Casino Royale – 70 Years of 007

It is 2023 and 70 years ago today the first James Bond book Casino Royale by Ian Fleming was published. It was of course the start of what has subsequently become a symbolic series of books. It was the same year that Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, 14 books later and if you mention 007 everyone will know who you are talking about. 

For readers Ian Fleming's James Bond introduced us to an iconic character who is a coldblooded assassin and a hard drinker as well. You don't be come a double O without being willing to kill in cold blood. In my view it is clear that the groundwork for the James Bond character is laid out pretty much in its entirety in Casino Royale. His character has of course spawned a number of imitators. Think Sol Weinstein's Israeli Bond, Kim Newman's Anno Dracula novel  Dracula Cha-Cha-Cha whose vampire character is called Hamish Bond (this is by far my favourite), the 1981 novel Night Probel by Clive Cussler where his eponymous hero Dirk Pitt finds himself working with a retired Secret Service agent. Don Pendleton's Marc Bolan series and of course the James Coburn “Flint” films to name a few. 

Casino Royale is in my view a masterpiece. From the interesting and very clever intelligence reports that form parts of the opening chapters to the tales of an aged Cold War spy.

All the Bond books are atmospheric and obviously deserve to be recognised as the classics and best of the spy genre. Everyone has their favourite Bond book and I am no exception. My favourite Bond book unsurprisingly is Casino Royale. It is not solely because it is the first in the series, though that is part of the reason but also because for me (and possibly for others as well) it was the introduction to stubtle and not so stubtle product placement in books. It was also my introduction to spy thrillers as well. But then again, Ian Fleming mentions these things because they were things that he liked and enjoyed. Why mention food that you don't like to eat or cigarettes that you don't like to smoke. I loved the fact that he is very particuar about food and drink. Whilst Gin is my drink of choice, I will never turn down a good Martini. 

Furthermore, the thing about Ian Fleming's writing is that not only is it so quoteable but also it is the “hooks" at the end of chapters that heighten tension and pull the reader rapidly into the next chapter which one certainly wants to read. To this day reading the bit where Bond's genitals are being beaten with a carpet beater by Le Chiffre still makes me cringe. He has in my opinion and as Umberto Eco stated in his 1979 essay about the Bond books a rhythm, a polish, a certain sensuous feeling for words. For many also it is a book for boys.

All the key players of the series including MI6, Moneypenny, and M are introduced in Casino Royale, but we are also introduced to two other key characters that we will come into contact with in future books and that is Felix Leiter of the CIA who is a character in six 007 novels and René Mathis of the  French Deuxième Bureau who is also in From Russia With Love and is mentioned in Thunderball.

For me Casino Royale is the sort of thriller that for many it may not considered to be literature. However, it does in its own way read just as good as any literature book and in any event nowadays there are quite a few thrillers that should be considered not only as thrillers but also literature as well. 

The plot itself is quite simplistic and concise and whilst I certainly favour the 2006 version of Casino Royale as one of my favourite Bond films. It is the simplicity of the book which makes it standout. The final twist in the story and Bond’s bitter response to it, sets his character up for the rest of the series of books. The Bond in the books is of course mostly the same “Bond” all through the series. He does however change in that the further away from the war in the books the calmer he comes across.

Spy thrillers to this day still follow the trend set out in Casino Royale in that they continue to reflect the real world and of course good against evil.  In fact, to this day the plots and themes of Casino Royale are surprisingly current.

Casino Royale has always been for me a first-rate thriller. Whilst it’s not a very long read, I personally love this book in that it captures the reader and holds on until the end. With a breathtaking plot where by Fleming manages to keep us (or I should say) as far as I am concerned, enthralled and looking forward to more books in the series. For Casino Royale to be celebrating 70 years and for the Bond canon to still be seen as one who aet the original standard which has since been copied by others. It is not surprising that if readers are asked to name their favourite spies, Bond will always been on the list. Bond is of course one of the ultimate heroes in fiction.  Casino Royale is the best Ian Fleming novel in my opinion and if you are only going to read only one, this is it.

Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Marks 70th Jubilee Year

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) marks its 70^th Jubilee year in 2023 with a series of events, including an exhibition of memorabilia from its archives.

Official archivist of the CWA, Martin Edwards, said the anniversary is a, “cause for celebration, not just among its members, but among crime genre fans everywhere.”

 

The exhibition will be part of the Alibis in the Archives crime writing weekend which runs 9—11 June at Gladstone’s Library in Wales, as well as other special events linked to National Crime Reading Month in June. There will also be a special Jubilee reception at the Mansion House, York, as part of the CWA’s conference.

 One of the UK’s most prominent writers’ societies, the CWA was founded by the prolific author John Creasey, who wrote over 600 books under various pseudonyms. The first CWA meeting was on 5 November 1953 at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall.

The invite from Creasey for the very first meeting, read: ‘The threatened meeting of mystery writers planned for the afternoon of Thursday, November 5^th, has been arranged to take place at the NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB, WHITEHALL PLACE, LONDON, S.W.1 …at 2.45 for 3 p.m. (It cannot go on much longer than about 5.15 p.m. as the room is needed for politics) On arrival at the Club ask for (a) Creasey and if you get a blank stare, (b) the Oak Room…IF YOU DON’T WANT AFTERNOON TEA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I SHOULD HATE TO ORDER IT AND SEE IT WASTED.’

 

Its founding aims were to provide a social network as well as help crime writers with business matters. In Creasey’s words: ‘to give reasonable hope that both the prestige and the fortunes of crime writers generally should be improved.’

 

In 1956, it hosted its first awards ceremony for the best crime book of the year, which went to Winston Graham, best known for Poldark. Agatha Christie was the principal guest.

 

The oldest awards in the genre, the CWA Daggers feature the highest honour in crime writing – the CWA Diamond Dagger – which recognises careers marked by sustained excellence. Recipients over the years include PD James, Ruth Rendell, Colin Dexter, John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, Martina Cole, Val McDermid, and Walter Mosley.

 

Today, the CWA’s determination to promote the genre remains central to its mission, seen by the success of more recent initiatives including, starting in 1999, the Debut Dagger, a competition for uncontracted writers, and National Crime Reading Month (held annually in June), both of which help to connect crime writers and readers, as well as supporting libraries and bookshops.

 Maxim Jakubowski, CWA Chair, said: "As my two-year term as Chair of the CWA winds down to an end, I feel I can't leave the scene of the crime on a better occasion than the celebration of an impressive 70 years of so many activities indefatigably supporting the crime writing community and promoting our beloved genre. We have achieved so much and it makes me very proud that we are toasting such a jubilee in 2023. I raise the tip of my fictional fedora to another brilliant 70 years, which I'm sure my successors will make as memorable."

Vaseem Khan, Vice-Chair of the CWA, said: "Longevity in any organisation is a sign that

something is going right. The CWA's star has shone over British crime writing for seven decades, never more brightly than now. Over the years, the CWA has welcomed, championed, and recognised the greatest writers of the genre, whilst nurturing future stars. Today, the CWA continues to evolve, just as the genre has evolved to become the most popular and most inclusive in publishing. Next stop…the CWA centenary!”