tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post2038204513431501681..comments2013-04-28T14:44:48.079+02:00Comments on JEREMY DUNS: 007 In Depth: William Plomer interviews Ian Fleming, 1962Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-35300424576698325642010-08-25T01:14:23.984+02:002010-08-25T01:14:23.984+02:00Yes. I think it's a spectacularly unfair revie...Yes. I think it's a spectacularly unfair review for that and several other points. It also backfired, of course, as it made Fleming even more of a talking point. And despite Johnson riding his high horse for all he was worth, I suspect his description of the plot of Dr No made quite a few of his readers rush out and get it at once - he makes it sound like the most fantastic thriller ever written!Jeremy Dunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442728222534667107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-47264470670651231762010-08-25T01:04:29.359+02:002010-08-25T01:04:29.359+02:00Thanks for the link to the ‘Sex, Sadism and Snobbe...Thanks for the link to the ‘Sex, Sadism and Snobbery’ article. I had never read it before – but obviously have heard it mentioned in nearly every book about Bond and Fleming.<br /><br />It is fascinating to read Fleming’s response about sadism in the Plomer interview juxtaposed against Johnson’s final tag:<br /><br /><i>... Recently I read Henri Alleg's horrifying account of his tortures in an Algiers prison; and I have on my desk a documented study of how we treat our prisoners in Cyprus. I am no longer astonished that these things can happen. Indeed, after reflecting on the Fleming phenomenon, they seem to me almost inevitable.’</i><br /><br />It’s almost if Johnson is blaming Fleming for the increase in violence (and sadism) in the world. I wonder what he would make (would have made) of films like <i>Rendition</i> and <i>Body of Lies</i>?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07948368009550868974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-3284396570259970932010-08-24T20:26:45.764+02:002010-08-24T20:26:45.764+02:00Polmer seems to have been one of the most excited ...Polmer seems to have been one of the most excited and encoraging of Flemings writing, wonder if we would have got the same Bond books if he hadnt been?. What a find this interview is. Fingers crossed you get the Audio. Thanks for sharing it with us I look forward to more Fleming and Polmer.Nick Meadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03328019045417555028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-27587426235052839972010-08-24T12:47:44.916+02:002010-08-24T12:47:44.916+02:00Thanks very much for the comments, David, and I...Thanks very much for the comments, David, and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. There's a fair bit more to come. :)<br /><br />I think your point about Ann Fleming is a very good one. I've tried to indicate in this post some of the animosity against Fleming in literary circles, and some reasons why it might have existed for reasons other than the qualities of his writing, but I've now added a little to that - and included a quote from Fleming in his interview with Plomer in which he addresses the charges of 'sex, snobbery and sadism'. I've also added a few links (to that infamous article, for instance, and to the one in Life about JFK's reading habits), and made my sources clearer.<br /><br />I think Fleming did seek approval in literary circles, and it was no doubt a motivation. But he chose to wrote thrillers, and he would have known that that was an uphill struggle. I think above everything Fleming wanted to enjoy life, and he saw writing as something that would be fun, but which might make his life that much more relaxed. In his job at The Sunday Times he had secured a four-day working week and ample time to spend at his home in Jamaica. I think his desire for the good life, and an easy life, was a major motivation. He also, of course, loved thrillers, and had done since his boyhood.Jeremy Dunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442728222534667107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-39747364024190298712010-08-24T05:25:14.794+02:002010-08-24T05:25:14.794+02:00Fascinating series Jeremy. I am enjoying it immens...Fascinating series Jeremy. I am enjoying it immensely. Much food for thought.<br /><br />The other influence, that you may touch upon in later posts, is that of Mrs. Fleming, Anne Charteris – who, if we are to believe the stories, especially in the <i>Bondmaker</i> docu-drama (in which the Fleming character uses Fleming’s words to narrate the story of his life), was quite a snob and had a vicious circle of friends who would tease Fleming about Bond and being a ‘thriller writer’.<br /><br />The point being that the below paragraph... <br /><br /><i>John le Carré said that for his first two novels he had ‘remained an anonymous and contented civil servant who reckoned on producing a book a year for a fairly small readership, and going on doing an honest and unspectacular job’. Fleming was much more ambitious. He had realized very early on in his writing career that selling subsidiary rights, and particularly television and film rights, would be the key to financial security, and he had pursued them relentlessly.</i><br /><br />...may just have missed one little motivational difference between Fleming’s approach and LeCarré’s; that being ‘peer pressure’ and a ‘desire to prove oneself worthy’. And while it could be argued that those elements may fall under the banner of being ‘ambitious’ - it may not be solely for financial security.<br /><br />All this seems at odds with accusations of snobbery aimed at Fleming. I don’t consider ‘wanting the best from life’ (as portrayed by Bond enjoying the best food, wine etc.) as snobbery. I see ‘looking down your nose at someone’ as snobbery. <br /><br />Then again, the snobbery may not be 'Bond' himself, but could be considered Fleming’s portrayal of the villains in his novels – but then how do you define a villain in a story, without imbuing him with negative traits. Which I guess leads to accusations of racism - but as Fleming's stories are globetrotting adventures, it makes sense that Bond encounters and battles other races. Admittedly though, Fleming is racist - I am surprised that some chapter headings in <i>Live and Let Die</i> haven't had their titles changed.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07948368009550868974noreply@blogger.com