Live and Let Die is
Ian Fleming's second
James Bond Book, first published on April 5, 1954 by Jonathan Cape. It's the first time Bond travels to the United States.
Live and Let Die may be the most controversial of the Bond novels due to it's dated portrayal of African-Americans and Afro-Carribeaners as "feral", animalistic peoples. Fleming also makes liberal use of the terms "niggers", "negroes", and "negresses" throughout the novel. In most cases, the language used by Fleming is a reflection of 1950's terminology as opposed to any intentional attack on a particular group of people. To date, there is no source of Fleming-era criticism that considers him racist in his writing. This retrospective criticism has emerged in recent years.
Live and Let Die was adapted into the
eighth Bond film of the same name in 1973. Major elements, scenes, and characters from the novel have subsequently been adapted in the films
For Your Eyes Only (1981) and
License to Kill (1989).
Brief Synopsis:Bond is sent to Harlem, New York to investigate Mr. Big, a SMERSH operative who's funding global operations by selling pirated 17th century Spanish coins. Bond is excited about the opportunity to get back at SMERSH after his torture at the hands of a mysterious SMERSH agent in
Casino Royale. Bond teams up with his old friend Felix Leiter and they investigate Mr. Big's operations in New York and in Florida, eventually leading Bond to Mr. Big's private island near Jamaica. Bond trains with his friend Quarrel, and with the help of Mr. Big's fortune-telling girlfriend Solitaire, Bond discovers that Mr. Big is smuggling the coins out of the US in shark tanks. Bond locates Mr. Big's yacht, plants an explosive on its belly, and escapes with Solitaire just as the yacht explodes.
Key Scenes: - A broken finger
- Felix and the shark tank
- Bond investigates the warehouse
- Bond's training regimen with Quarrel
- The swim to Mr. Big's island
- Bond and Solitaire are dragged behind the yacht
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