In this article, we discover the history of James Bond. With twenty-four James Bond movies and twelve novels released through five decades, we have seen James Bond sometimes depicted differently in Ian Flemings’ novel to his on-screen persona. Discover Ian Fleming’s vision as his ideal James Bond and the basis of the character in the section Creation of Bond, James Bond, James Bond’s background including his family in the section, Family History or all about Ian Fleming’s Novels.
Creation of Bond, James Bond
It has been suggested that a number of real-life inspirations were used when British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence officer Ian Fleming first created the fictional character, James Bond. A former Commander in the Royal Navy who subsequently became a spy working for Her Majesty’s Secret Service, MI6, and armed with his Licence to Kill.
He first appeared in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale and went on to appear in further twelve novels and nine short stories by Ian Fleming, as well as a number of continuation novels and twenty-six films, with seven actors playing Bond.
When I wrote the first one in 1953, I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened; I wanted him to be a blunt instrument … when I was casting around for a name for my protagonist I thought by God, [James Bond] is the dullest name I ever heard.”
James Bond was a compound of all the secret agents and commando types I met during the war.”
Although the actual stories and characters portrayed in the James Bond series are fictional, a number of key elements had a real-life background. During World War II, Ian Fleming was the personal assistant to the director of the Naval Intelligence Division, Admiral John Godfrey where he reached the rank of commander and inspired by a number of individuals he came across during his time in intelligence, he said that Bond “was a compound of all the secret agents and commando types I met during the war”. Throughout his writings, he included names of school friends, acquaintances, relatives and lovers throughout his books.
However, many of James Bond’s habits, traits, preferences, vices and even his physical description suggest the character was most heavily based on Ian Fleming himself, such as sharing the same golf handicap, the taste for scrambled eggs, using the same brand of toiletries, his love of golf and gambling mirroring his creator’s. James Bond’s cigarettes were also the same as Ian Fleming’s, who had been buying his custom-made by Morland cigarettes since the 1930s. The three gold bands on the filter of James Bond’s cigarettes were added by Fleming, during the war to mirror his naval Commander rank.
It struck me that this brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon and yet very masculine name was just what I needed, and so a second James Bond was born.”
When selecting a name for his protagonist, was inspired to use the name of American ornithologist James Bond. He was a bird expert and author of the field guide Birds of the West Indies; Ian Fleming, a keen birdwatcher himself, had a copy of James Bond’s guide lying on his coffee table and he later explained to the ornithologist’s wife that “It struck me that this brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon and yet very masculine name was just what I needed, and so a second James Bond was born”. He was obliquely referred to in the film adaptation Die Another Day where James Bond picked up a copy of Birds of the West Indies whilst posing as an ornithologist.
Family History
There was little information given about James Bond’s past until the release of You Only Live Twice, where M wrote an obituary shedding some light on his background. The age of James Bond was always inconsistent as Ian Fleming did not provide a date of birth, however, it’s clear that he is in his mid to late 30’s throughout the majority of the original series.
James Bond was born to a Scottish father called Andrew Bond and a Swiss mother Monique Delacroix. He was orphaned at 11 years old when his parents were killed in a mountain climbing accident. When Skyfall was released in 2006, we discovered more about his family history. James Bond takes M to Skyfall, his family estate and childhood home in the Scottish Highlands. This is the second time James Bond discusses the death of his parents in the series, the first was in Goldeneye.
Ian Fleming’s sketched concept image of James Bond; commissioned to aid the Daily Express comic strip artists
James Bond family coat of arms.
Motto: Orbis Non Sufficit (The World Is Not Enough”).
Ian Fleming gave Bond both a sense of humour and a Scottish heritage reportedly based on Sean Connery’s performance in Dr No and was further influenced by his approach to the character in his later novels particularly with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1963.
Following the death of his parents’, he went to live with his aunt, Miss Charmain where he attended Eton College. He was expelled from Eton after hooking up with a maid. Following this, he spent the next few years playing golf and skiing before joining the Royal Navy where he was promoted to the rank of Commander. After the war, he joined MI6 headed by M where to earn his 00 statuses was tasked with killing two enemy agents, a Japanese cypher clerk and a Norwegian double agent. This scenario was adapted, albeit with a few changes, in the officially sanctioned adaptation of Casino Royale (1967).
Bond reminds me rather of Hoagy Carmichael, but there is something cold and ruthless”.
James Bond’s physical description is similar to that of Ian Fleming himself, however, there are other details throughout the book that provide further insight into his description. He decided that Bond should also resemble American singer Hoagy Carmichael and in Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd comments, “Bond reminds me rather of Hoagy Carmichael, but there is something cold and ruthless”. Reference is also made in Moonraker when Special Branch Officer Gala Brand thinks that Bond is “certainly good-looking … Rather like Hoagy Carmichael in a way. That black hair falling down over the right eyebrow. Much the same bones. But there was something a bit cruel in the mouth, and the eyes were cold”.
In the novel From Russia with Love, we found out that James Bond is 6 feet tall and of a slim build, weights 76 kilograms, has a scar on his right cheek and black hair. This information was found in a file kept by the KGB.
James Bond, 007, the chain smoking, heavy drinking, womanising cold war hero who indulges in his vices to silence the demons brought on by his work as a government sanctioned killer. His attitudes and prejudices are very much a product of their time, as well as reflective of Ian Fleming’s smug aristocratic viewpoints. While much darker and aggressive than his cinematic counterpart, he is also given much more humanity in the novels. He is a man who gets tired, burned out and discouraged, yet always makes the effort to ensure the job is done effectively while protecting his friends and country. He is, without question, the best that Her Majesty’s Secret Service has to offer.
Ian Fleming’s Novels
Ian Fleming wrote all his novels at his estate in Jamaica called, Goldeneye and only wrote during the months January and February each year.
When Ian Fleming had completed the manuscript for Casino Royale he gave it to his friends, who later became the editor, William Plomer to read. He liked the manuscript and submitted it to publishers, Jonathon Cape but they were not keen. They finally published the novel in 1953 on the recommendation of Ian Fleming’s older brother Peter whom himself was an established travel writer. Between 1953 and 1966, two years after his death, twelve novel and two short-story collections were published. His last two books, the Man with the Golden Gun and Octopussy and The Living Daylights were published posthumously.
Casino Royale
by Ian Fleming (Author), Alan Judd (Introduction)
Casino Royale, the first of Ian Fleming’s novels that introduced the world to secret agent, James Bond. The novel follows 007, on the trail of one of SMERSH’s most deadly operatives, the man known only as Le Chiffre. A game of cards is James Bond’s only chance to bring down Le Chiffre but he soon discovers that there is far more at stake than money.
Live and Let Die
by Ian Fleming (Author), Andrew Taylor (Introduction)
Live and Let Die, Ian Fleming’s second 007 novel, takes Bond from Harlem to Jamaica in a frenzied hunt for the brilliant deadly gangster Mr Big and his macabre network of associates. Written by Ian Fleming at his Goldeneye estate before his first book, Casino Royale, was even published; much of the background came from Fleming’s travel in the US and knowledge of Jamaica. The novel deals with the themes of the ongoing East-West struggle of the Cold War—including British and American relations, Britain’s position in the world, race relations and the struggle between good and evil. Following a comic-strip adaptation in 1958–59 by John McLusky in the Daily Express, the novel was adapted in 1973 as the eighth film in the Eon Productions Bond series and the first to star Roger Moore as Bond. Major plot elements from the novel were also incorporated into the Bond films For Your Eyes Only in 1981 and Licence to Kill in 1989.
Moonraker
by Ian Fleming (Author), Susan Hill (Introduction)
He’s a self-made millionaire, head of the Moonraker rocket programme and loved by the press. So why is Sir Hugo Drax cheating at cards? Bond has just five days to uncover the sinister truth behind a national hero, in Ian Fleming’s third 007 adventure.
From Russia with Love
by Ian Fleming (Author), Tom Rob Smith (Introduction)
A beautiful Soviet spy. A brand-new Spektor cipher machine. SMERSH has set an irresistible trap that threatens the entire Secret Service. In Fleming’s fifth 007 novel Bond finds himself enmeshed in a deadly game of cross and double cross.
Thunderball
by Ian Fleming (Author)
SPECTRE is a merciless new enemy – a group of the world’s toughest criminals, headed by the brilliant Ernst Stavro Blofeld. When two NATO atom bombs go missing, Bond must unravel SPECTRE’s intricate plans and prevent a global catastrophe, in Fleming’s ninth 007 adventure.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
by Ian Fleming (Author), Stella Rimington (Introduction)
James Bond has had enough. Enough of Service life, of fruitless manhunts, of taking orders. But Blofeld is back – older, leaner and more dangerous than ever – with a deadly secret at the heart of his luxury ski resort. Bond must rediscover his passion for what he does best.
You Only Live Twice
by Ian Fleming (Author)
Dr. Guntram Shatterhand’s Garden of Death is a magnet for suicides from all over Japan. James Bond – grief-stricken and erratic – must kill him to save his career in the Service. But as Shatterhand’s true identity is revealed, Bond is forced to confront his past, in Ian Fleming’s twelfth 007 adventure.
The Man with the Golden Gun
by Ian Fleming (Author)
After a year missing in action, Bond is back… brainwashed by the KGB and on a mission to assassinate M. To prove his worth to the Service, he must hunt down and eliminate his fiercest opponent yet: “Pistols” Scaramanga. Ian Fleming’s final 007 novel is a fitting tribute to a unique British hero.
Octopussy and The Living Daylights (Short Stories)
by Ian Fleming (Author)
Four classic moments in the life of a spy. From avenging the wartime murder of a friend to sniper duty on the East-West Berlin border, James Bond’s body, mind and spirit are tested to their limits. The short story, The Property of a Lady, wasn’t included in the original release but was added to subsequent editions.
If you liked the website, found it useful and would like to help with its continued ad-free development, you can make a donation via PayPal. Small or large, it doesn’t matter, every little helps! We thank you for your continued support.
