Note this is a review of the Unabridged Audio Version read by Huge Bonneville
The original book Goldfinger was published in 1959 and was the seventh appearance of Bond. The book is of its time.
Now I had better explain that.
The world and its attitudes were altogether different from the world of today.
Make no mistakes Bond is very much a man of that time with his attitude to Lesbians and Koreans!
The big impression is that Flemings Bond is a Sexist and racist.
Once you get over that startling conclusion you are left with the book/
The reader or should that be listener in this case needs to take that into consideration - the book is a lot different to the abridged nature of the film.
This CD unabridged version is very long at 8 CDs length but it is a very entertaining 8 CDs.
The reader is Hugh Bonneville now perhaps better know for his portrayal of Lord Grantham in the televison series Downtown Abbey.
He is a good and entertaining reader and has done a good job.
He has good pace, characterises well and is an enjoable narrator.
Back to the
The book may be broken down into 3 phases.
Bond meets Goldfinger by accident. Bond is requested to find out how Goldfinger manages to cheat at cards. Bond investigates and in the subsequent game of golf they he turns the tables on Auric Goldfinger.
Later Bond meets Goldfinger who it turns out makes his money moving gold around the world.
he is accepted in Goldfingers world and invited to his house.
Goldfinger has the usual cast of flunkies including Oddjob the dog eating Korean- yes I kid you not!
And Pussy Galore who turns out to be a Lesbian.
But Bond soon cures her of that the old fashioned way! (Yes it is that clichéd)
The set has s an interesting interview with Bonneville and this really explains some of the - well what's the word? - peculiarities of Bond and his views?
that even Bonneville found unexpted.
This is my third in the series and I must admit I am enjoying the ride.
On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceDr No (Unabridged)