The Man with the Golden Typewriter (38 page)

Meanwhile I have been in lengthy correspondence with a certain Fritz Liebert of Yale University Library, who has corrected the Americanese in my next book.

In the course of our correspondence he expressed his highest regard for yourself and claims acquaintanceship both with you and with John Carter.

Anyway with his last letter he sent me the enclosed
¹¹
and I wonder if you think it would be suitable for reproduction in The Book Collector, since, as you will see, only two hundred copies have been printed in America.

Personally, I find the story and the picture most attractive.

I have told Liebert that I am passing it on to you with my recommendation, but adding that you are a law unto yourself in these matters. At
the same time I asked him for freedom to print in case the piece passed muster with you.

Please don't bother to answer, but when I see you you must tell me more about this Liebert man, who has, in fact, been exceptionally helpful to me out of the blue.

TO SIR WILLIAM STEPHENSON, 450 East 52nd Street, New York

16th August, 1961

In accordance with your instructions via the darling Miss Green I have the honour to report that my team of mechanics report that the engine, though less oiled than previously, is now running on at least eleven out of its twelve cylinders, and that the twelfth should start firing soon so long as I continue to obey their infuriating instructions, which are, broadly speaking, that I should do none of the things I want to do.

In fact, as possibly in your case, the whole business has been a timely warning not to try and pour a gallon into a pint pot, and I am taking the whole thing very philosophically.

In particular, I have not been siezed [sic] by what they call “coronary neurosis”, which apparently is a very real consequence of one of these attacks. It results in people thinking of nothing except about their health and going about as if they were made of spun Venetian glass. Such people are an infernal nuisance, and since my malady got into the newspapers (in fact to my delight The Times had my obituary re-written by a friend of mine) I am regarded as fair game by all these morons who bore me to death with tales of their symptoms and of the pills and tests they have to take.

But I am, in fact, being reasonably sensible in following the instructions of my various mechanics. That is the reason why I did not come to New York last month as I had intended, and I am staying in London and Sandwich, where my more relaxed golf swing and an increased handicap (I happen to be on the handicapping Committee!) has confounded my enemies.

My strictly commercial love affair with the darling Marlow has gone slightly awry and I asked her to explain the circumstances to you. Briefly, a very big Bond film deal is in the offing and it could not go through so long as she had the option on my television rights, which I had given her over scrambled eggs and smoked salmon in Sardis East in a bemused moment.

She couldn't have been nicer about the whole thing and surrendered her option. I sent her a small token from Cartiers to signal my love and appreciation. But, in fact, as I have told her, I shall try and see that if and when the film series gets successfully launched and the moment for television series comes along, her name will in some way be linked with the television production.

But naturally I cannot actually promise anything, but only use my best endeavours with United Artists, who are the putative owners of the Bond properties under various options. If they do not take up these options and seriatim the whole property reverts to me, I would once more propose to offer my hand, at least in television marriage, to Marlow.

The deal itself starts with a minimum payment of $150,000 amounting by $100,000 with each further film U.A. makes. There is no object in my arranging a Bermuda company for all these, as the film rights are owned by Caspar's Trust and therefore avoid all tax. But, in addition, I get 5% of the producer's gross, which is very carefully defined, and if this should look like getting too big I would consult you again about a Bermudan gambit. But as you know producers profits have a curious way of melting like snow in summer sunshine when anyone else has a share of them, and I think the days of my becoming a millionaire are still some way distant.

Meanwhile I observe the Dows index and remember your dictum that it would be a thousand before the end of the year. Unfortunately you failed to tell me which stocks to buy, so here again I have failed to benefit, except through some minor holdings in Flemings Investment Trust.

By the way, should I now sink back into Caribbean Cement?

No other news except the minor item that I think England is in the process of slowly sinking beneath the waves. She had a very good run and I only hope she does her sinking gracefully.

I am sending you a copy of an article as I think it may amuse you.
¹²
It has just gone to M.C.A. with the suggestion that they offer it first to C. D. Jackson, though I dare say it will turn out to be too technical even for American publication.

Anyway I expect it will make you chuckle.

No other news except that if you bought some Drages shares at 120 you
might
be able to sell them at 200. But this is not five star guarantee but only from the mouth of two very reliable horses.

With best love to Mary.

TO MICHAEL HOWARD

16th August, 1961

My dear Michael,

Many thanks for your letter of yesterday about the new Courtelle advertisement.

I don't really mind these but they rather annoyed me by writing a patronizing letter offering me
one
sweater,
one
pair of slacks, or indeed any
one
object from their collection instead of begging me to come in and take my pick of their stuff – which I naturally wouldn't have done but which would have sounded rather handsomer.

In fact I would like them to invite me round some Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon to have a look at all this stuff I am sponsoring. I have absolutely no idea what it looks like.

In the present copy I don't think they should suggest that Bond wears suits from Savile Row, which he doesn't, or actually Courtelle shirts, etc., etc., though I don't mind them saying that people like James Bond wear these things.

I don't want to make a song and dance about it and I entirely appreciate the points you make.

TO MICHAEL HOWARD

For the endpapers of
The Spy Who Loved Me
, Cape had commissioned a black and white drawing of the situation in which the novel was set.

10th October, 1961

My dear Michael,

I like Lee Vernon's sketch immensely, and I quite agree with you that it will admirably serve our purpose.

One or two small points which I had indicated in red:

The runaway car gets out of control and goes over the cliff to the right of the Motel. We do not need to see exactly where it went over the cliff, but could we move the rustic chairs and tables down to the right as I have indicated.

I forgot all about the swimming pool when writing the story, and as it would naturally come into the action if it is where Vernon correctly places it, could he please shift it to behind the Motel as I have indicated.

The saloon car should point towards Lake George.

I would rather do without the second sign board, as otherwise this also should have appeared in the book, notably during the fight with the gangsters where it would have been used as cover.

Otherwise I have no comments and I am much impressed with the sketch and particularly with the dark spikiness of the trees.

What a gift to be able to knock off something like this!

One last thought, could the artist vaguely indicate the ‘No Vacancy' over the front door?

TO CAPTAIN E. K. LE MESURIER, National Rifle Association, Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Surrey

Fleming had invited Captain Le Mesurier of the National Rifle Association to comment on his short story ‘The Living Daylights'.

31st October, 1961

Dear Captain Le Mesurier,

Here now is the story we discussed on the telephone, and I would indeed be grateful for any corrections or suggestions you may have, particularly on the opening pages about Bisley.

Please be extremely tough and critical and don't spare my feelings.

One particular point on page 25, half way down, is the expression “flash protector” correct? I have a feeling that my war time memory may have failed me.

It is extremely kind of you to allow me to take up your time and brains in this way, and I shall insist on sending you an editorial fee to cover general wear and tear, midnight oil and the heavy refreshment that I am sure it will call for.

This has nothing to do with the N.R.A. as such and I am consulting you privately and using your spare time, so please don't argue about accepting it.

TO GRAHAM SUTHERLAND, ESQ., O.M., The White House, Trottiscliffe, West Malling, Kent

Fleming had commissioned the distinguished artist Graham Sutherland to provide a picture to accompany his short story ‘The Living Daylights' in the
Sunday Times
colour supplement. In the end it was never used.

7th November, 1961

My dear Graham,

The first reactions, while enthusiastic, are that the green is too gay giving the whole thing rather too much of a pastoral quality with which, I expect you have now read the story, you will agree is off-key.

Would you be an angel and take up your brushes again and try a background to the heart of perhaps a window frame or barbed wire and perhaps a gunmetal background.

Also the pontiffs think that the arrow should come from right to left.

Don't bother about leaving space for lettering as whichever way you do the design it will anyway leave plenty of room.

You are terribly kind to submit to this boring chore and all I can do in exchange, apart from the meagre hundred guineas, is to hand you over the whole bestiary idea without any strings whatsoever.

My pleasure of having thought of a theme that stimulates you is ample reward, apart from your kindness over this blasted jacket.

If you are both not too fed up with me by now I will in fact come by around midday on Friday for some more sausages and mash, but naturally countermand me if it doesn't suit.

I hear that Douglas is back at the chateau with Richardson.

TO SIR WILLIAM STEPHENSON, 450 East 52nd Street, New York

7th November, 1961

Many thanks for your chastening cable which actually fetched up at the right address. Please use it frequently.

Not much news from here. My host of medical advisers seem to be delighted with my recovery and, as you can imagine, I am losing no time in loosening up on their counsels of moderation in all things.

The film deal with United Artists is going ahead and they are going to film ‘DR NO' in Jamaica in January and February, and the advance party has already gone out to prospect for location. But, as usual with show business, no actual money has actually changed hands yet.

I shall be coming out to Jamaica around January 18th and will be paying you my usual visit around the middle of March. So please warn The Pierre to lay in plenty of oysters.

TO ANTHONY COLWELL, ESQ., 30 Bedford Square London W.C.1

13th December, 1961

Dear Tony,

Very many thanks for the proof of the jacket which in general I think is splendid though, apart from the points you make, it does seem to me that the background wood has turned rather pink.

You are right about the spelling of Adirondacks, but this may have been my mistake in writing the blurb.

Should not the copyright line “Jacket design by Richard Chopping” be “Ian Fleming”? As it was with the last book and since the picture is my property.

One final point. On the back of the jacket I think typographically the joke slightly misfires. How about putting “Verdicts of THE TIMES!”

Incidentally, Victor Weybright has done a brilliant promotion pamphlet on the Bonds which I am sure will entertain all of you. Unfortunately I haven't got a spare copy, but perhaps you would like to get one from him.

P.S. And above the credit to Chopping mightn't we put “Commando dagger by the Wilkinson Sword Company” if that is their right title?

TO D. R. C. BEDSON, ESQ., Executive Council, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Mr Bedson had read
The Spy Who Loved Me
while spending a weekend with Sir William and Lady Stephenson, and raised a few points. Stephenson, no doubt with some glee, insisted he write to the author. Which he did, stating that Fleming's description of French Canada and its various groups bore no resemblance to anything he had experienced. Also, if Bond was going from Toronto to Washington he'd have gone via Niagara Falls, Buffalo, then on to the highways through western New York and Pennsylvania. He'd have gone nowhere near Lake St George.

19th September, 1962

Dear Mr. Bedson,

It is extremely kind of you to have taken so much trouble to write to me so helpfully about my last book.

I quite agree with you that I dealt very cursorily with the French-Canadian problem. I should have delved more deeply and not relied on a casual talk with a French-Canadian friend of mine.

You are of course absolutely right about James Bond's route, but I had to get him to Lake George somehow and I think we must assume that he was taking a leisurely sightseeing trip.

Anyway, it was very thoughtful of you to have written and I am delighted to hear from any friend of my hero, ‘Little Bill'.

FROM WILLIAM PLOMER

6th April, 1962

My dear Ian,

How good of you to send me my special copy of
The S. who l. M.
Best thanks for this tenth knock-out. Of course I have dashed out from under my immense load of dung, & have beetled into a corner & begun to re-read you, which is fatal, because one goes on. “. . . and everyone froze” – and of course one freezes with them.

I notice the New Morality is beginning to appear. Perhaps you saw the letter in the Lit. Sup. about the new novel by Christopher Isherwood (wh. I haven't read). You must perhaps expect increasing attacks on the grounds of morality. Now that Non-Smoking is coming in too, you will soon find that you mayn't mention cigarettes. . .