Goldeneye: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica

By: Matthew Parker

Narrated by: Roy McMillan

Amid the lush beauty of Jamaica's northern coast lies the true story of Ian Fleming's iconic creation: James Bond.

For two months every year, from 1946 to his death 18 years later, Ian Fleming lived at Goldeneye, the house he built on a point of high land overlooking a small white-sand beach on Jamaica's stunning north coast. All the James Bond novels and stories were written there.

This audiobook explores the huge influence of Jamaica on the creation of Fleming's iconic postwar hero. The island was for Fleming part retreat from the world, part tangible representation of his values, and part exotic fantasy. Goldeneye also examines Fleming's Jamaican friendships - his extraordinary circle included Errol Flynn, the Oliviers, international politicians, and British royalty as well as his close neighbor, Noël Coward - and traces his changing relationship with Ann Charteris (and hers with Jamaica) and the emergence of Blanche Blackwell as his Jamaican soul mate.

Goldeneye also compares the real Jamaica of the 1950s during the buildup to independence with the island's portrayal in the Bond books, to shine a light on the attitude of the likes of Fleming and Coward regarding the dramatic end of the British Empire.

©2014 Matthew Parker (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks

Goldeneye

I Love Bond. I never knew that much about Ian Fleming. And now I do. I love Bond even more.

An unbelievable creation story!

There were many incredible moments in this book, it doesn't pull any punches at all!

This book made my visit to Goldeneye special

I finished this book before I visited Goldeneye in Jamaica. I also read (and re-read) 007 novels while I was there. I found so many interesting information and helped me understand Ian Fleming and 007 novels.

Stunningly Good!!

So I met Chris Blackwell back in 1994… was told that he was the son of wealthy rum importers turned to music… Bob Marley… Robert Palmer… U2… I wish somebody would have told me… Ian Fleming and James Bond

I loved how Mr Parker kept jumping centuries since that I could understand the historical significance of all parties and country

I would recommend this to anyone… from those interested in romance… tragic romance… empires… spy novels… and just plain Hollywood what?!?!

Absolutely loved it!

utterly enjoyable

loved it. was hoping it wouldn't end. submerges you in a time and place romanticized.

What a great discovery!

I had my doubts about this book. I am a huge Bond fan and love even the bad movies. The author does a wonderful job weaving together Bond, Fleming, Jamaica, and the Brits that entertains and informs

Extremely Interesting Literary and Political Work!

This is an exceptionally researched, well structured, and well-read analysis of Ian Fleming as a man, author, and advocate for Jamaica's beauties. Matthew Parker weaves discussion of Fleming's personal life with literary review of the James Bond series and the sociocultural & political backdrop of Jamaica with such skill that the reader doesn't fell as if one if being jerked from topic to topic. It flowed really well, and I almost couldn't put it down!

As a graduate student studying Caribbean coral ecology, I was thrilled to hear just how much Fleming was obsessed with exploring the reef within sight of his Goldeneye estate. So much of his love for the island was tied to its natural wonders, and I simply adored all of those passages.

However, Parker doesn't pull punches when it comes to pointing out Fleming and the British empire's relationship with Jamaica. Parker's biography of Fleming includes his alcoholism, sexism, racism, cigarette chain-smoking, and severe nostalgia for colonialism. Parker deftly criticizes British media and authorities for not respecting Jamaican self-governance, employment, or representation. All of Parker's statements are backed up with quotes and references from the period, which is essential for quality non fiction.

I recommend this to any fan of Jamaica, the Bond books, the Bond movies, Ian Fleming as a character, colonial and post-colonial British history, and the history of anthropogenic impacts on Caribbean coral reefs. I have read "Casino Royale" but nothing else in the series, but I am familiar with nearly all of the Bond films produced with Sean Connery onward (apparently there were 2 bad ones before Sean Connery which no one remembers lol). I definitely have a better sense of how important the Bond franchise is to the British and American psyche, as well as Jamaica's importance in the fall of the British empire.

I really enjoyed this.

This is a comprehensive account of Ian Fleming. Its also a compendium of all of the James Bond books. Ever since I viewed No Time to Die, I have been curious about Fleming. This volume provides many answers.

Ian Fleming lead a fascinating life.

In Jennet Conant's fine book, "The Irregulars" (I heard the audio edition several years ago) she briefly mentions Ian Fleming during his "spy" days spent in the USA when Britain was trying to get us into WW2. Matthew Parker's book "Goldeneye" deals with the years after the war when Fleming decided move to Jamaica and write books. The sub-title "Where Bold was Born" is figuratively true. Every James Bond story was written during Fleming's times in Goldeneye - the name of his house on the island.
There is a much name dropping as Jamaica was the place for the wealthy and the famous to go to get away. Noel Coward had a particularly active role in Ian and Ann Fleming's life. You may be surprised at how much 'hanky-panky' was considered normal in the 50s and 60s.
The ebook was available, but the audio was not synchronized to the book, so I usually sat with the ebook and my ear buds and leafing along. The audio was wonderful, however, during those 4:00 AM waking hours that I sometimes have. I suggest getting the ebook or the printed edition just for all of the photographs. (Always a problem with audio books)
My only dilemma now is whether or not to listen/read the new versions of the James Bond books. I may have to revisit at least a couple of them: "Casino Royale' the first book and perhaps "Moonraker" the only adventure set entirely in England.

Fleming, Ian Fleming

If you could sum up Goldeneye: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica in three words, what would they be?

Peek Behind Curtain

What did you like best about this story?

Bond fans will love this behind-the-scenes look into the creation of culture's most famous spy. I would have liked a little more on Fleming's WWII service as that likely shaped much of his writing.