A book left on a table tells you a good deal about the person who lives there. In Casino Royale, the book on M’s table is Christopher Wood’s Burne-Jones: The Life and Works of Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), a large illustrated study of the Victorian painter. It is the Burne-Jones book by Christopher Wood worth finding if you want something handsome to leave out.
In the film
A hardcover copy lies on a small table in M’s apartment, in front of Daniel Craig’s Bond as he waits for her and fiddles with a deck of cards. It is a background detail, easy to miss, and all the better for it.
Owning it now
The book is a reference to dip into rather than read in one sitting. It is large and heavy, so it works best on a low table or a library shelf where its cover can be seen. The edition from the Casino Royale scene is the hardcover; paperback editions also exist and cost less, but we would hold out for the hardcover if it is to be displayed.
Stock depends on the edition and the seller, and the book is long out of print in some formats, so compare condition and price before buying. More reading from the films is in Books and Media, and the full list from the film is on the Casino Royale page.
Specifications
| Author | Christopher Wood |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardcover, 160 pages |
| Publisher | Stewart Tabori and Chang (US edition, January 1998) |
| Size | 10.51 x 12.24 inches, 0.75 inches thick |
| ISBN | 155670819X (ISBN-13 978-1556708190) |
| Illustrations | 80 colour and 120 black-and-white |
