Definitely the most comprehensive biography of James Bond’s creator to date, but at times it’s overwhelmed by extraneous detail that makes a confusing read. It has a surprisingly downbeat tone as Lycett debunks some Fleming myths while making only passing reference to others that I would have like to have seen explored in more detail. However it does provide an often disturbing insight into Fleming as a “deeply complex, unhappy, self-consuming person” who turned his internal turmoil to birth perhaps the most gripping creation of high-adventure and high-living in popular fiction. ( )

A good read to understand the genius who created a contemporary icon and myth of intelligence; a reimagining of the English gentleman. ( )

A highly detailed, exhaustatively researched, meticulous account of a complex man, with multiple facets & people, in his life. Nicely paced for the most part, in places there is a feeling of inertia about the narrative, & one feels that this is not due to the subject. It really is however, the definitive account of Ian Fleming. Less so, his creation, but more about him as a person, his peccadillos & the people & women in his life. A cautionary tale, but well told, with local interest to those who, like me, live in Kent. If you're after a James Bond origin story, whilst that material is covered, this probably isn't what you're looking for, dealing as it does, more with Fleming than Bond. ( )

Like most biographies, the first 200 pages of Lycett's book suffer from the impulse to list every person Fleming ever spoke to once on a train. Finally, though, at around page 216, we get to what we all came for-the genesis and process of the Bond novels. From that point, this book becomes clear and focused, and a joy to read. I appreciated Lycett's literary criticisms as well as his biographical sketches. His prose is clean, only occasionally slipping in to the three or more asides that seem to define the core style of other biography writers. I especially appreciated the last five pages, which let us know how things turned out for Caspar. HIGHLY recommended. ( )

Rather longish biography of the man who created the James Bond books. It seemed to be a bit long on name-dropping, especially English peerage, and paramours. All the names with little to distinguish them made it confusing at times. ( )