Origin of source of Bond's name

007Downunder007Downunder Hobart, Australia Posts: 374MI6 Agent
Just read an article in standpointmag.co.uk "the names Bond counterpoint " with an alternate source for Bond's name ( named after an Aussie) .
Anthony

Comments

  • Enjoying DeathEnjoying Death Toronto, ON CANADAPosts: 1,249MI6 Agent
    I think it's been long established (even by Fleming himself) that he took the name from American Ornithologist James Bond after reading his book "Birds of the West Indies".
    Pussy Galore: “My name is Pussy Galore.”
    Bond: “I must be dreaming.”
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    The alternate theories abound from Bond being named after London's "Bond Street" because he liked to wear nice things, to being named after a church in Toronto, Canada which Fleming may (or may not) have seen while in that city during the war.

    However, there is only one source that has been documented, and that is the ornithologist that ED mentions above. The proof comes in the form of at least two interviews that Fleming did, and also in at least two letters/book inscriptions to the "real" James Bond thanking him for the use of his name and apologising for any inconvenience it may have caused. Since Fleming has attributed it to the ornithologist on multiple occasions, the case rests.

    Any other theories are pure bunkum.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,458MI6 Agent
    You can even hear Fleming telling how he "stole" the name in Everything or Nothing.
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    In this AJB article about a Fleming auction (http://jamesbond.ajb007.co.uk/bloomsburyauction24feb/), there's a CR 1st edition that he gave to a friend, with a photo included by Fleming of his meeting with the ornithologist, Terence James Bond. It seems like the photo was taken at Goldeneye, looking like it's of their much publicized meeting. I have a few observations about this information:

    (1) the "story" Fleming himself provided about the origins of Bond's name happened very early, at the latest before the publication of LALD, at a point when Fleming had 1st editions of CR to give away; yes, it's his debut novel that in itself is significant a makes for a "novel" curio to give away, but I think he would have given out whichever book was his latest as it was his practice; how is this significant? Yes, Fleming has been known to embellish anecdotal accounts about Bond, just as some sloppy journalists have done (e.g., the Scottish trait of Bond attributed to Connery), but these usually happen after a passage of time that allows spin to take place and less likely early on.

    (2) The likelihood of Fleming being familiar with the author, Terence James Bond is very high, considering that his book's subject matter (a) birds, and (b) the "West Indies," (or the Caribbean and Jamaica) are ones very close to Fleming's personal interests; a nice example of this is from the passage about birds at the very beginning of FYEO.

    (3) If there were any other sources of inspiration that for whatever reason Fleming didn't wish to emphasize, the contrivance of the Terence James Bond story would have been too complex and fantastic...so, the simpler and more plausible solution ala Occam's Razor is that the Terence James Bond angle is the truth.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    James Bond the ornithologist is not the same person as Terance James Bond the illustrator. The American ornithologist whose name Ian Fleming 'borrowed' lived from 1900-1989, whereas the artist Terance James Bond is British and was only born in 1946 (I believe). However, just to further complicate things, Terance James Bond is primarily known for his illustrations of birds which have appeared in bird guidebooks.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    James Bond the ornithologist is not the same person as Terance James Bond the illustrator. The American ornithologist whose name Ian Fleming 'borrowed' lived from 1900-1989, whereas the artist Terance James Bond is British and was only born in 1946 (I believe). However, just to further complicate things, Terance James Bond is primarily known for his illustrations of birds which have appeared in bird guidebooks.

    Yes, I was wondering where the name Terance James Bond was coming from in that short article. Thanks for clarifying this. It is all rather confused if you ask me. I still go with Ian Fleming's version of events regarding the naming of his world-famous creation, James Bond. Indeed, why would he lie about this?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    Incidentally, the copy of "You Only Live Twice" that Ian Fleming gave to James Bond (ornithologist) during the latter's visit to Goldeneye was signed and inscribed "To the real James Bond, from the thief of his identity, Ian Fleming, Feb 5, 1964 - A great day." It sold at auction some years ago for $84,000 in 2008. Who knows what it would go for today!
  • Enjoying DeathEnjoying Death Toronto, ON CANADAPosts: 1,249MI6 Agent
    Incidentally, the copy of "You Only Live Twice" that Ian Fleming gave to James Bond (ornithologist) during the latter's visit to Goldeneye was signed and inscribed "To the real James Bond, from the thief of his identity, Ian Fleming, Feb 5, 1964 - A great day." It sold at auction some years ago for $84,000 in 2008. Who knows what it would go for today!

    That would be a fantastic piece of history to own for sure! Lucky is the person that owns it now.
    Pussy Galore: “My name is Pussy Galore.”
    Bond: “I must be dreaming.”
  • superadosuperado Regent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
    James Bond the ornithologist is not the same person as Terance James Bond the illustrator. The American ornithologist whose name Ian Fleming 'borrowed' lived from 1900-1989, whereas the artist Terance James Bond is British and was only born in 1946 (I believe). However, just to further complicate things, Terance James Bond is primarily known for his illustrations of birds which have appeared in bird guidebooks.

    Yes, I was wondering where the name Terance James Bond was coming from in that short article. Thanks for clarifying this. It is all rather confused if you ask me. I still go with Ian Fleming's version of events regarding the naming of his world-famous creation, James Bond. Indeed, why would he lie about this?

    My bad...yes, I created this false assumption by carrying over that error over from Simon's AJB article. However, it should not take away from my observations. I also thought it was a convenient way to differentiate the American ornithologist from our favorite fictional character.
    "...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    Just imagine how confusing things would have been if Terance James Bond had dropped his first name completely? Then we'd have James Bond the spy named after James Bond the ornithologist whose birds were illustrated by James Bond the artist!
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