The idea, however, was born to author Ian Fleming in a Eureka moment in a January of 1952 when the British journalist was enjoying a little winter’s sun with coffee and breakfast.
The cinematic world of James Bond might have ended but the dashing secret agent and his series of swashbuckling adventures continue to entertain and incite us. The idea, however, was born to author Ian Fleming in a Eureka moment in a January of 1952 when the British journalist was enjoying a little winter’s sun with coffee and breakfast. He sat down on his battered typewriter and hammered the opening line of Casino Royale. Ina barely a month, James Bond was born.
Where did Fleming get his inspiration from?
Serbian double agent Dusko
Many fingers went into the pie. There were many theories about who motivated Fleming to create a spy with such an illustrious attitude towards life and work. One of the theories suggest the biggest inspiration was a Serbian triple agent. His name- Dusko Popov who was born in wealthy Serbian family because of turn of events landed a job at the British embassy as their important source of intelligence. He obviously had a major part to play in the World War II for both the German troops and the Allies, but it was his flamboyant lifestyle and never-give up attitude that planted the seeds for the eventual creation of James Bond character.
Wing Commander Forest “Tommy” Yeo-Thomas
Another theory says, James Bond’s character bears striking resemblances with Wing Commander Forest Yeo-Thomas aka Tommy, Britain’s greatest secret agents of the war. Known by the code name of “White Rabbit” Tommy once managed to escape a concentration camp and reach Allied lines. Fleming, who worked on intelligence during war once briefed about Tommy successful escape. Fleming closely followed Tommy s escapades and may of his accounts have been used in Bond movies. There were other significant parallel in their personal life, relationship with women and even in the way they think and executed plans.
American ornithologist James Bond
Even with so many theories, one cannot strike down what Fleming himself as said about which inspired him to find a dapper spy. In fact, according to the oldest theory, the origins are humbler. In a New Yorker interview he had said, intentions where to come up with dull, boring label for a man who has been molded to become dangerous instrument for country’s secret services and he found exactly what he was looking for in a Pennsylvanian ornithologist called James Bond.
Nevertheless, many believe that Fleming was bound by an agreement to never disclose the heroic past of an actual spy and finding an ornithologist named “James Bond” was just a convenient excuse to answer curious minds without unraveling the mystery that his character is as his fictional exploits.