In the original dustsheet. Purple cloth binding with silver title on the spine.

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“This is a brilliant look at the British Empire, and its fall, as reflected in the gadget-filled, babe-bagging, martini-swilling, world-saving career of James Bond. It’s utterly unique. Sly, funny, occasionally sad, a wild mix of cultural history, film criticism, and memoir in which the author, trying to fathom the disorienting collapse of his parents’ world, finds the key in the somewhat daft (Winder’s word) creation of Ian Fleming. It burns from beginning to end” – Rich Cohen, author of “Sweet and Low”. “Winder pulls it off with fizzing enjoyment …His talent for pitch-perfect depreciative comedy fully justifies this aim. When he’s not Swift, he’s Twain” – “Sunday Telegraph”. “A book of eccentric brilliance that covers everything from Jamaica as a mere memoire to the sexual magnetism of General Nasser” – “Times Literary Supplement”. “A hilarious blend of cultural history, biography and memoir” – “Guardian”. “An entertaining yomp through the literary and cinematic heartland of James Bond country” – “Sunday Times”. “A diverting book of true fanaticism” – “Metro”. “Almost ridiculously enjoyable” – “New Statesman”. “A delightfully quirky, immediately engaging book” – “Scotland on Sunday”.

Review: This book is indeed a personal study of James Bond as depicted in the books and in the films. For a half century, the Bond franchise has been enormously successful. Certainly no other superhero enjoys his uninterrupted popularity. Why is that? To answer that question, the author considers that Bond appeared just when the British Empire was collapsing…and the English were feeling impotent in global affairs. Along comes Bond – a Churchillian figure – who saves his country and the West from evil blackmailers and dangerous villians.. Bond restores the psyche of the English male. Then again, Bond’s attitudes were comforting to those trying to cope with new dangerous ideas: third world or womens’ liberation. Bond takes charge…of women, and persons from other lands – some exotic, some from enemy camps. I liked the part when the author discusses his impressions of James Bond when he was 10, 20, and beyond; it is interesting to see the evolution of his opinions. As a boy he was thrilled to death by the movie “Live and Let Die.” Today, he notices the flaws and even silliness of the some of the scenes. Bond is also popular because (unlike most of us) he can sample the opposite sex from around the world and make generalizations (to men) about their sexuality. Then there is the “male-talk”. Amazing – the books have sold 100 million copies…true, they are pulp fiction but usually well written pulp fiction. Ian Fleming’s novels are ideally suited for the movies because their quick pace and strange adventure are exactly what Americans want from action films. In my view, whenever a Bond film follows the book, it tends to be good. When the film strays, it is considerably weaker. (Consider the critical success of the 2006 CASINO ROYALE or the old success of Sean Connnery’s original Bond flicks) Simon Winder’s “personal reflections” are intelligent and witty. Most assuredly, he helped me understand Bond, not just enjoy him. Those unfamiliar with the Bond BOOKS should read one or two to get the flavor of Ian Fleming’s writing. Then tackle this volume. Recommended.

The Author, Simon Winder is the author of the highly praised The Man Who Saved Britain and the Sunday Times top-ten bestseller Germania. He works in publishing and lives in Wandsworth Town

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