Ian Fleming's Secret War

by Cabell, Craig

• ISBN13: 9781844157730
• ISBN10: 1844157733
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-10-19
• Publisher: Pen & Sword

Summary

While his extravagant and glamorous lifestyle is well known, little has been published concerning Ian Fleming's contribution during the Second World War.In the very early days of the War, Fleming was earmarked by the Director of Naval Intelligence as his 'right hand man'. From the outset he was in the centre of events, meeting with key political and military figures as well as those of exceptional intelligence, experience and courage. All this was to give him invaluable background when he came to write the Bond novels.The author has uncovered through official documentation, private papers and contacts the depth of Fleming's work in Naval Intelligence. Fascinating insights of those he worked with and details of covert trips to Europe and North Africa emerge.Fleming was closely associated with 30 Assault Unit, a crack team of Commandos who took the fight to the enemy. The book reveals both the history of 30 AU and Fleming's role.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. viii
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
Dramatis Personae	p. xvi
List of Abbreviations	p. xix
Note on the Text	p. xx
Introduction	p. xxii
The Real Ian Fleming	p. 1
Room 39 and its Players	p. 8
Secret Whitehall	p. 16
Operation RUTHLESS	p. 20
The Intricacies of Intelligence	p. 26
Taking Life Seriously	p. 30
Operation GOLDENEYE	p. 34
Flight of Fancy	p. 40
The Future of USA intelligence	p. 53
30 Assault Unit	p. 60
Patrick Dalzel-Job Joins in	p. 72
A Best Kept Secret	p. 83
Towards The End of Duty	p. 87
Diamonds Are Forever	p. 93
Casino Royale - Fleming's Dream of Secret Service	p. 96
The Moonraker Affair	p. 102
Love and War	p. 107
Conclusion: Fleming's Secret Service	p. 111
Author's End Note	p. 114
Annexes
National Archive References	p. 116
German Indications of Priority	p. 121
Astrology	p. 123
SOE Teething Problems	p. 125
Proposal for Naval Intelligence Commando Unit	p. 127
Collecting Ian Fleming First Editions	p. 131
Afterword: A Writer Not a Fighter	p. 149
Bibliography	p. 153
About the Author	p. 157
Text Notes	p. 159
Index	p. 178
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

While his extravagant and glamorous lifestyle is well known, little has been published concerning Ian Fleming's contribution during the Second World War. In the very early days of the War, Fleming was earmarked by the Director of Naval Intelligence as his 'right hand man'. From the outset he was in the center of events, meeting with key political and military figures as well as those of exceptional intelligence, experience and courage. All this was to give him invaluable background when he came to write the Bond novels. The author has uncovered through official documentation, private papers and contacts the depth of Fleming's work in Naval Intelligence. Fascinating insights of those he worked with and details of covert trips to Europe and North Africa emerge. Fleming was closely associated with 30 Assault Unit, a crack team of Commandos who took the fight to the enemy. The book reveals both the history of 30 AU and Fleming's role.