "Gert Frobe" or "Lazar" or "Largo" or "Klebb" or "Sheriff J.W. Pepper" etc. .... it's very convenient ....
... as a Christopher Lee fan I'm partial to Man With the Golden Gun, everybody's got his favorite ... You Only Live Twice is another ... I like Bond in the Orient ... Kissy Suzuki ... and I also love the underwater music in Thunderball ... such corny stuff but it lives in your mind after you've seen it so many times .....
Boyd is a superb writer. I've read one turkey by him, but the rest of his that I've read - more than a few - have been outstanding.
However I can live without him doing Bond.
great article, thanks for posting it Charlie .... the books are completely mindless, the character is mindless, the real brains in the story belonged to Cubby, John Barry, and Ken Adam ......
still nice to watch the movies especially on film or old picture-tube TVs .... Bond on new flat-screen TVs blows chunks ... everything does on them, they are the work of the devil ... flat-screen TVs suck out loud and I hate them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when Bond looks cheap the entire effect is ruined because there are few saving graces besides the overall look of the films (and the music, which is the not-so-secret weapon ..... in the case of Bond flatness is Satan, not God .....
the single greatest thing about Bond is the theme song, probably the best in the history of cinema, and the outrageous guitar playing by Vic Flick .....