The arrival of James Bond in Modern Classics at last acknowledges Fleming's remarkable place in British fiction. The creator of an entire genre and the inventor of the most widely recognised figure in British literature since Sherlock Holmes, Fleming has a presence and flair now denied to most other writers of the 1950s. These three novels show Fleming at his peak - it would be hard to argue whether Rosa Klebb, Dr No or Goldfinger have greater grandeur or repulsiveness - with three plots ofderanged implausibility and many of the dazzling set-pieces that made the early films so memorable.
From Russia with Love: James Bond 007 (Vintage)
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Fleming brings a new precision to the business of intimate violence (Guardian )
One of my favourite books (John F. Kennedy ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
One of my favourite books (John F. Kennedy ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Book Description
There is only one Bond. Enjoy these intoxicating spy novels in stylish Vintage Classics editions.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
The naked man who lay splayed out on his face beside the swimming pool might have been dead. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The naked man who lay splayed out on his face beside the swimming pool might have been dead. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By George Owers
Format:Hardcover
From Russia, With Love is stunning. Fleming writes in an unusually excellent prose for a thriller writer, combininng the threads of the complex plot to excellent and often harrowing effect.
The characterisation is the best feature of this tour de force. Every character is fully and artistically developed - Red Grant, the psychotic killer, is the ultimate Bond enemy and he still packs a punch fifty years on. Rosa Klebb is written vividly, in all her detestable glory. Romanovna is not the average Bond girl - she is well introduced, as well as being a most luscious Bond girl, and plenty of backround to her life is given, something often lacking in Fleming's other efforts. Bond himself is also developed marvellously, and quite aside from the cardboard cutout characters we often get in a Bond book, none of these characters are lacking in depth and dimension.
If the plot is good - SMERSH plotting to kill MI6's best agent and also to create a world wide sex scandal with far reaching implications for the credibility of British intelligence into the bargain - then the execution is better. Every page is a masterpiece in itself, and the whole plot moulds perfectly and seamlessly, from London, Istanbul, the Orient Express and France, with perfection.
Fleming, with FRWL, proves himself not only to be a top rate thriller writer, but a top rate story teller and descriptive writer as well.
The characterisation is the best feature of this tour de force. Every character is fully and artistically developed - Red Grant, the psychotic killer, is the ultimate Bond enemy and he still packs a punch fifty years on. Rosa Klebb is written vividly, in all her detestable glory. Romanovna is not the average Bond girl - she is well introduced, as well as being a most luscious Bond girl, and plenty of backround to her life is given, something often lacking in Fleming's other efforts. Bond himself is also developed marvellously, and quite aside from the cardboard cutout characters we often get in a Bond book, none of these characters are lacking in depth and dimension.
If the plot is good - SMERSH plotting to kill MI6's best agent and also to create a world wide sex scandal with far reaching implications for the credibility of British intelligence into the bargain - then the execution is better. Every page is a masterpiece in itself, and the whole plot moulds perfectly and seamlessly, from London, Istanbul, the Orient Express and France, with perfection.
Fleming, with FRWL, proves himself not only to be a top rate thriller writer, but a top rate story teller and descriptive writer as well.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you don't already own any Ian Fleming novels, this wonderful omnibus edition from Penguin Modern Classics is a fantastic starting point from which to dive into the James Bond literary ocean.
FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE is almost universally regarded as Fleming's masterpiece novel, and is the first novel in this collection. The plot is fairly similar to the 1963 film. The biggest difference is that the organisation that Bond is pitted against is SMERSH, rather than SPECTRE as it was in the film. SMERSH try to lure bond into a trap, the bait being a Spektor cipher machine. (It was called Lektor in the movie) Bond main ally is the memorable Darko Kerim. The girl is a Russian cipher clerk named Tatiana, and the villain is Rosa Klebb, a repulsive woman who is described brilliantly by Fleming. This is a great taut, suspenseful novel right down to the final twist on the last page.
DR NO is second in the collection and is another great read. This was the first Fleming novel I ever read, and it was a very nice, easy read. The plot is fairly simple, and the characters move fluidly within it. Honey Ryder is the Bond girl this time out, and Quarrel (from Live And Let Die) returns. Many of the scenes are the same as those in the movie, although the villain's death is very different (And quite bizarre!!) Bond is attacked by a deadly centipede and a giant squid and comes out the other end in one piece as only 007 can do!
GOLDFINGER is arguably one of the most famous titles in the world thanks to the 1964 film, and it rounds off this trio of novels. The highlight is undoubtedly the game of golf with Goldfinger. I actually enjoyed the first half of the novel more than the second half. The whole gangster scenario was a little difficult to follow, and the whole ending is not as good IMO as the film version. Nonetheless it is a great novel, and deserves a place in any collection, as do all of Ian Fleming's works, which tend to be underrated.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
If, like me, you grew up watching the James Bond films, it is a fascinating experience reading the original books which gave rise to the blockbusters. And they do not dissappoint.
Each of the three stories in this book differ significantly from the film versions; so even though you find yourself visualising the scenes you recognise, you are still confronted by surprises and twists in the plot.
Another major difference is the depth of character that Fleming gives to Bond, the girls and the villians - one possible criticism of the films are they are a bit "cartoonish".
Finally, although the books are set in a by-gone age of Cold War espionage, they capture that time perfectly with a refreshing "Britishness" which readers of my generation are not used to.
I highly recommend you try them out.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 115 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
From russia with love
Goodread differed from the film but would recommend to all 007fans. Definitely be reading the rest of Fleming's books after this one
Published 1 day ago by Andy Caskey
4.0 out of 5 stars
007, Granit and Spanish secret police
I remember well the film based in this novel. I ever thought it was the best film about James Bond, but it's clear time has passed for everybody, not only for Sean Connery, but for... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Carlos Vazquez Quintana
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
So much more thrilling than the movies. Can't wait to read the rest of the Fleming novels! Bond as Bond is meant to be!
Published 1 month ago by danbuntz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impossible to put down
In many respects it's incredible that the books from 1950's have endured and I suspsect that much of this is attributable to the fact that the films have become so iconic. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ian Thumwood
1.0 out of 5 stars
Watch the film instead
Impossible to get into and really hard going read. I couldnt finish the book.I wont buy another Ian Flemming book.
Published 2 months ago by mic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shaken and Stirred!!
This is an excellent read in a vintage cover and it was bought as a Valentine's Day present. An excellent story by an excellent writer. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul Clegg & Gwen Delahaye
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stupid ending
First Bond book I've read and not particularly impressed. Crass ending......did Fleming just get bored?
I doubt I will read another !
I doubt I will read another !
Published 2 months ago by M. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
movie forget it! this starts in russia, the old USSR all about the KGB etc and set the plot up very nice too.
loved the way the book with James Bonds play's out. Read more
loved the way the book with James Bonds play's out. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Simon S Gull
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
I bought this book to add to my collection of classic books as i consider it to be a classic.
Published 2 months ago by Sandra
5.0 out of 5 stars
james bond!
bought this for my daugher who after watching skyfall thought she would give James Bond books ago! she has really enjoyed them.
Published 3 months ago by Karen Tasker
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
