After rereading all the Bond books by Fleming recently, rereading Pearson’s bio is

a revelation. Instead of zeroing in on the authorly side straight away, Pearson

gets right at the heart, that sad shy bitter man lurking in the heart of Bond.

Every would-be writer must have this on their shelf, if only as a warning not

to turn out like Fleming, creator of a flawed and vulnerable hero, nontheless

as cardboard as Bulldog Drummond. Tonight I raise my glass in salute.

Filed under: Rob's list by robert