James Bond

Michael Paterson is an author and historian with a special interest and encyclopaedic knowledge of all things James Bond. He has written books on a diverse range of subjects including Inside Dickens' London and Winston Churchill: His Military Life1895-1945.

• Introduction'The name's Bond, James Bond...' - A name 'as ordinary as possible'The man with the golden typewriter - The life and inspirations of Ian FlemingIn his elder brother's shadow - The distinguished career of Peter FlemingFather figure - The heroic Valentine FlemingGoldeneye - Fleming's dream houseUnlikely scenario - Fleming's 'steely patriotism' Amalgamation of daydreams - The similarities between Fleming and BondA significant number - The origins of the highly-resonant 007Out of puff - Fleming runs short of inspirationThe world is not enough - Who were James Bond's forebears?School for spies - The Eton of the NorthPrecocious youth - Bond matures earlyRealms of fantasy - In reality a rather ineffective agentSuperman? - Probably not...At home with Bond - His residence in LondonAction-fuelled lifestyle - Bond's plethora of leisure pursuitsWho'd have him? - Bond, the ultimate bachelorThe man who made it happen - Broccoli's passion for the world of 007Location, location, location - 'We can't have him going to Blackpool'Place of work - Where the adventures beginInspired, but not obvious - Sean Connery, the right man for the jobHard act to follow - The arrogant George LazenbyAlmost inevitable - Roger Moore, the longest serving BondPlayed for laughs - Moore's unique approachShort lived - Timothy Dalton - a successful, but fleeting, BondPatience rewarded - Pierce Brosnan gets another chanceRugged and realistic - Daniel Craig, a new departureThe Bond girls - Beyond the beauty...If you say so... - Fleming's description of SMERSHTrue or false - Did SMERSH really exist?From Russia with outrage - Bond viewed from behind the Iron CurtainQuaintly old-fashioned - Fleming's novels are of their timeAce of clubs - Upper-class trappings pervadeFor her majesty's service - What awards has Bond received?Struck a chord - Barry synonymous with BondAppearance in High Court - Who wrote the James Bond Theme?Tested ingredients - The successful Bond formulaGiant leap - Why did Bond go into orbit?M for mystery - Bond's superiorStolen gold - A hijacked nameSincerest flattery - Bond spawns a new genreOpen to abuse - 007 through the eyes of early satiristsThe power of Powers - The Austin Powers trilogyJohnny English - A thoroughly English satireSpoof version - Why 1967's Casino Royale was slapstickMass mayhem - The madcap plot of 1967's Casino Royale movieArtistic licence - The town that never wasStranger than fiction - A topical reference lost on audiences todayCross-channel raspberry - Bond plays to the anti-Gallic sentimentArmed to the teeth - 007's arsenal of firearmsBond on wheels - From Bentley to SaabLittle Nellie - Bond's versatile miniature aircraftMountaintop retreat - Blofeld's palace draws hungry skiersHome from home - Pinewood Studios, the 007 stageApocalyptic - Story of a sound stagePost script - Fleming's other literary exploitsMust haves - The world of Bond collectablesGolden years - The lifestyle of a retired BondHeld in trust - Bond's legacy lives onDynamic successors - Bond literary adventures to continueLucky Jim - Kingsley Amis picks up the Bond batonGolden pen - The prolific John GardnerAn unlikely successor - Raymond Benson, the first US Bond writerA new dimension - The innovative Charlie HigsonOdd man out - Sebastian Faulks, the 'serious' novelistHooked - The contemporary Jeffery DeaverPermanent home - Fleming's legacy located in India'Keep Bond British' - Will 007 always be British?Role of honour - Bond novels and moviesIndex