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James Bond: the Authorised Biography

(James Bond 007)
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
James Bond: the Authorised Biography by John Pearson unveils the astonishing tale behind the creation of British espionage's most iconic figure. Initially believed to be purely fictional, Bond's existence becomes a gripping mystery as Pearson, authorised by the secret service, seeks the truth. This biography takes readers beyond the thrilling fiction to reveal the real-life man who inspired Ian Fleming's legendary spy.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is essential for fans of James Bond and those fascinated by spy history and biographies. It appeals to readers interested in the blurred lines between fact and fiction within the world of intelligence and thriller literature.

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A brand-new paperback edition with a new introduction, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this fan-favourite book.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

‘It was a strong face, certainly; the eyes pale grey and very cold, the mouth was hard, the dark hair grey-streaked now still fell in the authentic comma over the forehead.’

This is how John Pearson reacted to his first encounter with the real James Bond, an encounter probably unique in the annals of thriller writing. He went on to write the bestselling authorised biography of Ian Fleming. At the time, like most of the world, he assumed that James Bond was nothing more than a character in Fleming's highly charged imagination. Then he began to have his doubts. Doubts which were reaching such a pitch that the British secret service were trying to warn him off the scent. Despite this, he finally became convinced that James Bond was not only real, but actually alive.

Thanks to a change in policy within the secret service, he was invited to embark upon a companion volume to his life of Fleming. This resulting book must be one of the most extraordinary biographies of our times: the authorised life of a myth, the official biography of James Bond. James Bond: the Authorised Biography by John Pearson offers readers an intriguing glimpse into the possible reality of an enigmatic legend.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781915797148

Publisher: Ian Fleming Publications Limited

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Ian Fleming Publications

Edition: New edition

Illustration: N/A

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 448

About the Author

John Pearson first met Ian Fleming back in 1954 when he was a young journalist, and Fleming, whose career as creator of Agent 007 had barely started, offered him a job as his assistant on the Sunday Times Atticus column. Pearson got to know Fleming well, and after his death in 1964, was commissioned to write what would become his highly successful Authorised Biography of Ian Fleming.

While researching this book, Pearson was struck by the way the character and life of James Bond overlapped with that of his creator, which gave him the idea of writing what become the parallel 'Authorised Biography' of 007. Since then Pearson wrote many successful biographies, including that of the Kray Twins, the Dukes of Devonshire, the Getty family and the Clermont Club and Lord Lucan. He died in November 2021.

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