James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007

James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007 (laterJames Bond: The Authorised Biography) by

The Authorized Biography of 007 was not commissioned by Glidrose Publications. It originated as a spoof novel for publisher Sidgwick & Jackson. However, Pearson knew Peter Janson-Smith, the Glidrose chairman, who gave permission for the work to be published. Consequently, this is the only James Bond book from Glidrose, between 1953 and 1987, not first published by Jonathan Cape, additionally, it is the only Bond novel with a shared copyright credit; Pearson is the only Bond novelist so recognised.

Plot summary

The premise of James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007 is that James Bond is based upon a real MI6 agent. Fleming hinted so in You Only Live Twice, in Bond's obituary, that his adventures were the basis of a series of "sensational novels"; illustrating this contention, that novel's comic strip adaptation used covers from Fleming's James Bond novels.

Writing autobiographically, Pearson begins the story with his own recruitment to MI6 and meeting

Based upon the success of his Fleming biography, The Life of Ian Fleming (1966), MI6 instruct Pearson to write 007's biography; he is introduced to a retired James Bond — who is in his fifties, yet healthy, sun-tanned, and married to Honeychile Ryder, the heroine of Dr. No. Most of James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007 is Bond telling his life story, including school and first MI6 missions, referring to most every novel and short story and, briefly, to Colonel Sun, the Robert Markham series-continuation novel. At conclusion, as Bond rushes to another mission (contrary to mandatory retirement), John Pearson is invited to assume Ian Fleming's scribal duties, like Dr. Watson assumed with Sherlock Holmes.

Publication history

• UK first hardback edition: 1973 Sidgwick & Jackson
• U.S. first hardback edition: 1974
  William Morrow & Company
• UK first paperback edition: 1975 Pan Books
• U.S. first paperback edition: March 1975
  Pyramid Books
• UK hardcover reprint: 1985 Granada
• UK paperback reprint: 1986 Grafton
• U.S. paperback reprint: 1986 Grove Press

Out of print since the 1990s, a reprinting of the book was released in 2008.^[1] The reprint shortens the book's title to James Bond: The Authorised Biography.^[2]

Reception

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The novel's

• Outline of James Bond

Notes

External links

• A look at the least known James Bond novel
• Origins of The Authorized Biography of 007^{[permanent dead link]}