University of Illinois celebrates THE BIRTH OF BOND

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the publication of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, The University of Illinois Rare Book & Manuscript Library is hosting a special exhibition called The Birth of Bond. The exhibition opens today and runs through July 5, 2013. Click here for more details.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the publication of Casino Royale, the Rare Book & Manuscript Library will showcase a great 'thwacking' portion of the publication history of Casino Royale and also broadly represent the print history of Ian Fleming's important writing career. 

The special exhibit includes a manuscript copy of Fleming's earliest surviving short story, dozens of editions, translations, and even parodies of Casino Royale, as well as Fleming's letter stating he is bludgeoning his friends into actually buying his book. Also highlighted are selections from Fleming's notable journalism career, the first editions of all the "Bond" books, original cover art for the 1955 British paperback, and a typescript manuscript of Casino Royale. 

Banker, wartime spymaster, foreign news editor, children's author (the creator of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and himself a bibliophile, the creator of "Bond—James Bond," left an indelible mark on 20th-century culture. This exhibition traces the influence of Fleming's creation of Bond forward to our own century.