007 Book: Casino Royale (1953)

Bond book: Casino Royale

Author: Ian Fleming

Publication date: 13 April 1953

Casino Royale is Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel. It paved the way for a further eleven novels by Fleming himself, in addition to two short story collections, followed by many “continuation” Bond novels by other authors. Casino Royale was written by Fleming in Jamaica over a period of around two months, largely from his own experiences and imagination; he also devised the artwork for the cover.

The story details James Bond, Agent 007 of the “Secret Service”, travelling to the casino at Royale-les-Eaux in order to bankrupt a fifth-columnist, Le Chiffre, the treasurer of a French union and a member of the Russian secret service. Bond is supported in his endeavours by Vesper Lynd, a member of his own service, as well as Felix Leiter of the CIA and René Mathis of the French Deuxième Bureau.

CONTENTS:

1. The Secret Agent
2. Dossier for M
3. Number 007
4. L’Ennemi Écoute
5. The Girl from Headquarters
6. Two Men in Straw Hats
7. Rouge et Noir
8. Pink Lights and Champagne
9. The Game is Baccarat
10. The High Table
11. Moment of Truth
12. The Deadly Tube
13. ‘A Whisper of Love, A Whisper of Hate’
14. ‘La Vie en Rose?’
15. Black Hare and Grey Hound
16. The Crawling of the Skin
17. ‘My Dear Boy’
18. A Crag-like Face
19. The White Tent
20. The Nature of Evil
21. Vesper
22. The Hastening Saloon
23. Tide of Passion
24. Fruit Défendu
25. ‘Black-Patch’
26. ‘Sleep Well, My Darling’
27. The Bleeding Heart