John Walsh

How boredom begat James Bond

Casino Royale was published 70 years ago this week

Alamy

It is sobering to think that if Ann Rothermere had been a less enthusiastic painter, James Bond might never have existed.

In January 1952, Lady Rothermere and Bond’s creator Ian Fleming were on holiday at Goldeneye, his house in Jamaica. Tension crackled in the air. He and Ann had been lovers since 1939.

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Written by
John Walsh

John Walsh spent 20 years as a columnist, feature writer, food critic and interviewer on the Independent. He has also been literary editor of three newspapers, a contributor to magazines like the New Yorker.

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