Jonathan Katz
American actor
Ian Fleming was an English writer best known for his James Bond spy novels. He had a wealthy background and served in British Naval Intelligence during World War II, which inspired much of the detail and depth in his Bond stories. Fleming’s Bond novels became one of the best-selling book series of all time, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
Table of Contents
Family Info
Siblings
Peter Fleming
Amaryllis Fleming
Michael Valentine Paul Fleming
Spouses
Ann Fleming
Children
Caspar Robert Fleming
About the Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Flemingwas an English writer, best known for his postwar James Bond series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his father was the Member of Parliamentfor Henley from 1910 until his death on the Western Front in 1917. Educated at Eton, Sandhurst, and, briefly, the universities of Munich and Geneva, Fleming moved through several jobs before he started writing.
While working for Britain’s Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War, Fleming was involved in planning Operation Goldeneye and in the planning and oversight of two intelligence units: 30 Assault Unit and T-Force. He drew from his wartime service and his career as a journalist for much of the background, detail, and depth of his James Bond novels.
Fleming wrote his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1952, at age 44. It was a success, and three print runs were commissioned to meet the demand. Eleven Bond novels and two collections of short stories followed between 1953 and 1966. The novels centre around James Bond, an officer in the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6. Bond is also known by his code number, 007, and was a commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Bond stories rank among the best-selling series of fictional books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Fleming also wrote the children’s story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and two works of non-fiction. In 2008, The Times ranked Fleming 14th on its list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.
Fleming was married to Anne Charteris. She had divorced her husband, the 2nd Viscount Rothermere, because of her affair with the author. Fleming and Charteris had a son, Caspar. Fleming was a heavy smoker and drinker for most of his life and succumbed to heart disease in 1964 at the age of 56. Two of his James Bond books were published posthumously; other writers have since produced Bond novels. Fleming’s creation has appeared in film twenty-seven times, portrayed by six actors in the official film series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ian Fleming was an English writer best known for his James Bond series of spy novels. He came from a wealthy family and had a background in British Naval Intelligence during World War II.
Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond, the iconic British spy, and wrote a series of 12 novels and 2 short story collections featuring the character. Many elements of the Bond stories were inspired by Fleming’s own wartime experiences.
Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels became one of the best-selling book series of all time, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide. The series has been continued by other authors since Fleming’s death in 1964.
Before becoming a writer, Ian Fleming worked in several jobs, including serving in British Naval Intelligence during World War II. His wartime experiences informed much of the detail and depth in his James Bond novels.
Ian Fleming passed away in 1964 at the age of 56 due to heart disease. He was a heavy smoker and drinker for most of his life. Two of his James Bond books were published posthumously, and other writers have continued the series since then.
6 Quotes by Ian Fleming
- 1.
Men want a woman whom they can turn on and off like a light switch.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)
- 2.
A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)
- 3.
You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)
- 4.
A woman should be an illusion.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)
- 5.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)
- 6.
Older women are best, because they always think they may be doing it for the last time.
Ian FlemingBritish author (1908-1964)