first edition
by AMIS, KIngsley
London: Jonathan Cape, 1965. The first formal literary analysis of the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming"
AMIS, Kingsley. The James Bond Dossier. London: Jonathan Cape, [1965].
First edition. Octavo (7 1/4 x 4 7/8 inches; 185 x 124 mm.). [1-8], 9-159, [1, blank] pp.
Publishers black faux cloth over boards, front cover stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt. lower corners very slightly bumped. A near fine copy in the publisher's pictorial dust jacket (price 16s. net) based on the familiar Chopping 'trompe l'oeil' designs from the Ian Fleming first editions. Minimal wear to corner extremities, otherwise near fine.
The James Bond Dossier by Kingsley Amis is indeed a significant and first formal literary analysis of the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. The book was written at the height of the 1960s "Bond-mania" and marked a shift in how popular thrillers could be viewed within literary criticism. Amis approached the Bond novels with a mixture of respect and playful critique, acknowledging their complexity and commercial appeal while also recognizing the controversy surrounding the books' themes of violence, chauvinism, and politics.
Amis's biographer, Zachary Leader, highlights that The James Bond Dossier playfully mocks academic traditions by applying their methods to a form of literature often dismissed as lowbrow. This approach allowed Amis to both critique and celebrate Fleming's work, delivering a "cheeky" challenge to the literary establishment while aligning with the irreverent tone of his own fiction, such as Lucky Jim. Despite this, Amis took the Bond novels seriously, defending their merit and influence in a broader cultural context.
Amis's personal respect for the novels later led to his commission to continue the Bond series after Fleming's death. Writing Colonel Sun under the pseudonym Robert Markham, Amis became the first to extend Fleming's legacy, cementing his unique place in Bond history both as a critic and a contributor to the series. (Inventory #: 05935)
AMIS, Kingsley. The James Bond Dossier. London: Jonathan Cape, [1965].
First edition. Octavo (7 1/4 x 4 7/8 inches; 185 x 124 mm.). [1-8], 9-159, [1, blank] pp.
Publishers black faux cloth over boards, front cover stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt. lower corners very slightly bumped. A near fine copy in the publisher's pictorial dust jacket (price 16s. net) based on the familiar Chopping 'trompe l'oeil' designs from the Ian Fleming first editions. Minimal wear to corner extremities, otherwise near fine.
The James Bond Dossier by Kingsley Amis is indeed a significant and first formal literary analysis of the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. The book was written at the height of the 1960s "Bond-mania" and marked a shift in how popular thrillers could be viewed within literary criticism. Amis approached the Bond novels with a mixture of respect and playful critique, acknowledging their complexity and commercial appeal while also recognizing the controversy surrounding the books' themes of violence, chauvinism, and politics.
Amis's biographer, Zachary Leader, highlights that The James Bond Dossier playfully mocks academic traditions by applying their methods to a form of literature often dismissed as lowbrow. This approach allowed Amis to both critique and celebrate Fleming's work, delivering a "cheeky" challenge to the literary establishment while aligning with the irreverent tone of his own fiction, such as Lucky Jim. Despite this, Amis took the Bond novels seriously, defending their merit and influence in a broader cultural context.
Amis's personal respect for the novels later led to his commission to continue the Bond series after Fleming's death. Writing Colonel Sun under the pseudonym Robert Markham, Amis became the first to extend Fleming's legacy, cementing his unique place in Bond history both as a critic and a contributor to the series. (Inventory #: 05935)
(818) 222-4103
