In the ensuing decades, our fascination with Bond and the Beatles has continued to flower. Bond, of course, is the protagonist in a multibillion-dollar movie franchise. Fans of the international spy will relish Nicholas Shakespeare’s "Ian Fleming: The Complete Man." While Fleming has been the subject of several biographies, they seem slight in comparison with Shakespeare’s study, which has the depth and texture typically associated with literary fiction.
In Shakespeare’s hands, Fleming’s world comes vividly to life. Of particular value are Shakespeare’s forensic recounting of Fleming’s war years, when he was involved in many of Great Britain’s most sensitive special operations. Fleming’s wartime experiences no doubt impinged upon his later characterization of 007, the spy who would transform the author into a household name.
