Ian Fleming

The Man Behind James Bond

By: Andrew Lycett

Narrated by: Robert Whitfield

Sportsman, womanizer, naval commander, world-traveler, spy, this suave Old Etonian creator of the Cold War's archetypal secret agent was infinitely more complicated and interesting than his major fictional character, Agent 007. Fleming's wide-ranging and exciting life inevitably provided the plausible backdrop for the Bond novels, and while his temperamental, sometimes violent nature got him into difficulties as a young man, the second World War was the making of him. Highly regarded in British naval intelligence for his international contacts, he master-minded numerous top secret operations, including "Golden Eye," which is uncovered here for the first time. His role in shaping prototype CIA is also fully detailed.

©1995 Andrew Lycett (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks

Interesting!

Gives some insight into the history and culture of Ian Fleming the writer and person.

Very detailed on Ian almost nothing on the movies.

Incredibly detailed biography on Ian Fleming. I was disipointed on the low amount of James Bond content.

Makes Even Biography Exciting

A friendly but critical and complete account of Ian's life. The Author treats all incongruities and intimate details with full disclosure, but without sensationalism. Ian Fleming turns out to be quite an interesting charachter, especially when his life is described in the settings of history, interesting personalities like Winston Churchhill. If you enjoyed reading the Bond series, you might find this biography well the worth the time it takes to listen to it. Insights into British history, and the forming personalities that surrounded Ian complete the journey, and it seems, you might just be reading the history of "James Bond". Reality is always more interesting than fiction. It was interesting to discover that many of the names and scenes he uses in his books came from his own flamboyant life. The Goldeneye project in which Ian was actually an actor is interesting to read as well. Dig in, and enjoy this book over a holiday or several days commute. Highly recommended.

Definitive!

This is an excellent and definitive overview of Ian Flemings life! Although some reviewers have complained of the nauseating details about names of persons known by Ian, I find such information to be priceless as a foundation of not only Ians’s life but also the social universe that surrounded his life.

If You Like 007, You'll Absolutely Love this Book!

While most people assume James Bond started in 1962 with Dr. No, it had started ten years prior when Ian Fleming sat down to write Casino Royale, which was released in 1953. However, it is fascinating that so many attempts to bring Bond to the big screen had failed, and that Dr. No wasn't supposed to be the first bond film. Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett draws uncanny parallels between Bond and Fleming, and shows where each of those parallels came from in Fleming's own career in the spy game.