Ian Fleming Trivia Quiz

Answer: London

The son of a Conservative MP (Valentine Fleming) and the grandson of a Scottish banker (Robert Fleming) Ian Fleming was born into a family of wealth and privilege on May 28th 1908.

Answer: John F Kennedy

Until 1961 Ian Fleming's "Bond" books were doing moderately well in terms of sales. However, when JFK answered the question (put to him by a journalist at a press conference) 'What do you like to read?' and JFK answered that his favourite books were the James Bond series, that the books rose to the best-selling list.

Answer: He opened a nightclub in Soho called 'Golden Eye'

Fleming joined Reuters as a journalist (his greatest achievement in this role being to cover a Russian spy trial (1929-32)). He next joined a British investment bank as a stockbroker. With the advent of the war, he took an assignment for the Times in Moscow. (This was effectively a cover - he was actually spying for the Foreign Office and later for Naval Intelligence where he attained the rank of Commander).

Answer: Casino Royale

"Casino Royale" was published in 1953 by Jonathon Cape in London. Later novels (in order of publication) were as follows: "Live and Let Die", "Moonraker", "Diamonds are Forever", "From Russia with Love", "Dr No" (published 1958 for those who chose "Dr. No!"), "Goldfinger", "For Your Eyes Only", "Thunderball", "The Spy Who Loved Me", "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "You Only Live Twice", "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "Octopussy".

Answer: Road safety signs

Interestingly, Fleming had strong views on road safety signs and in fact even campaigned for more dramatic road signs to be erected.

Answer: Noel Coward

Ian Fleming met Noel Coward through his wife, Ann and they became friends. An interesting tidbit here is that Coward actually drew a picture of Fleming in 1939, long before Fleming became famous. There are apparently very few known drawings of Fleming.

Answer: Jamaica

Fleming actually built and lived in a house called Goldeneye on the north-east coast of Jamaica. Each year, in January and February, he wrote a 007 adventure, writing 14 titles in all.

Answer: Treasure-hunting

Ian Fleming had a passion for treasure-hunting and took part in many treasure-hunts around the Seychelles, the Caribbean Islands and even in England.

Answer: Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang

Yes, the magical "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang". Not really in the same vein as Bond movies, "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang" was a story about a car that flew and was written for his son, Jaspar, who sadly died at the age of 23 from a suicidal drug-overdose.

Answer: Royal Sandwich Golf Course

Ian Fleming, ignoring medical advice to 'slow down', suffered a fatal heart-attack at the Royal Sandwich Golf Course on August 12, 1964. Rather interestingly, this, his favourite golf club, is thinly disguised as the Royal St Mark's in Goldfinger, where James Bond and Goldfinger have their famous contest.