After the end of World War II, in 1945, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were frost and tense. Up until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, these years are collectively referred to as the cold war. Ian Fleming, author of the 007 series of spy novels, was probably the most famous cold war author.
The Fleming family were originally from Scotland, first in Perth and then Dundee. Robert Fleming, Ian's grandfather, made a fortune in investment trusts before moving the family to London's Grosvenor Square, where they lived in a house on the site of what is occupied today as the American Embassy. Once settled in London, Robert started his own investment bank.
Fleming's father, Valentine, was a barrister and a Member of Parliament. During the First World War, he went to serve with the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars. When he was killed on the Western Front in 1917, leaving four sons aged 10, 9, 6 and 4, his obituary was written by none other than Winston Churchill, fellow officer, friend and future Prime Minister of England. Fleming's mother, Evelyn Rose, was the daughter of a wealthy London solicitor.
Born in London's Mayfair on 27 Green Street on the 28th of May 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was the second-eldest of four brothers. He went to school at Eaton College, and then studied abroad in Germany and Austria. His elder brother, Peter, was born in 1907. He eventually wed noted actress, Celia Johnson, who appeared in David Lean's Film, "Brief Encounter." The two younger Fleming brothers, Richard and Michael, were born in 1911 and 1913, respectively. Richard died of a heart attack in 1977, while Michael married and had four children.
Prior to joining the Admiralty, he spent a career as a journalist at the British news agency, Reuters. While he was working for Reuters, he was fined three guineas (GBP 3.15) for driving an unlicensed car in Oxford. Lawyers explained his absence in court as being because he was at the World Economic Conference. He considered his years at Reuters to be the most exciting time of his life.
He was so eager to work for Reuters, he volunteered to work for nothing for a month's trial. He successfully completed updating 500 obituaries, which impressed his boss tremendously. During the Reuters years, Fleming learned to write accurately and quickly. Submitting anything less than 100% accurate copy was grounds for dismissal at Reuters.
It was Fleming's tenure as assistant Director of Naval Intelligence that inspired his 14 James Bond novels. He chose the name, James Bond, from the writer of a book about West Indian birds. Fleming spent 18 years in Jamaica, and the volume was his constant companion.
Cold war author, Ian Fleming, most famous for his spy novels, also wrote a children's short story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This story was eventually made into a Disney movie. The story was written for his son, Caspar. Fleming suffered a heart attack in Jamaica on the day of his son's 12th birthday, August 12, 1964. The boy never recovered from losing his father at such a tender age and took his own life in 1975.
The Fleming family were originally from Scotland, first in Perth and then Dundee. Robert Fleming, Ian's grandfather, made a fortune in investment trusts before moving the family to London's Grosvenor Square, where they lived in a house on the site of what is occupied today as the American Embassy. Once settled in London, Robert started his own investment bank.
Fleming's father, Valentine, was a barrister and a Member of Parliament. During the First World War, he went to serve with the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars. When he was killed on the Western Front in 1917, leaving four sons aged 10, 9, 6 and 4, his obituary was written by none other than Winston Churchill, fellow officer, friend and future Prime Minister of England. Fleming's mother, Evelyn Rose, was the daughter of a wealthy London solicitor.
Born in London's Mayfair on 27 Green Street on the 28th of May 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was the second-eldest of four brothers. He went to school at Eaton College, and then studied abroad in Germany and Austria. His elder brother, Peter, was born in 1907. He eventually wed noted actress, Celia Johnson, who appeared in David Lean's Film, "Brief Encounter." The two younger Fleming brothers, Richard and Michael, were born in 1911 and 1913, respectively. Richard died of a heart attack in 1977, while Michael married and had four children.
Prior to joining the Admiralty, he spent a career as a journalist at the British news agency, Reuters. While he was working for Reuters, he was fined three guineas (GBP 3.15) for driving an unlicensed car in Oxford. Lawyers explained his absence in court as being because he was at the World Economic Conference. He considered his years at Reuters to be the most exciting time of his life.
He was so eager to work for Reuters, he volunteered to work for nothing for a month's trial. He successfully completed updating 500 obituaries, which impressed his boss tremendously. During the Reuters years, Fleming learned to write accurately and quickly. Submitting anything less than 100% accurate copy was grounds for dismissal at Reuters.
It was Fleming's tenure as assistant Director of Naval Intelligence that inspired his 14 James Bond novels. He chose the name, James Bond, from the writer of a book about West Indian birds. Fleming spent 18 years in Jamaica, and the volume was his constant companion.
Cold war author, Ian Fleming, most famous for his spy novels, also wrote a children's short story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This story was eventually made into a Disney movie. The story was written for his son, Caspar. Fleming suffered a heart attack in Jamaica on the day of his son's 12th birthday, August 12, 1964. The boy never recovered from losing his father at such a tender age and took his own life in 1975.
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