Phyllis Bottome - "The Woman Who Invented James Bond?" - R4, 10/12/16

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
in James Bond Literature
Link to the BBC New story that has been doing the literary James Bond rounds:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38227724

There is to be a radio programme by comedian and actor Miles Jupp which looks at this story more in-depth on BBC Radio 4:

BROADCAST DETAILS: The Woman Who Invented James Bond?, Saturday 10 December 2016, 10:30 am, BBC RADIO 4 FM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b084t5dy

What do we think of this story? Is it merely hogwash or do you think there could be something to it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one, as always.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • Enjoying DeathEnjoying Death Toronto, ON CANADAPosts: 1,248MI6 Agent
    EDIT: Same link as the one you provided lol.

    It's an interesting theory but I believe she inspired Fleming to write Bond and that is all.
    Pussy Galore: “My name is Pussy Galore.”
    Bond: “I must be dreaming.”
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    As I understand it, Bottome's character was based on Ian Fleming (whom she knew) so it isn't too surprising that he would resemble James Bond since Fleming based 007 on himself.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    And already posted here -{
    YNWA 97
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    And already posted here -{

    Sorry, Sir Miles. I did a search but didn't see that. Anyway, it's worthy of discussion in our sadly quite dormant literary section here on AJB. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    Am listening right now. Miles Jupp lost credibility when he made a mistake in the first FIVE SECONDS. Two mistakes, to be exact. (Holly Goodhead and Plenty O'Toole are not Fleming names)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) I do love it when presenters do a lot of research. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    Ok, have listened to the whole thing. Very thin, with extrapolation from limited evidence, I'd say. Bottome may have been among the people who inspired Fleming to become a writer, but not the main one as was theorised here - surely his brother Peter would be that?
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    I recorded it. Very thin evidence is what I thought too and the lady at the end summed it up best for me when she said that Phyllis Bottome may have invented Ian Fleming the writer, as opposed to inventing James Bond himself. That, at least, I could go along with.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Still all the Publicity, I'm certain helped the listening figures, " Did Fleming steal Bond ?"
    Answer, No ! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    In the unlikely event that anyone from the BBC reads this, it's not too difficult to find a James Bond expert to give your scripts a look over before broadcasting and avoid pointless mistakes.
    Same goes for the press!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    We're living in the " Post Truth" era, so simp!y make up facts :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Still all the Publicity, I'm certain helped the listening figures, " Did Fleming steal Bond ?"
    Answer, No ! :))

    Yes, hyperbole always helps get listeners and readers of course. It's a bit of an insult to the memory of Ian Fleming to suggest someone else invented James Bond for him. It divorces him from his highly successful WWII career as Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence and denies him the fact that he had a great imagination all of his own without the need of outside help. I mean, if he had copied Bottome's novel The Lifeline how could you then explain the other eleven Bond novels and two short story collections that he went on to write? Thin drivel.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    Sir Miles wrote:
    And already posted here -{

    Sorry, Sir Miles. I did a search but didn't see that. Anyway, it's worthy of discussion in our sadly quite dormant literary section here on AJB. :) -{

    No apology needed -{
    YNWA 97
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    Silhouette Man wrote:
    Sir Miles wrote:
    And already posted here -{

    Sorry, Sir Miles. I did a search but didn't see that. Anyway, it's worthy of discussion in our sadly quite dormant literary section here on AJB. :) -{

    No apology needed -{

    Thanks, Sir Miles! :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Sadly, there will be a few. Who'll only remember the title and
    Not heard the programme, who will now believe Fleming stole
    The idea. :#
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Sadly, there will be a few. Who'll only remember the title and
    Not heard the programme, who will now believe Fleming stole
    The idea. :#

    There's always that danger in our 24 hour rolling news sound-bite culture. We'll be there to put them straight, though. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
    A great article in defence of Ian Fleming from the James Bond Memes blog:

    http://jamesbondmemes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/did-phyllis-bottome-invent-james-bond.html
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    Thanks for that, SM, and I see that the writer has the same thought I said above, about Chalmers being based on Fleming so naturally would resemble Bond.
    Good article!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    -{ agreed, great article.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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