The Life of Ian Fleming (1966)
John Pearson's biography of Ian Fleming was one of the first, most complete, and most respected Fleming biographies published during the 1960s. A highly collectable errata slip was inserted into available hardcover first editions of the biography by Jonathan Cape and McGraw-Hill, and later editions were slightly altered, after film producer Kevin McClory contested the truthfulness of certain passages regarding Fleming's Thunderball.
Author
Publication History
First Editions
- London: Jonathan Cape.
- New York: McGraw-Hill. Hardcover.
Typescripts and Proof Copies
- Typescript. John Pearson's unbound typescript of The Life of Ian Fleming is owned by Indiana University's Lilly Library in Bloomington.
- London: Jonathan Cape. Uncorrected proof.
British Book Clubs
- London: Companion Book Club, 1971. Hardcover.
- London: Companion Book Club, 1971. Hardcover. De luxe edition.
British Paperbacks
- The Life of Ian Fleming: Creator of James Bond. London: Pan, 1967. Paperback. ISBN 0-330-02082-X
- Sevenoaks, Kent: Coronet, 1989. ISBN 0-340-50598-2
- London: Aurum, 2003. With a new introduction by John Pearson. ISBN 1-85410-898-0
American Book Clubs
- New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966 (?).
American Paperbacks
- Alias James Bond — The Life of Ian Fleming. New York: Bantam, 1967. Paperback.
International Editions
- Jeg er James Bond 007. Copenhagen: Lademann, 1973. Danish language edition.
- Jeg er James Bond 007. Copenhagen: Lademann, 1973. Danish language book club edition.
- La Vie de Ian Fleming. Paris: Plon, 1967. Paperback. French language edition.
Reviews
- AB Bookman's Weekly, 17 April 1967, p. 1686.
- Books and Bookmen, December 1966, p. 30.
- Choice, February 1967, p. 1128.
- Economist, 12 November 1966, p. 690.
- Malcolm Muggeridge, “Books,” Esquire, March 1967, p. 26.
- Malcolm Bradbury, “The Making of James Bond,” Guardian (UK) Weekly, 27 October 1966, p. 10. Book review of The Life of Ian Fleming by John Pearson. (Reprinted from the Guardian?)
- Kirkus Reviews, 15 October 1966, p. 1127.
- P. W. Filby, Library Journal, 1 January 1967, p. 106.
- Anthony Lejeune, National Review, 10 January 1967, p. 41.
- V. S. Naipaul, New Statesman, 28 October 1966, p. 628.
- Josh Greenfeld, New York Herald Tribune, 20 November 1966, Book Week, p. 2.
- Albert Goldman, “Elegant Narcissist,” New York Times Book Review, 11 December 1966, pp. 34, 36.
- Kingsley Amis, “Dial M for Mother,” Observer, 23 October 1966, p. 25(26?).
- Publishers Weekly, 17 October 1966, p. 59.
- Publishers Weekly, 20 March 1967, p. 62.
- Christopher Short, “No Frankenstein,” Punch, 16 November 1966, p. 757.
- Saturday Night, January 1967, p. 37.
- Simon Raven, “The Natural Man,” Spectator, 28 October 1966, pp. 552, 554.
- “Human Bondage,” Times, 27 October 1966, p. 17.
- Times, 1 June 1968, p. 20.
- “4: James Bond,” Heroes of Our Time, Times Literary Supplement, 27 October 1966, p. 972.
- Virginia Quarterly Review, Spring 1967, p. lxxx.