Obsessions: Fleming’s Bond Novels

Is there a better beach read than Fleming? It’s become a bit of a West Indies habit for us. Chill the Rose´ wade out for a swim, dry off a bit in the sun and find Bond’s mysogynistic cruelty come to life between the pulpy pages. Fleming started writing Casino Royale at his Jamaican estate, Goldeneye, on February 17 1952 as an escape from his impending marriage to Charteris. He called it his “dreadful oafish opus” at the time. How could he have ever known that the pre-marital scribblings from his tropical idylll would have such cultural impact for decades to come? It’s interesting to see Fleming’s Bond begin as ” an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened” and develop into the cultural icon that we know today.

The novels are indeed a throwback in both attitude and stance as Bond traipses across some truly inspiring locales and battles the villains of the Cold War. Even after all these years there is still something magical in visiting the name checked locations and knowing that Fleming was there, spinning out his imaginary world of exotic intrigue.

Ursula Andress and Fleming on the set of Dr No.

If you haven’t read the novels before you absolutely owe it to yourself to do so for you’ll find a far different and infinitely more intriguing character than that seen on the big screen. Read them in order and immerse yourself in a by gone world that holds attention as rapt today as yesterday. Just dont forget to have a break and order the marlin finger sandwiches at tea time.