FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964). You Only Live Twice. London: Jonathan Cape, 1964.

FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964). You Only Live Twice. London: Jonathan Cape, 1964.

First edition, first impression, first state, presentation copy inscribed by Fleming to Noël Coward: ‘To Celestial Coward-san / from / Miserable Fleming-san’. The last book in the ‘Blofeld trilogy’, You Only Live Twice was also the final Bond book to be published during the author’s lifetime. Upon learning of Fleming’s death in August 1964, Coward writes ‘Now Ian […] has died and it is a horrid but expected sadness. He went on smoking and drinking in spite of all warnings. Annie has been distraught for months watching the inevitable approaching, and now it has happened. I am horribly distressed for her and miserable for myself. He has been a good and charming friend to me ever since I have known him’ (Diaries, p.571). The novel is the only Bond book in which Coward himself is mentioned, with Bond quipping to Blofeld after an explosion: ‘“I'll admit that your effects man down below knows his stuff. Now bring on the twelve she-devils, and if they're all as beautiful as Fräulein Bunt, we'll get Noël Coward to put it to music and have it on Broadway by Christmas. How about it?"’ (p.227). Gilbert A12a (1.1).

Octavo (189 x 125mm). Original black cloth, upper cover gilt stamped with seven Japanese characters, spine lettered in silver, bamboo-patterned endpapers, original dustjacket after Richard Chopping. Provenance: Noël Coward (1899-1973; author’s presentation inscription, bookplate).

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