This particular entry in the James Bond sequence is unique and somewhat controversial. Instead of focusing on Bond as a protagonist, Fleming chose to tell the story from the perspective of the typical “Bond Girl”. Bond doesn’t appear until the final third of the book, and he is always seen through the eyes of the young woman who receives his usual “heroic” treatment.
Shortly after completion, Fleming disavowed himself of the final product, reportedly demanding that the book never be published or adapted in any way (other than use of the title). When the publisher still sent the book to print, Fleming constructed a odd and flimsy meta-reality whereby the “true” author of the book, the lead character, sent him the story to be given to his publisher. In short, Fleming must have been very unhappy with his final product.
The tone of the novel is, of course, completely unlike the rest of the Bond sequence. The writing is more stream of consciousness, which makes it a very quick read. The entire book took me about a day or two to finish. A lot of time is spent on the young woman’s romantic history and troubled family background, and in general, Fleming does a nice job of depicting how a woman can be mistreated by men “only looking for one thing”.
The trouble comes, as one would expect, once Bond enters the story. Fleming, to his credit, depicts Bond as a sexist jerk, cold and cruel, in keeping with his original characterization in “Casino Royale”. He’s anything but the debonair charmer of popular culture. Yet he is shown to be utterly irresistible to such an adventurous young woman, and that’s where Fleming’s own sexism shines through.
One passage stands out as the most damning. At one point, Vivienne ponders on the fact that “all women love semi-rape”. The idea, it seems, is that all women, on some level, desire a man who will use them and force them into a willingly submissive role. This is in keeping with Fleming’s negative view of women in general, and part of the British culture of the time. Historically speaking, it’s revealing, but in the end, probably only recommended for devoted Bond fans.
Rating: 5/10
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