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The Man with the Golden Typewriter
I got a very early sneak peek of this from a friend at Bloomsbury quite a while back. I mentioned it in a thread, but couldn't disclose exactly what it was. Well, here it is...
http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-man-with-the-golden-typewriter-9781408865477/
It will be a belter.
Amazon blurb:
On August 16, 1952, Ian Fleming wrote to his wife, Ann, “My love, This is only a tiny letter to try out my new typewriter and to see if it will write golden words since it is made of gold.” He had bought the golden typewriter as a present to himself for finishing his first novel, Casino Royale. It marked in glamorous style the arrival of James Bond, agent 007, and the start of a career that saw Fleming become one the world’s most celebrated thriller-writers. And he did write golden words. Before his death in 1964 he produced fourteen best-selling Bond books, two works of non-fiction and the famous children’s story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
Fleming’s output was matched by an equally energetic flow of letters. He wrote constantly, to his wife, publisher, editors, fans, friends and critics–and to the wife of the man whose name Fleming appropriated for his hero–charting 007’s progress with correspondence that ranged from badgering Jonathan Cape about his quota of free copies–a coin was tossed and Fleming lost–to apologizing for having mistaken a certain brand of perfume and for equipping Bond with the wrong kind of gun. His letters also reflect his friendship with such contemporaries as Raymond Chandler, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham.
This entertaining and engaging compilation traces the arc of Fleming’s literary career and details the inner working of James Bond. Set against the backdrop of his Jamaican retreat Goldeneye, and a troubled marriage, Fleming’s letters are filled with wit, humor and occasional self-doubt. They reveal an intimate portrait of a man, an era and a literary phenomenon.
http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-man-with-the-golden-typewriter-9781408865477/
It will be a belter.
Amazon blurb:
On August 16, 1952, Ian Fleming wrote to his wife, Ann, “My love, This is only a tiny letter to try out my new typewriter and to see if it will write golden words since it is made of gold.” He had bought the golden typewriter as a present to himself for finishing his first novel, Casino Royale. It marked in glamorous style the arrival of James Bond, agent 007, and the start of a career that saw Fleming become one the world’s most celebrated thriller-writers. And he did write golden words. Before his death in 1964 he produced fourteen best-selling Bond books, two works of non-fiction and the famous children’s story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.
Fleming’s output was matched by an equally energetic flow of letters. He wrote constantly, to his wife, publisher, editors, fans, friends and critics–and to the wife of the man whose name Fleming appropriated for his hero–charting 007’s progress with correspondence that ranged from badgering Jonathan Cape about his quota of free copies–a coin was tossed and Fleming lost–to apologizing for having mistaken a certain brand of perfume and for equipping Bond with the wrong kind of gun. His letters also reflect his friendship with such contemporaries as Raymond Chandler, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham.
This entertaining and engaging compilation traces the arc of Fleming’s literary career and details the inner working of James Bond. Set against the backdrop of his Jamaican retreat Goldeneye, and a troubled marriage, Fleming’s letters are filled with wit, humor and occasional self-doubt. They reveal an intimate portrait of a man, an era and a literary phenomenon.
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Comments
https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/a-visit-with-ian-fleming/
Lucky you, @AlexanderWaverly! That's a dream of a travel for us Bondophiles and bibliophiles!
When I found out about this about this about a year ago, you were the first person I wanted to tell, but I swore to my friend I wouldn't let the cat out as it hadn't been finalised. I think this is going to be a great read.
Aww thanks friend. I know you were sworn to secrecy. It's very exciting news!
I've read bits of it but not all. It's pretty good.
Mark you, the more I read about Ann, the more I like Blanche!
Yes, in the latter years of his life that was clearly where he found solace away from Ann and her snobby and happily all but forgotten literary set. John Pearson said in later life he liked people who were deuce and kind and his mistress Blanche Blackwell clearly fitted the bill. In fact she's still with us and going strong at 102.