May 1st, 2008
This year marks the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming, a name that is implicitly tied to James Bond. However, as the books were eclipsed long ago by the films, it seems while many are familiar with Fleming’s name, far fewer actually know much about his life or his extraordinary intelligence career during the Second World War. With the centenary date fast approaching, now seems like the moment to attempt to rectify this imbalance, with the first part of a concise biography of Ian Fleming.
Born in London’s Mayfair on May 28th 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was the second of four brothers born to Conservative MP Valentine Fleming and his wife Eve. Valentine was the son of Robert Fleming, founder of the merchant bank that bore his name, ensuring Ian was born into the most privileged of circumstances. However, Valentine was killed in France during the First World War, shortly before Ian’s ninth birthday, an event that was to haunt him for the rest of his life. Valentine counted among his friends Winston Churchill, who wrote his obituary in The Times; later Ian was to display a copy signed by Churchill in each of his houses.
Ian joined elder brother Peter at Eton in 1921. While he excelled at sports, he showed little academic aptitude and in 1925 and 26 became the first Victor Ludorum - Champion Athlete - for two consecutive years. During this time Eve had sold the family home and moved to Chelsea, and promptly embarked on an affair with Augustus John, a leading painter of the time.
Ian had been railroaded into following his father’s footsteps by Eve and was being lined up for officer training at Sandhurst. However, when it became apparent that he was doing his utmost be uncooperative, Ian was removed from Eton by his mother - not expelled as some claim, like 007 - and sent to a crammer to study for the Sandhurst entrance exams.
Having gained entrance to Sandhurst - his mother’s high society connections certainly helped here - Ian found the discipline difficult, or at least seemed determined to ignore the rules as best he could. He finally managed to put an early end to his fledgling army career when he contracted gonorrhoea from a prostitute, his mother deciding that the army was not for him after all and forcing him to resign.
For more comprehensive information on the life of Ian Fleming see Andrew Lycett’s excellent biography, available at Amazon.co.uk/Amazon.com.
Read more about Ian Fleming
Posted in Ian Fleming |
No Comments »
March 26th, 2008
Turnbull and Asser was founded in London’s Jermyn Street in 1885 where its store remains to this day preserved in old world elegance. Although the company was never mentioned in Ian Fleming’s books, it is known that Ian Fleming was a customer himself and another regular customer, Terrence Young, turned to Turnbull and Asser when it came to dress Sean Connery in Dr No. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Appearance |
Comments Off
March 25th, 2008
When James Bond visits Paradise Island in the Bahamas on the trail of Demitrius in Casino Royale, he stays at The One and Only Ocean Club, a luxurious resort hotel. It is at The One and Only Ocean Club that he wins Demetrius’s Aston Martin DB5 in a game of poker and then adds insult to injury by seducing his girlfriend, Solange. Tailing Demetrius to Miami, they meet in a deadly encounter at Bodyworlds.
After foiling a terrorist attempt to destroy a new airliner on its maiden flight in front of the world’s media, Bond returns to Paradise Island to meet M, and finds Solange murdered for her treachery.
In fact Casino Royale is not the first James Bond film to have used Paradise Island as a location, with some scenes from Thunderball being shot on the north shore, as well as Café Martinique, where 007 plays Largo at Chemin de Fer. Sean Connery fell in love with the island during filming and later bought a property there.
The best Paradise Island scenes to appear in Casino Royale are probably the long shots of the seemingly endless sandy beaches and crystal clear water, ideal for anyone remotely interested in water sports.
With fantastic ocean views and first class facilities all round, The One and Only Ocean Club isn’t a destination for the budget Bond, but you will give yourself a time to remember should you stay here. Don’t forget to order a Mount Gay with soda in The Library, the bar in which 007 won the DB5 from Demetrius.
The One and Only Ocean Club
Posted in Casino Royale, Locations |
Comments Off
March 13th, 2008
Many people have been intrigued by the Algerian love knot worn by Vesper in Casino Royale, wanting to learn more about it.
Quite simply a love knot is a stylised knot used as an symbol of love consisting of three or more intertwined rings made from wire or tubing that are flattened after assembly. Most commonly encountered as the Celtic love knot, it symbolises completeness and stability and can be found in several cultures. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Casino Royale, Products |
4 Comments »
March 7th, 2008
There are several months still to go before the release of Quantum of Solace.
However, to help fill the gap - not that there is much of a gap with all that is going on, with books, exhibitions and the new film - you can view a selection of souvenirs from the World Premier in London’s Leicester Square. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Casino Royale, Collecting |
Comments Off
January 1st, 2008
This year is set to be an bumper year for James Bond, and while many people’s eyes will be focused on Bond 22, due to start filming on Thursday, fans of the novels are in for a real treat this year. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Books, Exhibitions, Ian Fleming |
1 Comment »
December 15th, 2007
Take a look at what was going on during the morning of November 14th 2006, when Leicester Square was thrown into chaos in preparation for the Royal Premier of Casino Royale. Centre stage was the Aston Martin DBS and film crews from around the world were taking turns to get close up. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Casino Royale |
Comments Off
December 11th, 2007
With Christmas fast approaching it is time to look at some of our
favourite Bond related products with links to help you find them online. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Products |
2 Comments »
September 28th, 2007
The hefty size and weight were what first struck me about the James Bond Encyclopedia when it arrived, but when I opened the book and started to browse through the the wealth of information and stunningly reproduced photographs it was obvious that it is destined for the coffee table rather than gathering dust in my Bond library.
Although it may receive little use as a reference book, the dedicated Bond fan will derive pleasure simply by flipping through the glossy pages until something of interest is found. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Books, Reviews |
3 Comments »
September 25th, 2007
At the beginning of the novel Thunderball James Bond is sent to Shrublands health farm by M for a two week stay. Bond has just had his medical and the conclusion of the Chief Medical Officer is that he is off his peak; Bond’s steady diet of martinis and cigarettes, plus his demanding job, is taking its toll on his fitness.
After finishing his fortnight of diet, massage, irrigation and Sitz baths Bond is ready for a proper meal; or, as Ian Fleming puts it, “a passionate longing for a large dish of Spaghetti Bolognese Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Food, Recipes |
Comments Off
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl it!
