case fleming bernard bergonzi contained (1 Ergebnisse)

[Literary Critique] FIRST APPEARANCE of this famous, controversial essay on the morality of Ian Fleming's novels. Magazine format. Pp.193-288. Original price 2s 6d. Some handling and toning; near fine. Bibliographer Jon Gilbert's copy, with his pencilled ownership signature. Professor Bergonzi's landmark piece concerned the ethical and moral aspects of Ian Fleming's James Bond books, particularly Dr. No, written on the eve of its publication. Together with 'Sex, Snobbery and Sadism' by Paul Johnson (in New Statesman), this was one of two scornful long reviews which made the national headlines. Such was the ensuing furore, novelist Simon Raven wrote a positive contemporary review of Dr. No [entitled 'Gilt-Edged Bonds', in The Spectator, April 4th, 1958], which praised the new 007 adventure-thriller in light of the recent scathing attacks on Fleming's writings, and publisher Jonathan Cape was moved to write an editorial defence, appearing in their trade journal 'Now & Then' that autumn. Fleming himself responded with a characteristically pithy letter, published in the May issue of Twentieth Century. A watershed critique on the virtues of James Bond and Ian Fleming, the controversial subject having been regularly analysed in print and on screen ever since. Rare.