The Casino Royale novel is where James Bond starts. Ian Fleming’s first Bond book, published in 1953, is short, spare and very well made, which is why it is still the best place to begin. This page covers the book in its current edition.
In the books
Bond is sent to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux to play baccarat against Le Chiffre, a financier for SMERSH, and to bankrupt him at the table. Vesper Lynd, an MI6 colleague with a secret, is partnered with him. Goodreads records that Fleming wrote it in 1952, at the age of 44, and that eleven novels and two short-story collections followed between 1953 and 1966.
Reading it now
Ian Fleming Publications lists the book in hardback, paperback, audiobook and ebook, and quotes the Times Literary Supplement and Raymond Chandler among its early readers. We would read it before the films, and in a physical edition: it takes an evening or two. If you want a collector’s version, our books and media collection includes the Bentley special edition.
Specifications
| Author | Ian Fleming |
|---|---|
| First published | 1953 |
| Formats | Hardback, paperback, audiobook, ebook |
| Edition | Most recent edition (the catalogue lists Vintage Classics) |
More in our books and media collection, with the films and the Bond actors alongside.
