In February 25, an article from the daily The Telegraph teaches us that when Ian Fleming’s (1908-1964) novels were reissued, some ” updates ” were brought there. At the opening of the volumes of Ian Fleming Publications, a clause indicates that a reading committee of “sensitivity readers” has redacted from the work of “terms and attitudes that might be considered offensive by modern readers”.
What does the“offensive language” in question ? The editor states: “We brought to Live and Let Die modifications authorized by the author himself. Following Ian’s approach, we looked at the occurrences of racial terms, superseded by terms that are more accepted today. »
This much-talked-about editorial announcement coincides with the seventieth birthday of 007, pop culture’s most glamorous spy hero. How was the saga born, at the heart of a lively controversy today?
The elegant and enigmatic Dusko Popov
Taking advantage of a golden retirement in 1952, at the age not of 64 but of 44, no offense to Emmanuel Macron, Ian Fleming lives happy days in his Jamaican residence, by the sea. He baptized this place heavenly goldeneye, the name of a military operation he tried to carry out during the Second World War, he who was a journalist at Reuters and an investment banker, before being recruited by the British secret services during the Second World War. Inspired by his experience, he embarked on the writing of the spy novel.
The morning is sunny, Fleming is at his work table, in front of his Imperial brand portable typewriter. A hot coffee in one hand, his cigarette case in the other. Sitting in a wooden armchair, with equestrian engravings on the wall in front of him. His house, built according to his plans, is surrounded by a flowered domain, where the mimosa grows in abundance.
Educated in the best schools in England, he takes advantage of his free time and reminisces about his role as liaison coordinator for the British Admiralty. During this period, he crossed paths with the elegant and enigmatic Dusko Popov in a casino in Estoril, Portugal, in 1941. Fleming was impressed by the Serbian spy’s composure, his bluff during a game of cards. Lover of alcohol and luxury cars, Popov is a Yugoslav agent with the code name Tricycle. Fleming has found his role model.
He then goes through his personal library, and draws his inspiration there. He opens a short story by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) from 1897, on steam locomotives (Kipling will write The Great Game, where Kim is a 17-year-old English intelligence agent). The name of the serial number of one of the railway machines intrigues him: 007. On the shelves, Fleming comes across the illustrated plates of Birds of the West Indies, ornithological volume on the birds of the Caribbean Sea. The name of the zoologist pleases him, his name is James Bond. That’s it, Fleming’s creative spirit is launched. Twelve novels and nine short stories later, he revolutionized spy literature.
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