'You start to die the moment you are born'
Live and Let Die, Ian Fleming's second 007 novel, takes Bond from Harlem to Jamaica in a frenzied hunt for the deadly gangster Mr Big and his macabre network of associates.
Live and Let Die: James Bond 007
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Review
"Speed.tremendous zest.communicated excitement. Brrh! How wincingly well Mr Fleming writes" (Julian Symons The Sunday Times )
"Containing passages which for sheer excitement have not been surpassed by any modern writer of this kind" (Times Literary Supplement )
"A shark's hold on a helpless read" (Scotsman )
"Don't blame me if you get a stroke" (Observer )
"Pulse-quickening" (Telegraph )
"Containing passages which for sheer excitement have not been surpassed by any modern writer of this kind" (Times Literary Supplement )
"A shark's hold on a helpless read" (Scotsman )
"Don't blame me if you get a stroke" (Observer )
"Pulse-quickening" (Telegraph )
Book Description
There is only one Bond. Enjoy these intoxicating spy novels in stylish Vintage Classics editions.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Live and Let Die" is the second and, in my opinion, one of the best of the original Bond novels. "Casino Royale" wonderfully introduced the world to James Bond 007 but "Live and Let Die" is a more satisfying adventure.
James Bond 007 is pitted against Mr.Big, a member of SMERSH who uses the voodoo religion to terrify both his subjects and his enemies.
James Bond 007 is pitted against Mr.Big, a member of SMERSH who uses the voodoo religion to terrify both his subjects and his enemies.
As with all the original Bond novels, certain elements haven't aged well. In places it does have a somewhat racist tone and everyone knows about how our hero treats the fairer sex. It's hard to forget that these books are around fifty years old. Though having said that, the depiction of James Bond with his frustrations, fears and morale doubts is still compelling reading.
"Live and Let Die" is amazing piece of work. It is not a novel that is rich in symbolism or meaning but is its focus is something more visceral. Live and Let Die is escapism, thrusting the reader from one narrow escape to the next, from one shock to the next. It contains passages of pure excitement and an amazing sense of danger. Not as far fetched as some of his later works, Live and Let Die has a very well balanced tone. "Midnight among the worms" is one of the most memorable and exciting chapters I have ever read.
If you want to get to know the literary or just want to get your heart pounding then read "Live and Let Die".
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Graham James Mummery
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
"Live and Let Die" was Ian Fleming's second James Bond novel. In Casino Royale (Vintage Classics) he established the character of Bond, ending with the latter resolving to go after Soviet Intelligence's terror machine, SMERSH. In fact, Fleming was partly out of date in using SMERSH in this way because in reality it had been disbanded before the nineteen fifties when he was writing. But it was a useful conceit and playing on fears generated by Cold War which was then at its height.
"Casino Royale" had shown many features that will continue to appear in the Bond novels. But the first book is in some ways different form other Bond books in that the main thriller action largely takes place the first two thirds. In "Live and Let Die," the James Bond format is established which was also largely followed in the films also, even when they departed from the novels: Bond is briefed by M about an enemy agent (in this case an American gangster and SMERSH agent, Mr Big) and sent abroad to break his operation. In the course of the adventure which moves from New York via Florida, to its climax in Jamaica, he encounters an assortment of villains, henchmen plus the inevitable beautiful woman.
This is combined with Fleming's atmospheric descriptions of the places Bond visits which are often very accurate and based on local knowledge, for example his his descriptions of the winds in Jamaica. The characterisarion of Mr Big, as with all the villains, is highly effective: a Negro who uses Voodoo (which Fleming had read about, and maybe misrepresents) to cultivate a fear. There is also the first use Barracuda's which seem to be a favorite animal of Bond villains for disposing of people, and which Fleming was familiar with as an enthusiastic skin diver. Plus as always there is the pace of the writing which Kingsley Amis called the "Fleming sweep" that keeps the reader interested from beginning to the end.
Fleming, to me, is one of the most effective thriller writers ever. His ability to provide this mixture of pace, thrills and atmosphere is as always a winning combination. This is perhaps not my personal all time favorite Bond novel. That would be either From Russia with Love (Vintage)or Dr No (Penguin Modern Classics) which were still to come. But "Live and Let Die" still is near the top of the very best Bond novels and, unlike thrillers from some other authors, remains fresh and very readable even on repeated readings.
"Casino Royale" had shown many features that will continue to appear in the Bond novels. But the first book is in some ways different form other Bond books in that the main thriller action largely takes place the first two thirds. In "Live and Let Die," the James Bond format is established which was also largely followed in the films also, even when they departed from the novels: Bond is briefed by M about an enemy agent (in this case an American gangster and SMERSH agent, Mr Big) and sent abroad to break his operation. In the course of the adventure which moves from New York via Florida, to its climax in Jamaica, he encounters an assortment of villains, henchmen plus the inevitable beautiful woman.
This is combined with Fleming's atmospheric descriptions of the places Bond visits which are often very accurate and based on local knowledge, for example his his descriptions of the winds in Jamaica. The characterisarion of Mr Big, as with all the villains, is highly effective: a Negro who uses Voodoo (which Fleming had read about, and maybe misrepresents) to cultivate a fear. There is also the first use Barracuda's which seem to be a favorite animal of Bond villains for disposing of people, and which Fleming was familiar with as an enthusiastic skin diver. Plus as always there is the pace of the writing which Kingsley Amis called the "Fleming sweep" that keeps the reader interested from beginning to the end.
Fleming, to me, is one of the most effective thriller writers ever. His ability to provide this mixture of pace, thrills and atmosphere is as always a winning combination. This is perhaps not my personal all time favorite Bond novel. That would be either From Russia with Love (Vintage)or Dr No (Penguin Modern Classics) which were still to come. But "Live and Let Die" still is near the top of the very best Bond novels and, unlike thrillers from some other authors, remains fresh and very readable even on repeated readings.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Pius
Format:Paperback
The first thing about Live and Let Die is the very attractive start with terrific descriptions and well written lines. It drew me in just great.The writing is smooth or even poetic and comes with a wittiness and effective dialogue that is not common around.The plot reminds me of Flash of the Sun. Not only it is gripping, it comes with many twists and turns and is effective in retaining the reader's interest all the way to the end.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still great after all these years
Am now rereading the whole set of Bond books that I read as a teenager. So different from the films. A joy to read.
Published 26 days ago by Big os
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Bond - Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die is by far my favourite of the James Bond series in books. it has the all the detail without making it boring, and combines thrilling action sequences with an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Emily P.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very entertaining read
This is my second Bond book.
The story is a little more complex than Casino Royale, the first of the "Bond Books"
This book is well worth reading and has... Read more
The story is a little more complex than Casino Royale, the first of the "Bond Books"
This book is well worth reading and has... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Doug
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Bond
I hadn't read the original James Bond novels and thought I'd start with this one: wow, what a fantastic style this author has - lean, sharp and very punchy. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr G
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Bond book 2 - Awesome
The James Bond books are a lot darker than the movies. I am slowly making my way through all of Ian Fleming's Bond books, and this one, Let And Let Die, is the second in the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Traffic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thriller
Fantastic book! Have read about a quarter of the book and it's gripping and keeps me wanting to read on! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Thoughtshepherd
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
As ever, fast paced throughout and he gets the beautiful girl in the end, but his friend is lucky to survive..
Published 1 month ago by opinionated
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic read
The books do the story far more justice than the films. Recommended. The vintage editions are a bargain at the current price.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Kevin Hay
4.0 out of 5 stars
...it was written a long time ago.
I'm only just getting into Bond, with only the Daniel Craig films as background. After reading Casino Royale I naturally moved onto this. Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Connelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really good read
I enjoyed reading the book even though I am now just about half way through.
I had already watched the movie on dvd but reading the book was a more exciting experience. Read more
I had already watched the movie on dvd but reading the book was a more exciting experience. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steven Goh
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