The Man with the Golden Gun was my first encounter with James Bond.
It was a birthday treat to the cinema to witness the world's most popular state-sponsored murderer in celluloid action.
I'm not sure if it was the gratuitous killing, the pantomime villains, the gadgets or the fantasy women that floated my boat, or the whole larger-than-life shooting match. But hooked I was and, in a desperate desire to satiate a craving for more tall tales from the inner lining of the Iron Curtain, turned to the novels and Bond's creator lan Fleming.
Since consuming all 14 of the highly quotable books (12 novels and two short stories) in my teens, movie Bond has shadowed me. I interviewed Roger Moore for the anniversary of Bond's 50th and wrestled with the staggeringly awkward Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 at Beaulieu in England, some years later. Much like the women in Bond's life, Fleming's lexicon was an on-off lover.
I was alerted to Nicholas Shakespeare's biography of Fleming, The Complete Man, through a colleague in Hong Kong, who'd also shared a similar journey to my ownthrough "paper Bond". He loved it and raved about it. As did I, when my copy arrived in late 2023. Skip forward six months and I'm sitting in the interview room at Clarks Amer in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The hotel is home to the Jaipur Literature Festival and Shakespeare has The Complete Man on tour and is happy to discuss four and a half years of access to the Fleming archive.
When I meet Shakespeare he's upbeat, having come directly from a one-on-one stage discussion with Matthew Parker, the author of Goldeneye (named after Fleming's Jamaican bolthole). He's played to a packed house and has just left the stage having destroyed some young TV hot blood who was stupid enough to enquire as to "Fleming's favourite movie Bond".
Bu hikaye Prestige Malaysia dergisinin December 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Prestige Malaysia dergisinin December 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
PARTY TIME
Whether it's partying to forget, cultural enrichment, or a new wellness routine, we're right there with you on bringing forth 2025.
HOLIDAY CHEERS
With the season of togetherness upon us, it's only natural that these latest releases are born from collaborations that celebrate unity and shared sentiments.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date, and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.
'TIS THE TRAVEL SEASON
Whether a white Christmas beckons your name or a holistic retreat calls as 2025 looms, here are our picks for ending the year on a high.
A HEART FOR GIVING
Whether it's for coral reef rehabilitation or to be a voice where there is none, to leave the world a better place is a daunting task that these titans are ready to uphold.
BEHIND THE STILLS WITH ...STUART FEAR
Having made a career out of sharing his love for scotch, Stuart Fear is a Keeper of the Quaich and regional ambassador for Brown-Forman, dedicating his life to spreading the joy of whisky across Asia. Here, he reflects on the craft, the culture, and what makes a good dram.
MASCULINE ELEGANCE
With its gracefully simple exterior lines penned by Studio De Voogt and interior design by Paris-based Gilles & Boissier, known for their work on New York's Baccarat Hotel, Dutch shipbuilder Feadship's latest megayacht, One, offers luxury and comfort in equal measure.
PLAYING IT FORWARD
In sport, victory isn't measured only on the scoreboard, but also by its impact beyond the game. Six sport philanthropists share their experiences of using their platforms to champion change and uplift the community by promoting an active and mindful lifestyle.
A LIFE INCOMPLETE
Nicholas Shakespeare has penned the ultimate authority on the life and work of Bond author, lan Fleming. PRESTIGE heads out to the Rajasthan desert for a clandestine one-on-one with the writer of one of this year's must-read books.
TIME WELL SPENT
With the Rado Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic Skeleton and the Centrix Open Heart, every second becomes a reminder of what it means to live fully and appreciate the finer details of time.
