This article was written by Martin Loughlin
I write for hot-blooded males on trains and planes. -Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming has the distinction of having created one of the most popular and enduring literary characters in the world--the suave and sophisticated British secret agent, James Bond. Despite his globetrotting adventures, Bond remains quintessentially English, and London, the city that Ian Fleming was so at home in, features in all the James Bond novels. Almost all the books begin with the obligatory scene in M's office in The Secret Service headquarters, overlooking Regent's Park often with rain beating against the window panes.
The man who would create the world's most famous secret agent was born in London on May 28, 1908, in Green Street Mayfair--one of London's most prestigious areas. A later resident of the same street would be Cubby Broccoli, producer of the Bond films. Today, Mayfair is one of London's most delightful and exclusive areas--a mix of stylish town houses, shops and hotels and foreign embassies.
Fleming's early education was at Eton College--founded in 1440 by King Henry VI and situated a short distance outside of London. In addition to Fleming himself, famous old Etonians have included the Duke of Wellington, George Orwell, no less than nineteen British prime ministers and James Bond himself, according to Fleming's books. Today, visitors are welcome to visit historic Eton, either alone or as part of a guided tour. Highlights of any visit include the 15th century College Chapel with its medieval wall paintings, the College Library and the Museum of Eton Life as well as the chance to watch traditions unchanged over centuries.
After completing his education, Fleming moved back to London, taking jobs with the Reuters news agency, whose offices at the time stood in Fleet Street, then the center of London's newspaper industry. Fleming was already well traveled by this time--having attended university in Munich and Geneva. Today, Reuters along with the rest of the newspaper industry has long since moved to the suburbs, but several atmospheric journalist bars and pubs still remain along Fleet Street. Fleming would certainly have enjoyed a drink at The Printer's Devil, The Old Shades Wine Bar and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese where Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens also sought inspiration. Throughout his life, Fleming would have a taste for the finer things in life and his first home in London was in the elegant Belgravia neighborhood. Belgravia today--as it was then--is an area of expensive town houses, hotels and exclusive shops. Thus Fleming could not resist making this area the home of one of his characters, Hugo Drax in his novel, Moonraker.
One of London's famous blue plaques erected by English Heritage on the wall of Fleming's first home at 22 Ebury Street reads: Ian Fleming 1908-1964 Creator of James Bond lived here. Not far from the house is the beautiful 19th century St Paul's church, in Wilton Row, where Fleming's parents were married. The author also lived for several years at 24 Carlyle Mansions in Cheyne Walk in the fashionable Chelsea area. The Victorian mansion enjoyed excellent views over the Thames and a short distance away is one of the area's best pubs, the King's Head and Eight Bells, dating from the 16th century. Fleming also chose Chelsea as the location for Bond's home in his novels. Although the exact location is never described, Bond's home is said to be in a Regency house in a tree-lined square off King's Road. Some Fleming critics have determined that Bond's house was probably in the attractive Wellington Square.
Throughout much of his life in London, Fleming lived the life of a bachelor--much like his creation James Bond. Fleming also frequented London's finest restaurants, clubs and clothing stores, just as Bond in his books would do. Many of London's finest and unique stores are mentioned by name in Fleming's books and Bond has been described more than once as the ultimate snob. Despite the proliferation of chain stores, many of these one of a kind stores still exist today. The main shopping area around Piccadilly, St. James and the aptly named Bond Street, contains some of London's most distinctive and historic shops--many offering a personal service. For instance, Fleming would certainly have shopped at Fortnum and Mason, specializing in fine food and wine since 1707. Apart from its unparalleled range of edible goods, one of the highlights of a trip to Fortnum and Mason is to watch the mechanical figures on the decorative clock above the entrance. The author would have perhaps patronized Jermyn Street, which is still one of the finest shopping streets in London offering everything for the fine dressed man about town. On Jermyn Street, one can still have a shirt made at Turnbull and Asser, (where Prince Charles supposedly has his pajamas made) or select a perfume at Floris, London's oldest perfumery store.
Fleming enjoyed the atmosphere of London's gentleman's clubs, still concentrated today in the elegant area of St. James. London's gentleman's clubs are an institution, and Fleming was an avid member of at least one club. The center of club land today is still St. James, where the three most famous London clubs--Boodle's, Brook's and White's stand together in close proximity. Boodle's, is the oldest such club in London, dating from 1862. The club's name was changed to Blades, for the setting of a dramatic game of cards in Fleming's novel Moonraker. Today, Boodle's still maintains its air of exclusivity-- although the club has stopped the practice of ironing newspapers for members.
Ian Fleming died of a heart attack in August 1964, typically overeating and generally indulging to the end--despite his doctor's advice. He lived long enough to see two movies made from his books--Dr. No and From Russia with Love, although he never dreamed what a global phenomena Bond would become.
The author was buried in the churchyard at Sevenhampton, some 80 miles from the city that he felt so much at home in and featured in so many of his books.
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