Ian Lancaster Fleming
(1908 - 1964)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car and Thrilling Cities
. Ian Fleming, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car, London: Jonathan Cape, 1964
(In 3 Volumes)
Volume I,II,III: 48 pages with illustrations in colour & in b/w (both full page and within text) by John Burningham; hardbound in pictorial boards, matching unclipped dustjacket and pictorial endpapers (each)
9.25 x 6.5 x 0.25 in (23.6 x 16.5 x 1 cm) (each)
Ian Fleming's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car" is a series of three volumes of children's books first published in 1964 and became an instant classic, beloved by children and adults alike.
The book tells the story of a magical car, named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, that is able to fly, sail, and even think for itself. The car was originally a broken-down race car that Mr. Caractacus Pott bought and restored with his children, Jeremy and Jemima, and he lived with them and his father in a windmill in the English countryside.
In the story, the Potts family must battle the evil Baron Bomburst and his wife, who want to steal Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for themselves. Along the way, they have many exciting adventures, including a trip to a castle in Bavaria, a car race, and a visit to a candy factory.
The first book, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car" (1964), introduces the car and the Pott family. The family embarks on a series of adventures, including thwarting a gang of robbers and rescuing a kidnapped princess.
The second book, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Big Race" (1965), features a race between Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a group of other cars, including one that is powered by a jet engine. The Pott family enters the race to save their home from being sold by a greedy landowner.
The third and final book, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Over the Moon" (1971), sees the Pott family take Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on a trip to the moon. There, they encounter a group of aliens who have lost their way and help them find their way home.
Overall, the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" series is a classic children's adventure story that combines elements of fantasy, science fiction, and humor. The books have been adapted into a successful stage musical and a popular film adaptation, which was released in 1968 and starred Dick Van Dyke.
This is the only children book that Fleming wrote based on bedtime stories he told his son, Caspar. Sadly he did not live to see "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" published as he suffered a heart attack on 11 August 1964 and died in the early morning of the following day - his son Caspar's twelfth birthday - in Canterbury, Kent. The book was published two months after his death.
. Ian Fleming, Thrilling Cities, London: Jonathan Cape, 1963
48 pages of illustrations from black and white photos; original white cloth-backed grey paper-covered boards, spine lettered in gilt, black endpapers. With dust jacket designed by Paul Davis
23 x 16 x 3.5 cm
Ian Fleming's world travels, interests, as well as his journalism and wartime experiences, lent authority to everything he wrote. In 1959, the Sunday Times commissioned Fleming to write a series of dispatches from the world's most beguiling locales. Originally published as two series of articles for the Sunday Times, first from 24 January to 28 February 1960 and then from 31 July to 4 September 1960, Thrilling Cities was the product of a five-week, all-expenses-paid trip to visit the world's most exciting cities. The result was Thrilling Cities, a masterpiece of well-observed travelogue that stands ably alongside the author's Bond canon.
Here are Fleming's highly personal observations of fourteen cities across Europe, Asia, and North America--from Vienna, Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Chicago, Hamburg to Geneva. At each stop, Fleming casts the guidebook aside, taking readers on an insider's tour of everything from a Tokyo geisha house led by the world's most beautiful women to a packed Las Vegas casino where fortunes ride on a roll of the dice, and beyond. In each chapter, he provides a colorful and entertaining account of his experiences in the city, including its history, culture, and people. These gathered material that would furnish much of the backdrop and research for the five Bond novels and seven short stories that would follow.
Fleming's observations are often witty and insightful, and he is not afraid to share his opinions about the cities he visits, whether he is praising their architecture or criticizing their food. He also includes information about local customs and practices, such as gambling in Las Vegas or tea ceremonies in Japan.
Despite being a travelogue, "Thrilling Cities" also reveals much about Fleming's own personality and interests. For example, he is clearly fascinated by gambling and spends a considerable amount of time discussing it in the book. He also has a deep appreciation for luxury and elegance, and frequently visits high-end restaurants and hotels.
Generally, "Thrilling Cities" is an entertaining and informative book that offers a unique perspective on some of the world's most fascinating cities. It is a must-read for fans of Ian Fleming and anyone interested in travel writing.
(Set of two)