The Diamond Smugglers

The Diamond Smugglers is a non-fiction work by Ian Fleming that was first published in 1957 in the United Kingdom and in 1958 in the United States.

Related Topics:
Non-fiction - Ian Fleming - 1957 - United Kingdom - 1958 - United States

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One of Fleming's few books that did not feature his superspy creation, James Bond, The Diamond Smugglers tells the true story about a huge diamond smuggling operation responsible for smuggling 10 million pounds sterling worth of gems out of Africa every year. The novel expands upon articles Fleming wrote for the London Sunday Times in 1957.

Related Topics:
James Bond - Pounds sterling - Africa - Sunday Times

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The book is often erroneously listed in some sources as a Bond novel, in part because it was published by the same company. It was, in fact, the first Fleming work to carry the Glidrose Productions copyright. This company, which later became known as Ian Fleming Publications, holds the publishing rights to all official James Bond novels.

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Around the time of Fleming's death, there were plans to produce a movie based upon this book, but it never materialized.

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Fleming's fascination with the world of diamond smugglers also manifested itself in his James Bond novel, Diamonds Are Forever, and formed the basis of a story Fleming and author Geoffrey Jenkins allegedly collaborated on in the 1950s, which formed the basis of Jenkins' unpublished James Bond novel, Per Fine Ounce. The opening sequence of the 40th anniversary Bond film, Die Another Day, deals with diamond smuggling, which may or may not have been a conscious reference to this book.

Related Topics:
Diamonds Are Forever - Geoffrey Jenkins - Per Fine Ounce - Die Another Day

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