The Diamond Smugglers

“It is often difficult to remember that we are not listening to his old hero Mr. James Bond…Several yarns are worthy of the best spy-stories.” – Observer

“An exciting and richly fascinating account.” – Sunday Times

“Fleming not only had a gift for gripping plots, but an abundantly moreish prose style with pin-sharp descriptions.” – Daily Telegraph

“Fleming’s books are well-written, pacy, and hard-edged.” – Lee Child, Daily Mail

Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London in 1908. His first job was at Reuters news agency, after which he worked briefly as a stockbroker before working in Naval Intelligence during World War Two. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and was an instant success. Fleming went on to write thirteen other Bond books as well as two works of nonfiction and the children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Bond books have earned praise from figures such as Raymond Chandler, who called Fleming “the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England” and President Kennedy, who named From Russia with Love as one of his favorite books. The books inspired a hugely successful series of film adaptations that began in 1962 with the release of Dr. No. He was married to Ann O’Neill, with whom he had a son, Caspar. He died in 1964.