FLEMING, Ian.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

You Only Live Twice. First edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Robert, But not to read! from Ian". The recipient was Robert Harling, who worked with Fleming in naval intelligence during the Second World War and was one of the inspirations for Bond. An account of Bond's childhood in this novel (on pages 240-241) was directly inspired by Harling's own as an orphan in Kent.Harling (1910-2008) was present when, in 1944, Fleming declared his intention to write "the spy novel to end all spy novels". His protagonist "bore a distinct resemblance to Harling in his sardonic elegance of manner and cool sexual expertise" (ODNB). Harling gave his name to two other characters in the Bond books: a police inspector in Thunderball and a typographer in The Spy Who Loved Me. The latter is particularly apt, as Harling created the "tea chest" font used on the dust jackets for most of the Bond books.The two men met in publishing circles before the war, remaining close for the rest of their lives. "Harling was Ian's favourite companion when his Scottish melancholy played up and he needed a lift after a difficult morning at the Sunday Times. Ian would ring and demand 'a superficial lunch' at Scott's. Once seated at a table, he would open the menu and declare, 'Let's see what's the cheapest meal we can have today.' Harling talked to him amusingly about women and writers and architecture, and Ian returned to the office spiritually and i

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