Goldeneye by Mathew Parker

Polar Bear 0007

I just finished Goldeneye by Mathew Parker. The book is a mini biography on Fleming with an emphasis on Jamiaca and it's influence on James Bond.

What a fantastic book, I can't recommend it highly enough. I won't ruin it for any of you yet to read it but it moves very quickly and is a fun read.

5 stars.......

The Domino Effect

Delighted to hear it. I have been looking forward to this book since I first learned about it last year. I picked it up as soon as it went on sale but haven't started yet.

Barbel

Haven't picked up on this one yet, will certainly take a look.

Kent007

Glad the book has got good reviews. Going to give it a read as it might help with my dissertation which is on Bond.
Plus Parker is giving a talk on it in Sheffield later in the month so I'm going to make sure I go to that.

The Domino Effect

Just finished reading this and can't recommend it highly enough. I have read the other three major biographical works on Fleming (Lycett, Person and Jon Gilbert's bibliography) and still learned new things about Fleming, Bond and the Bond films from it. It's a great portrait of Jamaica and the world at the time which is very significant as to how Fleming thought and why Bond ended up the way he did. It also sheds valuable light on the oft-asked question of whether Fleming was racist (I remain more convinced than ever that he wasn't...although you have to take his attitudes in the context of the time). The book draws heavily on the diaries, letters and papers of peripheral characters like Noel Coward which add an important dimension. It's a great read and an invaluable addition to the best works on Fleming. Highly, highly recommended.

Revelator

Just wanted to add that I've written a long review of Goldeneye for the Artistic Licence Renewed site. You can read it here:
http://literary007.com/2015/03/11/dr-jamaica-calling-goldeneye-where-bond-was-born-ian-flemings-jamaica-by-matthew-parker/
My short verdict: essential reading for Fleming fans.

welshboy78

I read this book over 3 days which is a record for me, could not put it down - superb reading!!

Mr Snow

To The Domino Effect, an excellent summation (about the book and Jamaica obviously) from yourself in my opinion.

This is the only book I've read re: a Fleming biography so I won't compare it with the ones written by Lycett, Pearson and Gilbert.

I do agree with you that I don't think Fleming was racist. The book 'Live and Let Die' may have had the occasional references to the word 'nigger' (as bad as that was) but I don't believe, as a whole (the book and racism) was all that bad. In fact, LALD in my opinion was a very good read with some memorable underwater scenes and the plot was a very good one.

The more I read 'Goldeneye' the more I really believe Ian Fleming actually had affection for the Jamaicans (regardless of colour). He employed many 'black' people at his home in Goldeneye - Violet for one, Barrington Roper (a swimming champion) another and several others. If anything, I think Fleming had a dislike for the Americans.

Finally (not really a spoiler alert), as great a read (Goldeneye) as this is, if you plan on reading all the Bond (Ian Fleming) novels, I suggest you read those first as there are a couple of endings that are given away - but it’s up to you.