Books Tell You Why. All About Collecting Rare Books

Sidney Reilly, the Real-Life James Bond?

By Kristin Masters. Mar 23, 2014. 9:00 AM.

By the time Ian Fleming sat down at his typewriter to begin work on Casino Royale in 1952, he'd already had an illustrious career as a commander of Great Britain's Secret Intelligence Service. Responsible for the famous "trout" memo (so named for its fly fishing metaphor), Fleming distinguished himself as a cunning and thoughtful intelligence officer.

Though Fleming certainly drew from his own experiences to create James Bond, he also had another inspiration: Sidney Reilly. The Russian-born spy proved an indomitable agent whose charismatic personality, fearless execution, and hedonistic lifestyle are reflected in Fleming's 007.

What's in a (James Bond) Name?

By Kristin Wood. Mar 3, 2014. 9:00 AM.

Topics: James Bond, Movie Tie-Ins

Imagine skimming through a new novel at the bookstore, when suddenly your name jumps unexpectedly off the page. With a little more digging, you realize that the character carrying your identity is not saving the day or getting the girl. He’s not even a plucky sidekick – he’s the villain.

Bringing the Novel Alive: Dennis Wheatley

By Lauren Corba. Jan 6, 2014. 8:30 AM.

Topics: James Bond

How often does a wine merchant become a bestselling author and thwart one of world history's most notorious villains? Such was the unlikely career of Dennis Wheatley, the author who dazzled readers with thrilling tales of intrigue. He would later use those same magnificent storytelling skills to weave a plot even Hitler couldn't ignore.

and the winner is ... JAMES BOND!

By Joachim Koch. Oct 22, 2013. 2:00 PM.

Topics: Book Collecting, James Bond

The ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography, given every fourth year to the most outstanding scholarly book about books and worth $10,000, is one of the most prestigious prizes in the field of bibliography.

William Boyd Reinterprets James Bond's Legacy

By Kristin Masters. Oct 17, 2013. 9:00 AM.

Topics: James Bond, Modern First Editions

A Washington Post reviewer declared William Boyd's Solo the "boldest departure of the James Bond series." When Boyd took up the mantle of the James Bond legacy, he used the privilege to reinterpret the character of 007.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Rare Book Lover

By Kristin Masters. May 22, 2013. 10:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, Umberto Eco, Rare Books, James Bond, Fishing, Book News, Rare Book Gift Ideas

Next month in the US, we'll celebrate dads and all they do for us. Though Fathers Day isn't until June 16, many of us are already looking for the perfect Father's Day gift. If your dad is a lover of rare books, these items may be just the ticket.

Sixty Years of Ian Fleming's James Bond

By Kristin Masters. Apr 13, 2013. 11:46 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, James Bond, Book News

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. The book would be the first of twelve Bond novels and two short-story collections that Fleming wrote himself, and the first in a long line of Bond novels by multiple other authors like John Gardner and Raymond Benson.

John Gardner: Third Bearer of the James Bond Torch

By Kristin Masters. Nov 19, 2012. 9:22 PM.

Topics: Book Collecting, James Bond, Movie Tie-Ins

Today marks the birthday of John Gardner, the British author who succeeded Kingsley Amis as the bearer of Ian Fleming's James Bond legacy. Before his writing career, Gardner was a commando, an Anglican priest, and a theatrical journalist.

Celebrating 50 Years of James Bond in the Cinema

By Kristin Masters. Oct 5, 2012. 5:00 AM.

Topics: Legendary Authors, James Bond, Movie Tie-Ins

It's James Bond Day, marking 50 years of Bond movies in the cinema. Since the debut of Dr. No on this day in 1962, Special Agent 007 has become an icon of popular culture. The latest James Bond movie, Skyfall, premiers on October 26 in the UK and on November 9 in the United States.

John Gardner: The (Other) Man behind 007

By Kristin Masters. Sep 13, 2012. 4:54 AM.

Topics: Book Collecting, Literature, James Bond, Movie Tie-Ins

The character of James Bond has fascinated and entertained generations, and many of our favorite 007 tales come not from Ian Fleming, but from his successor. John Gardner was both ambitious and talented enough to take up Fleming's mantle. Over the course of his authorial career, Gardner would write 14 original James Bond novels and compose the novel versions of two James Bond movies.