The Man With the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters

Fantastic news for Fleming fans, his nephew Fergus Fleming has compiled a collection of his letters which will be published in November as "The Man With the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters." A collection of Fleming letters is long overdue and given Fergus Fleming's own talent as a writer and his family connections, this should be very good indeed. It can be pre-ordered now from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Golden-Typewriter-Flemings-Letters/dp/1632864894/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435672269&sr=8-1&keywords=the+man+with+the+golden+typewriter

Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    {[] looks interesting.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I'll give it a Pre-order when I can :)
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    I was meaning to start a thread on this myself - about the criminal lack of Fleming's Collected Letters but I was very glad to read this on The Book Bond blog. Fergus Fleming also wrote the biography of ILF's half-sister Amaryllis Fleming which I have a copy of. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    Thanks for posting this. Great news!
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    Looks great, by the time I finish Parkers: Goldeneye and Trigger Mortis this should be ready to ship!
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  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    {[] Yes, plenty of " Bond" reading for us this year. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • RevelatorRevelator Posts: 556MI6 Agent
    I was meaning to start a thread on this myself - about the criminal lack of Fleming's Collected Letters

    Amen! That's something I'd been complaining about for a long time too. It made no sense that Ann's letters had been collected and published long ago and yet Ian's--just as entertaining and more culturally relevant--were neglected. A few years ago Roger Moore did a radio program where he read some of those letters and it was wonderful: Moore gave one of the warmest, best performances of his career, and Ian's letters came off as wonderfully charming and witty. This new book, which according to Amazon is 384 pages, truly sounds like an answered prayer. Definitely a must-buy!
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I'll be buying this for sure.
  • David SchofieldDavid Schofield EnglandPosts: 1,528MI6 Agent
    Just had an email from Amazon saying they can no longer source this book and are cancelling my order.

  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    Oh dear - not good at all
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  • David SchofieldDavid Schofield EnglandPosts: 1,528MI6 Agent
    Scrap that.

    Now asking me to order another version??????
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Bad luck, hope it works out in the end. -{

    I trying to get my hands on the French version ( yes, it's a dirty joke) :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    I have just finished reading this book and found it to be outstanding.

    I have read all the major biographies of Fleming (Lycett, Pearson, Gilbert...and to which I believe must also be included Matthew Parker's recent 'Goldeneye') plus many of the lesser-known biographies - and even 'pulp non-fictions' on him! - and would absolutely add this collection of Fleming letters to the must-read list. Although the previous biographies have all provided excellent information and in-depth details on Ian Fleming's personal and professional lives, Fergus Fleming's annotated compilation of correspondence goes the furthest to provide an insight into what Fleming the person was really like. It also provides some great details on the creation and development of Bond, of Fleming's continuous doubts about the character and his own ability to continue creating new adventures for him.

    From everything I had previously read, I was never sure whether I would have liked Fleming had I met him, but these letters show him to have often been a warm and kind person. This is evident not only in the wonderful letters he wrote to fans (and detractors alike), but also the kindness he expressed to friends and professional acquaintances, including the good grace with which he took Cyril Connolly's "Bond Strikes Camp" parody.

    Perhaps one of the most interesting tidbits for me was his admission in a letter to Ann that he had had a thoroughly enjoyable time at Goldeneye when Truman Capote came to stay. Two more dissimilar sorts locked together in a tropical cabin I can't imagine!

    I hate to find something else for everyone to spend their money on, but this simply is a must-read for Fleming aficionados. Fortunately, it is at least coming out in paperback this week!
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    Thanks for the review. Mine has been sitting on the shelf though I did manage Parkers superb Goldeneye.

    Think you have inspired me to grab it off the shelf this weekend!
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  • ggl007ggl007 SpainPosts: 388MI6 Agent
    The Domino Effect, when you say you've read Gilbert's biography, do you mean his Bibliography? Has it a biographical chapter?
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    This is going to be a welcome addition to my bookshelf.
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    ggl007 wrote:
    The Domino Effect, when you say you've read Gilbert's biography, do you mean his Bibliography? Has it a biographical chapter?


    Sorry ggl007, yes I do mean Gilbert's bibliography. Although an unbelievably comprehensive bibliography, it contains a huge amount of biographical details on Fleming some of which I hadn't read elsewhere before.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent

    Excellent review and one with which I completely agree.
  • ggl007ggl007 SpainPosts: 388MI6 Agent
    ggl007 wrote:
    The Domino Effect, when you say you've read Gilbert's biography, do you mean his Bibliography? Has it a biographical chapter?


    Sorry ggl007, yes I do mean Gilbert's bibliography. Although an unbelievably comprehensive bibliography, it contains a huge amount of biographical details on Fleming some of which I hadn't read elsewhere before.
    Thanks! Gilbert's book really looks interesting but a little expensive... :(

    By the way, I also have a review for TMWTGT: http://www.archivo007.com/index.php/otros-medios/articulos/libros-y-comics/1989-the-man-with-the-golden-typewriter Well, yes, it's in Spanish but I assure you the book is great! :D
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,631MI6 Agent
    Gilbert's book is expensive - and absolutely huge, too! - but it's such a super volume to have. It's worth saving the pennies for.

    I had a go at your review using my limited Spanish (most commonly limited to "hello", "thank you" and "10 more beers please"!) and it sounds as though you were struck by the exact same things as I was: his kindness with fans and critics, his interactions with his publishers, and his correspondence with Geoffrey Boothroyd etc. It really is a great book and far more interesting than I had expected.
  • ggl007ggl007 SpainPosts: 388MI6 Agent
    Gilbert's book is expensive - and absolutely huge, too! - but it's such a super volume to have. It's worth saving the pennies for.

    I had a go at your review using my limited Spanish (most commonly limited to "hello", "thank you" and "10 more beers please"!) and it sounds as though you were struck by the exact same things as I was: his kindness with fans and critics, his interactions with his publishers, and his correspondence with Geoffrey Boothroyd etc. It really is a great book and far more interesting than I had expected.
    Thank you for your effort! -{
    You perfectly understand the most of it. I really like his interactions with the fans, even with a John Goodwin (James Bond Club in Oxford??) who was invited to go to the FRWL filming! Amazing open guy, Ian Fleming.
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