The name was Fleming, Ian Fleming, a well-travelled naval intelligence officer who had strong links with the CIA. He had the ideal background to write the 12 James Bond novels that turned the seedy world of espionage into the most glamorous job in the world.
A world of exotic locations, action, wit and above all, beautiful women. Fleming had come close to it in his own career as personal assistant to Admiral John Godfrey, the head of British Naval Intelligence during World War II with good friends in the fledgling post-war CIA in the United States.
Fleming loved spy and detective stories as a child, growing up on a diet of Bulldog Drummond and Fu Manchu.
He was a great outdoors fan, keen on diving, skiing and climbing just as his hero would be.
One school of thought has it that Ian Fleming based 007 upon himself, or perhaps on the man he wanted to be.
He did not start writing for the money. He was already a wealthy man and a successful journalist working as foreign manager of the Sunday Times for a while after the war.
