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Goldeneye: Where Bond was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica by Matthew Parker.
I've just finished reading Parker's book and I can't recommend it highly enough.
As the title suggests, it's focus is on Fleming's life in and love affair with Jamaica. It succeeds in not only being a riveting account of the creation of 007 and the evolution of each adventure but it also serves as a fabulous book about Jamaica and Ian's relationship with it's inhabitants.
Unlike Andrew Lycett's biography, which I found to be comprehensive on Fleming but light on the creation of Bond and dull to read, Parker's book moves at a pace and is a delight. As a frequent visitor to Jamaica and Goldeneye, I can testify to the authenticity of Parker's descriptions. You can smell the sea on the pages - a thoroughly enjoyable summer read and a must for any fan of the literary Bond.
Read and enjoy!
As the title suggests, it's focus is on Fleming's life in and love affair with Jamaica. It succeeds in not only being a riveting account of the creation of 007 and the evolution of each adventure but it also serves as a fabulous book about Jamaica and Ian's relationship with it's inhabitants.
Unlike Andrew Lycett's biography, which I found to be comprehensive on Fleming but light on the creation of Bond and dull to read, Parker's book moves at a pace and is a delight. As a frequent visitor to Jamaica and Goldeneye, I can testify to the authenticity of Parker's descriptions. You can smell the sea on the pages - a thoroughly enjoyable summer read and a must for any fan of the literary Bond.
Read and enjoy!
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Comments
Based on your recommendation, I will pick this up. I also like the bit about discussing the evolution of each adventure.
Sinclair McKay praised it in The Telegraph
Other reviews from The Spectator
The Guardian
The Independent
The Financial Times
And no less an authority than Andrew Lycett gave his approval in The Literary Review
There's also an interview with the author, Andrew Taylor, on youtube.
Lastly, The Spectator also ran an article by Fleming's stepdaughter, titled "Was Ian Fleming as cool as his brother?"