With “Casino Royale” 70 years ago, Ian Fleming laid the foundation for a pop culture phenomenon. The British author did not live to see the gigantic success.
Fear of impending marriage is said to have motivated Ian Fleming to write his first spy thriller. To distract himself from thoughts of the end of his bachelor life, the British author and former secret service officer sat down at the typewriter.
He typed his first words in early 1952 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. A good year later, on April 13, 1953, the novel “Casino Royale” was published in Great Britain. It was the birth of James Bond.
Initial doubts
Ian Fleming would never have dared to dream that his character would one day become so famous. In fact, the author even had serious doubts when he finished his manuscript for “Casino Royale” – depending on the sources – after six weeks or a good two months. When Fleming sent his friend, the writer William Plomer, a manuscript, he is said to have cautiously remarked that he was ashamed of it but would risk it anyway. But Plomer recognized the potential of 007 and encouraged his friend.
Fleming’s inspiration for “Casino Royale” was his own experiences as a member of the British Naval Intelligence Service during World War II and real events he witnessed during that time. Born in London on May 28, 1908, Fleming worked as a journalist and stockbroker before becoming an intelligence officer during the war. It was probably a vocation, as Fleming was fascinated by the mysterious and dangerous world of espionage.
In “Casino Royale,” secret service agent Bond is set to take part in a high-stakes baccarat tournament in Royale-les-Eaux, France. His job is to bankrupt the Soviet agent Le Chiffre, who is using his Communist Party’s money to finance his own criminal activities. Le Chiffre recently lost a large sum and is in dire need of cash to pay off his dangerous creditors. Bond is aided in his mission by Vesper Lynd, a British Treasury agent with whom he falls in love.
A new type of hero
“Casino Royale” marked a departure from the hitherto usual classic crime thriller. Fleming’s dynamic storytelling captivated with an unusually fast-paced plot, gripping action and lively characters. In doing so, he established a new standard for thriller and adventure novels that has endured to this day. In Bond, Fleming also created a new type of hero. Polite and cultured, but also capable of extreme violence when necessary – a gentleman and hitman. That hadn’t existed before.
A striking feature of Fleming’s writing style is the lively, descriptive language, such as sounds and smells. “The smell of smoke and sweat in a casino at three in the morning is extremely disgusting,” reads the first sentence in “Casino Royale”. In this way, readers are placed directly in the middle of a lively environment.
Fleming was known for his attention to detail. He meticulously described everything from the clothes his characters wear, what they eat and drink, to the buildings and street names, to the cars they drive. By making the setting contemporary and tangible, his story seemed more realistic and believable.
His extremely graphic description of violence and sex, which was not without controversy at the time, was also groundbreaking. It did, however, help cement Bond’s image as a tough and uncompromising hero. A torture scene, described in detail, caused a sensation, in which 007 was tied naked to a chair and Le Chiffre repeatedly hits him between the legs with a carpet beater.
A bird watcher as namesake
Fleming’s own personality strongly shaped the character he created. Like Bond, he himself was known as a lover of fast cars, expensive clothes and exotic travel destinations. The author also had a reputation as a womanizer – a trait notoriously reflected in Bond’s character as well. Looking for the most common name possible for his hero, Fleming struck gold on his bookshelf. There was the ornithological book “Birds of the West Indies” by the author James Bond.
Fleming’s older brother Peter was already an established author of travel literature. He convinced his publisher, who initially showed little interest in “Casino Royale”, to publish the novel. It should be worth it. In the UK, “Casino Royale” became an instant hit. Less than a month after the start of sales, the first 4,700 copies of the book were sold out.
70 years later, secret agent 007 is a pop culture phenomenon. Eleven more novels and two collections of short stories by Fleming followed, which have been translated into countless languages. There are also many licensed James Bond stories by other authors. Most recently, author Anthony Horowitz wrote a trilogy that even included unused original Fleming material and was praised for its proximity to the James Bond creator’s style.
Sean Connery is the first Bond
The start of the famous 007 film series, which began in 1962 with Sean Connery in the leading role and has continued to this day with changing actors, meant another gigantic boost in popularity for the secret agent. The 25 films by the production company EON made the box office jingle all over the world. Fleming witnessed only the beginnings of it. He died on August 12, 1964, a month before the movie “Goldfinger” started a worldwide 007 hype.
The fact that “Casino Royale” wasn’t filmed by EON until 2006 was because the rights had previously been held elsewhere. A 1954 American made-for-TV movie starring Barry Nelson as Jimmy Bond and the 1967 wacky comedy Casino Royale starring David Niven, Peter Sellers and Orson Welles have little in common with Fleming’s debut novel. The 21st film in the EON series with Daniel Craig, on the other hand, is based closely on the book.
For the 70th anniversary of “Casino Royale”, all James Bond novels and short stories by Ian Fleming will be re-released in April. But rights manager Ian Fleming Publications caused a great deal of irritation with this of all things. Because, as the company, owned by Fleming’s descendants, has confirmed, terms and references that might be considered offensive today have been removed or changed in the new edition. Fleming biographer Andrew Lycett, among others, sharply criticized this. Not all books are affected. “Casino Royale” should remain unchanged in the new edition. (dpa)