Goldeneye

January 12, 2015
On the north coast of Jamaica in 1952, Ian Fleming began work from a home he designed next door to Noel Coward’s estate, writing about a suave secret agent named James Bond. In this fascinating exploration of that house, called Goldeneye, Parker tells the exciting story of how the Bond novels were produced—and how strongly Jamaica influenced Fleming’s direction in life. The languishing British colony proved the perfect setting for the former soldier to relax and craft the tales of a world-conquering British spy. Parker proceeds chronologically, showing that the creation of Goldeneye and the Bond novels was inextricably intertwined with the drama of Fleming’s love life. To that end, what began as Fleming’s adulterous WWII relationship with Ann Charteris, whom he later married, explains much of why he wanted to remain in the Caribbean, away from the British press. Parker treats each Bond novel, beginning with Casino Royale, with respect and expertise, taking care to show that Fleming often integrated his deep knowledge of Jamaica into the plotlines. The depiction of Fleming’s own life of luxury in Jamaica, meanwhile, is mesmerizing. The book is as charming as Bond himself, leaving us a greater understanding of the world’s most famous spy, his creator, and the house in which he was conceived.

January 1, 2015

Here Parker (The Sugar Barons) chronicles the relationship between the infamous author Ian Fleming, and his beloved Jamaica from 1946 to his final visit prior to his death in 1964, as well as the people that came into and out of his life there. Reports from those that knew Fleming, friends' personal photos, and a map illustrating significant locations, enhance the text and will help readers come to understand the writer who created one of literature and film's most iconic spies, James Bond--the "disciplined exoticism" Fleming so admired about Jamaica is reflected in his novels' themes and characters. While biographies such as Andrew Lycett's Ian Fleming provide a thorough look into Fleming's life, this title devotes itself to investigating the environment that inspired the author, even arguing that, without Jamaica, Bond may never have been born. VERDICT Fans of James Bond books and films, along with those intrigued by the man behind the spy will devour the captivating stories within these pages. Readers interested in Jamaica's relationship with Britain and America as the country moved toward independence will also appreciate the historical, cultural, and political realities and their context within Fleming's work.--Katie McGaha, Simi Valley P.L., CA

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2014
Parker (The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire, and War in the West Indies, 2011, etc.) considers Ian Fleming's escape to Jamaica, where he created James Bond and did his best to avoid the high-society life that followed him there.Fleming was not fond of many non-Brits, but he especially disliked Americans. About the only American Bond character who isn't a villain is Felix Leiter, a detective Bond cooperates with and often saves. Fleming discovered Jamaica's wonders in 1943 and quickly bought property with a private beach where he could write, using Jamaica in three of his novels. The house he built, Goldeneye, was spare and featured minimal modern conveniences. However, nature was at her best, and Fleming was happiest during the two months each year he spent in the Caribbean. It was Fleming's paradise; he loved the tropical blooms and the fascinating sea life. At the time, Jamaica was still ruled by a governor, and the racist attitudes of visitors reflected the attitude of empire. Eventually, Noel Coward became a neighbor and lifelong friend as the Jamaican tourist boom took off. Coward brought the jet-set crowd to discover the joys of island life, and anyone who was anyone showed up. Fleming, however, was asocial, heartily disliked the procession of guests and hated his wife's parties. He isolated himself to write, forbidding guests to even walk by his window. The author parallels Fleming's life with postwar events that planted the seed for the Bond character. He summarizes each of the Bond books as they reflect Cold War history-e.g., the Suez Crisis, the independence movements and increasing economic turmoil. A well-written look at Fleming's life, though the book is even better as an indictment of the anachronistic colonialism of the 1950s and the end of the British Empire.

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Starred review from February 15, 2015
Ian Fleming's books and the movies drawn from them regularly featured his beloved tropical getaway: Goldeneye, a spectacularly situated Jamaican villa overlooking the Caribbean. Falling in love with the island from his first visit, in 1943, Fleming went on to purchase property and build a retreat to his own specifications. Goldeneye became a setting not only for his many love affairs but also for wild parties with British aristocracy and literary and cinema celebrities. Just down the hill from Noel Coward's own Firefly, Goldeneye hosted the rich and famous, who quickly shed their clothes and their inhibitions. Parker draws a richly detailed portrait of Fleming and of the island that inspired the James Bond novels. The picturesque villa and the struggling young nation offered lush settings for the lucrative Bond film franchise. Parker's entertaining and well-researched biography dishes up a rich stew for fans of popular literature, travel writing, British and West Indian history, and filmmaking, all sauced with plenty of titillating celebrity gossip.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)