James Bond's lifestyle
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of popular culture, knows that James Bond drives an Aston Martin and likes his vodka martinis to be shaken, not stirred. Those of us who have immersed ourselves in the novels, know that Bond also loves Sea Island cotton shirts, Pinaud Elixir (that prince among shampoos!) and oeufs cocotte. The films, meanwhile, have become a veritable marketplace for Bond's decadent lifestyle - from Omega watches and Bollinger Champagne, to Tom Ford suits and Sunspel polo shirts.
The books below explore various aspects of 007's lifestyle and go some way to explaining how a fictional character became a global icon.
Shaken: Drinking with James Bond and Ian Fleming (2018)
Authorized by the Ian Fleming estate, this book celebrates Ian Fleming's writings on the pleasures of drinking, offering 50 cocktail recipes that they have inspired. Available now |
50 Greatest James Bond Cars (Nov 2020)
This book features 50 legendary cars from the 25 movies. Each is rendered in full colour showing the key features that set them among the world's greatest cars. With facts and figures plus their key scenes and stunts, these are the cars that made Bond movie history. Pre-order now |
Being James Bond: Volume 1 (2013)
Being James Bond is dedicated to learning and exploring all we need to know so that we can experience life the way James Bond does (on the off-chance we ever become an international secret agent). It's a 'how-to' guide, on anything James Bond can do or has done. Available now |
Dressed to Kill: James Bond - The Suited Hero (1996)
Follows the sartorial history of the hero in a suit, from the 1960s chic of the Nehru-collared jacket in Dr No to the classic Italian tailoring by Brioni in Goldeneye. Carefully researched text and copious illustrations trace Bond's influence as a male style icon . Available now |
The James Bond Bedside Companion (1988)
Raymond Benson's 1988 encyclopedia remains one of the most comprehensive and entertaining books ever written about the world of James Bond. It covers Fleming, Bond's lifestyle, the Bond phenomenon, the novels and the films up to The Living Daylights in a deeply researched tome. Benson was later commissioned to write a series of James Bond continuation novels, and this book proves he was an excellent man for the job. Available now |
Bond Cars: The Definitive History (2020)
This is a lavish celebration of the cars that also became the stars alongside the world's most famous fictional spy. Featuring original call sheets, technical drawings and story-boards, accompanied by previously unpublished photography and exclusive interviews, this book puts you behind the wheel of every car driven by 007 on film. With insights from Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli as well as Daniel Craig and special effects and action vehicles supervisor and veteran of 15 Bond films, Chris Corbould, this is the story of cinema's greatest icon, told through the prism of the legendary cars he has driven. Available now |