Book

Author:	Henry A. Zeiger
Title:	Ian Fleming: The Spy Who Came In With The Gold
Subtitle:	A Biography
Publisher:	Duell, Sloan And Pearce
Country:	USA
Date:	1965
Format:	Hardcover
Genre:	Non-Fiction, Biography
Total Editions:	2
Rating:	Rate
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
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Notes

150 pages. Book dimensions: 20.1 cms x 14 cms x 2.5 cms.

One of the first biographies of Ian Fleming; several were published in 1965/1966 following Fleming's death from heart disease in August 1964 at the age of 56.

Comments and Reviews


JPGR&B SUBS 8th Jan 2019		Review A review from Amazon.com by "Acute Observer": 5 out of 5 stars 31 October 2014 - Published on Amazon.com Ian Fleming: The Spy Who Came in With the Gold Henry A. Zeiger is a writer and playwright who analyzed the career of Ian Fleming, and wrote this 1965 biography. Zeiger tells how many of Fleming's experiences in Naval Intelligence during the War were used in his fictional exploits about "James Bond". This book lacks an index. Chapter 1 tells about Fleming's early life. His father came from a wealthy banking/stock broker background, and died in World War I. This explains Bond as a conspicuous consumer of the finer things of life, and as a Conservative. Chapter 2 says Fleming was educated at Eton, and became "an athlete of exceptional power" (p.27). Fleming then went to Sandhurst, but refused a commission in the cavalry. He chose the Foreign Service and studied languages at Geneva and Munich, but failed to get an opening. He then got a job at Reuters, and succeeded by "his attention to detail and his willingness to take on little assignments" (p.34). Fleming's first story was to cover the trial of British engineers arrested in Moscow in 1933 as spies. "Sabotage" could be the usual problems found at the low end of the learning curve (p.45). The OGPU method for extracting confessions is on page 52. After his success, Fleming left for a job as a merchant banker and more money. Chapter 3 tells of Fleming's talents for intelligence: good languages and business knowledge. Fleming oversaw various activities and reported to the Director of Naval Intelligence (p.65). The early days of the war saw mistakes, but these were replaced by successes (pp.70-72). Pages 76-78 tell of Fleming's intelligence unit "30AU". His wartime background was used to write his adventure novels. After the war Fleming returned to journalism. Chapter 4 discusses Fleming's life after the war, and his career as a novelist. Fleming admired the American writers of the modern thriller, and the importance of pace (keeping the reader's interest). Concrete details were used to add verisimilitude to the fantasy plot, set in interesting and exciting place. Fleming's favorite car was the two-seat 1955 Thunderbird (p.103). Sales of Fleming's novels soared after JFK's recommendation (p.114). Chapter 5 presents Zeiger's analysis of Fleming's stories. Like some Eric Ambler stories, they show an individual struggling against superior forces, and winning via personal fortitude. (As if life were that simple!) Does this popularity tell something about our society? Popular literature has always dealt with violence (the Iliad, Beowulf, the Song of Roland). Other novels deal with sex more than Fleming does. Was James Bond a hero in an age of anti-heroes (p.125)? Zeiger critiques "Casino Royale" for its death of Le Chiffre before the end of the story (pp.126-137). Was Fleming toying with conventional plots? Wasn't his style different from Raymond Chandler's (p.128)? Why does Bond travel by train rather than plane (p.129)? But that's what Fleming did in the 1940s, and Bond would do in 1950s Europe. Drax's cheating at cards is a sign that he is not an English Gentleman (p.131). Zeiger comments on other Fleming stories. Zeiger describes the villain as basically a none upper-class Englishman, who lacks good manners and correct tastes (pp.142-143); none are from inherited wealth (p.145). Does this reflect the fears of a declining upper-class world (p.146)? This is the background of Ian Fleming (p.148). Does James Bond represent a fantasy life that Ian Fleming wanted (p.149)? Zeiger's analysis will shine a new light on these old stories. Read Dusko Popov’s autobiography for the facts behind the fiction. 4 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?

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Other Editions

Book

Henry A. Zeiger - Ian Fleming: The Spy Who Came In With The Gold - Popular Library - Paperback - USA (1965)