Goldeneye, Matthew Parker
Goldeneye, Matthew Parker
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Goldeneye
Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming’s Jamaica

Author: Matthew Parker

Narrator: Roy McMillan

Unabridged: 9 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/11/2015

Synopsis

Amid the lush beauty of Jamaica's northern coast lies the true story of Ian Fleming's iconic creation: James Bond.For two months every year, from 1946 to his death eighteen years later, Ian Fleming lived at Goldeneye, the house he built on a point of high land overlooking a small white-sand beach on Jamaica's stunning north coast. All the James Bond novels and stories were written here.This book explores the huge influence of Jamaica on the creation of Fleming's iconic postwar hero. The island was for Fleming part retreat from the world, part tangible representation of his values, and part exotic fantasy. Goldeneye also examines Fleming's Jamaican friendships—his extraordinary circle included Errol Flynn, the Oliviers, international politicians, and British royalty, as well as his close neighbor No├½l Coward—and traces his changing relationship with Ann Charteris (and hers with Jamaica) and the emergence of Blanche Blackwell as his Jamaican soul mate.Goldeneye also compares the real Jamaica of the 1950s during the buildup to independence with the island's portrayal in the Bond books, to shine a light on the attitude of the likes of Fleming and Coward to the dramatic end of the British Empire.

About Matthew Parker

Matthew Parker is the author of several works of nonfiction, including Monte Cassino: The Hardest-Fought Battle of World War II; the Los Angeles Times bestseller Panama Fever, which was a 2008 Washington Post Best Book of the Year; and The Sugar Barons, which was an Economist Book of the Year. He lives in London.

About Roy McMillan

Roy McMillan is a director, writer, actor, and an Earphones Award–winning narrator. Among his audiobook readings are Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, A Dog’s Heart by Mikhail Bulgakov, and The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jeffrey

After Andrew Lycett's exhaustive biography of Ian Fleming (which is 20 years old, believe it or not), you may wonder what is left to learn of James Bond's creator. In his new book "Goldeneye," Matthew Parker proves there is quite a bit left to learn. Unlike the works of Lycett and John Pearson, which......more

Goodreads review by Stephen

interesting book which looks at both Jamaica and Ian Fleming the creator of James bond and both histories and how Fleming created the books at his haven Goldeneye. the author looks at Flemings Imperial cravings away from the austere London post war.......more

Goodreads review by George

There are three reasons I bought and then read this book: 1) I love to read books that are historical in focus: Its a bonus for me when the history that is being written about has a Jamaican or Caribbean focus; 2) Matthew Parker's name on the cover of the book: The process of reading Parker's excellen......more

Quotes

“An epic tale of human folly and endeavor, beautifully told and researched.” John le Carré, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Completely fascinating, authoritative, and intriguing.” William Boyd, Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winning author

“An engaging journey to a mercifully vanished world.” Wall Street Journal

“Best read sitting somewhere hot, sipping something cool, is Matthew Parker’s brilliant addition to the cannon of Jamaican travel writing and 007-ology.” GQ

“An exemplary history, vigorously told.” Los Angeles Times

“A tumultuous roller coaster of a book. A tale of wealth, bravery, and debauchery.” Economist (London)

“Without Jamaica, it is safe to say, there would have been no Agent 007. Matthew Parker sets the record straight in Goldeneye, his superb account of Fleming’s Jamaica…Well researched, excellently written.” Financial Times (London)

“Highly readable.” Daily Telegraph (London)

“Fascinating…a sad story…skillfully turned.” Literary Review (London)

“Parker draws a richly detailed portrait of Fleming and of the island that inspired the James Bond novels. The picturesque villa and the struggling young nation offered lush settings for the lucrative Bond film franchise. Parker’s entertaining and well-researched biography dishes up a rich stew for fans of popular literature, travel writing, British and West Indian history, and filmmaking, all sauced with plenty of titillating celebrity gossip.” Booklist (starred review)

Awards

  • Economist Best Book
  • Edgar Allan Poe Award
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