born May 28, 1908, London, Eng.
died Aug. 12, 1964, Canterbury, Kent
British suspense novelist.
He worked as a Moscow journalist, banker, stockbroker, naval intelligence officer, and newspaper manager before publishing Casino Royale (1953), the first of 12 novels featuring James Bond, the stylish, high-living secret service agent 007, one of the most successful characters of 20th-century fiction. Packed with violent action, espionage, and sex, all 12 books
including From Russia, with Love (1957), Dr. No (1958), Goldfinger (1959), and Thunderball (1961)
became popular movies.