Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London on28 May 1908 and was educated at Eton College before spending a formative periodstudying languages in Europe. His first job was with Reuters news agency,followed by a brief spell as a stockbroker. On the outbreak of the Second WorldWar he was appointed assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence, AdmiralGodfrey, where he played a key part in British and Allied espionage operations.After the war he joined Kemsley Newspapersas Foreign Manager of The Sunday Times, running a network ofcorrespondents who were intimately involved in the Cold War. His first novel, Casino Royale, waspublished in 1953 and introduced James Bond, Special Agent 007, to the world.The first print run sold out within a month. Following this initial success, hepublished a Bond title every year until his death. His own travels, interestsand wartime experience gave authority to everything he wrote. Raymond Chandlerhailed him as 'the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England.'The fifth title, From Russia With Love, was particularly well receivedand sales soared when President Kennedy named it as one of his favourite books.The Bond novels have sold more than 100 million copies and inspired a hugelysuccessful film franchise which began in 1962 with the release of Dr No, starringSean Connery as 007.The Bond books were written in Jamaica, acountry Fleming fell in love with during the war and where he built a house,'Goldeneye'. He married Ann Rothermere in 1952. His story about a magical car,written in 1961 for their only child, Caspar, went on to become the well-lovednovel and film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Fleming died of heart failure on 12 August1964.