You think that's the thing about Fleming. His language is so wonderful. You know, in thunderball, Bond stays in a room-shaped room with furniture-shaped furniture. And from Russia with love, regret was unprofessional. Over and over again, he entertains with his language skills. Once Goldfinger says, once his coincidence, twice his happenstance, but three times his enemy action. It's incredible that one writer could come up with so many iconic moments in just 12 books. In Dr No, James Bond has arrived in Jamaica on the trail of this mysterious and wonderfully named a villain. And then let's hear a great set piece read by Leslie Manville and Matthew
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They are the titans of the spy novel, who have elevated thrillers to the level of literary fiction. Much imitated, much adapted by the big and small screens, Ian Fleming and John Le Carré have painted our picture of post-war espionage: Fleming through the dashing figure of James Bond, with his lush locations and Martinis as icy as his heart; Le Carré through his damning portrait of the British secret service drawn from his own time in MI5 and MI6. But which of the two novelists is the greater? In this thrilling contest, Fleming’s case will made by Anthony Horowitz, creator of the bestselling Alex Rider spy novels and author of the official Bond continuation novel Trigger Mortis. Championing Le Carré – whose memoir about his life as a former spy currently sits in the bestseller lists – will be David Farr, Emmy-nominated screenwriter of the BBC’s adaptation of The Night Manager. Actors Lesley Manville, Simon Callow, Matthew Lewis and Alex Macqueen join us to bring both authors' works to life along with our host, author and critic Erica Wagner.
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