tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post2252888083079174958..comments2013-04-28T14:44:48.079+02:00Comments on JEREMY DUNS: 007 In Depth: Enemy ActionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-57717680239840728742011-04-06T21:25:59.184+02:002011-04-06T21:25:59.184+02:00Thanks very much for your kind comments, Ihsan, an...Thanks very much for your kind comments, Ihsan, and for your insights. Sadly, I think Muggeridge's view of Fleming has not been altogether forgotten. It might not be immediately traceable back to him or even have his name attached to it, but he made very sure that the flame of the previous attacks was fanned so it spread further, and I think his views have entered the mainstream. Something I haven't touched on in this article is that Muggeridge taught propaganda and other subjects to MI6 officers, so was very well versed in how to mount this sort of campaign. His role has been rather forgotten, but whereas I think Johnson was very cranky about Fleming's work and repute, Muggeridge seems to have been enacting a long-term private vendetta. <br /><br />I think you're absolutely right that if any of this had been tried with other writers it would probably not have worked, and that it would be harder to get away with this sort of thing today. I don't expect my essay here will make the least difference on the body of opinion on Fleming's work, but I thought it was worth putting it all down anyway. If even one other critic or journalist comes across it and thinks twice about trotting out all the old rubbish unthinkingly as a result of reading it, I'll be very pleased. :)<br /><br />Thanks again for your comments - they're much appreciated!Jeremy Dunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442728222534667107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-5408946010136183452011-04-04T21:06:54.457+02:002011-04-04T21:06:54.457+02:00I'm late to the party but I just wanted to say...I'm late to the party but I just wanted to say "bravo!" to an article that so deftly points out the sloppiness, malice, and hypocrisy of Fleming's most famous detractors. It's amazing how those men managed to lower their standards beyond those of a hack in order to sling mud. I can think of very few authors who have been dealt as bad a critical hand as Fleming--such things as close reading seem to go out the window when discussing him. <br /><br />You help make clear just how disposable and reprehensible much of the bad rap has been. I'm still amazed that Paul Johnson is still at work, and, more amazingly, still respected in some quarters (like Muggeridge, he had hilariously tin-eared go at the Beatles) as some kind of conservative mandarin. But I doubt any of his work will survive--that goes double for his incoherent and snobbish broadside against Fleming.<br /><br />Muggeridge has the dubious distinction of being even more unethical than Johnson, though at least he'd dead and deservedly being forgotten. His popularity seems to have been an enormous con played upon the world. Had he performed that sort of chicanery on a more respected writer than Fleming his career would have been in ruins (and had he performed it today the blogosphere would have torn him to pieces). Clive James published an excellent demolition of Muggeridge that's required reading--the essay, "Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Masses," is collected in Reliable Essays. <br /><br />Once again Jeremy, kudos on publishing the best Fleming criticism around.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905195863291708921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-31573007565639308762011-03-27T19:44:30.807+02:002011-03-27T19:44:30.807+02:00Nick, AM and Iwan, thank you all for your kind com...Nick, AM and Iwan, thank you all for your kind comments. Iwan, will reply to you by mail as well, but my third novel is due out early next year. WIll keep you informed, of course!<br /><br />Thanks again.Jeremy Dunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442728222534667107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-62170852484307143162011-03-27T19:42:45.086+02:002011-03-27T19:42:45.086+02:00I'm posting this from Iwan Morelius, who could...I'm posting this from Iwan Morelius, who couldn't get it on the site and asked me to:<br /><br />'Jeremy! Thanks for a just wonderful and excelent article about our mutual favourite, Ian Fleming. I'm old enough to have read all his books when they were first published. I've read your article from the top - and every word of it. I am sorry but I was not aware of those Muggeridge articles even if I've maybe have read them many years ago. I did not take care then because I just loved all the Bond thrillers. He was such a new agent and I really separated the books from the movies. Some of the movies I don't like at all. A true Bond lover love the books more than the films, I think.<br /> <br />But, Jeremy, very often you find people writing about things they really don't know about and really should NOT write about. Muggeridge writing about THE BEATLES. I just laughed.<br /> <br />My late uncle was a very, very good player of the classical fluite (played in THE ROYAL COURT (in Swedish KUNGLIGA HOVKAPELLET) and he didn't like the jazz I played (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan etc). He once said to me: "Iwan, jazz is only organized noise!"<br />Many years later he made a jazz-record with famous Swedish player Arne Domnerus. <br /><br />Once again, Jeremy, thanks for a very, very good article. I'll mention it in next issue of LÄST & HÖRT I HÄNGMATTAN. By the way, when is your third book coming? I'm waiting for it.<br /> <br />Sunny and warmest wishes to you all in Stockholm from your friends in Spain,<br /> <br />Iwan & Margareta'Jeremy Dunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14442728222534667107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-35629807817270226872011-03-26T05:16:46.616+01:002011-03-26T05:16:46.616+01:00Excellent article. Thank you for defending our Bon...Excellent article. Thank you for defending our Bond!Moggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17035653140290389242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3138728502354978457.post-79212560228892646362011-03-25T23:53:21.358+01:002011-03-25T23:53:21.358+01:00That's the most refreshing article I have read...That's the most refreshing article I have read on the criticism's of Ian Fleming's work Jeremy. No comment from me could reflect the brilliance of your article. Thanks for your hard work and sharing it. It's such a shame that Muggeridge had a personal vendetta, jealousy I assume. It's good to read that le Carre regretted the interview with Muggeridge. Lets hope Fleming gets the appreciation he deserves.Nick Meadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03328019045417555028noreply@blogger.com