I am pleased to announce that the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia will soon make available to researchers the collection of real James Bond, Mary Bond, and Ian Fleming books and memorabilia that I recently donated.
The Real James Bond Book Collection Read Post »
In my Zoom talk for the Linnaean Society earlier this week, I noted that the ornithologist James Bond also spoke to the group — at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC on April 11, 1944. Turns out that
The Real James Bond at the AMNH Read Post »
One of my goals in writing “The Real James Bond” was to correct many of the common misperceptions about the real James Bond (like the factoid that Bond gave Fleming to use his name), and to improve upon the usual
What the Real James Bond Looked Like Read Post »
The real James Bond’s wife, Mary Wickham Bond, was not only on the board of the Free Library of Philadelphia, but she also stole a very valuable book from that very same library.* Learn more about the amazing Mary
James Bond’s Wife Was a Book Thief! Read Post »
When Ian Fleming stole the real James Bond’s name from the cover (or title page) of Birds of the West Indies in early 1952, which edition was he looking at, the 1936 first edition or the 1947 second edition? It’s
Fleming’s Copy of ‘Birds of the West Indies’ Read Post »
When James Bond visited the West Indies, he needed island governments’ permission to collect birds for science. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Book Department has a fascinating collection of Bond’s permits (including the ones pictured above). They are part
James Bond’s Licenses to Kill Read Post »
When James Bond visited the West Indies, he needed island governments’ permission to collect birds for science. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Rare Book Department has a fascinating collection of Bond’s permits (including the ones pictured above). They are part
The Real James Bond’s Licenses to Kill Read Post »
On Feb. 5 56 years ago, James and Mary Bond left their room at the Mona Hotel (once the Mona Great House) outside Kingston in Jamaica and drove over the Blue Mountains to drop in unexpectedly — but not uninvited
When Bond Met Fleming: Feb. 5, 1964 Read Post »
Back in August, when Schiffer Books announced a publication date for “The Real James Bond,” writer Matthew Chernov contacted me immediately about an interview. I said, “Sure — but closer to when the book arrives.” Well, time flies, and here
‘Real James Bond’: 1st Extensive Interview Read Post »