Ian Fleming's Casino Royale And Beyond

By: FSWL team

Published:
2013-02-19

Sixty years of Ian Flemings literary Bond

The University Library’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library and Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, along with the Spurlock Museum, are planning several events this spring to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the publication of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale (1953).

Library Friend Michael L. VanBlaricum, also an Illinois alumnus, was invited to curate a multi-venue exhibition. Not surprising, as VanBlaricum has amassed perhaps one of the finest collections of Ian Fleming material in private hands. He is also President of The Ian Fleming Foundation (FSWL's founder Anders Frejdh is one of IFF's European associates), dedicated to the study and preservation of the history of Fleming's literary works, the James Bond phenomenon, and their impact on popular culture.

The Rare Book & Manuscript Library will display all manner of editions of Casino Royale, as well as letters, reviews, photos, and other works. The Casino Royale and Beyond: Sixty Years of Ian Fleming’s Literary Bond exhibit will focus on Fleming, his background, profession, and books. VanBlaricum will give a special talk about the exhibition in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library when the exhibit opens on April 12th, 2013.

“The Rare Book & Manuscript Library’s exhibit will include some interesting and unique items,” said VanBlaricum. “The original copy of A Poor Man Escapes, Fleming’s first story, written at the age of 19, will be included as well as a letter by Fleming written on the 22nd of April 1953 stating that 'I am bludgeoning friends and members of my staff into buying it [Casino Royale].' In addition, visitors will learn how the famous secret agent 007 got his name.”

Exhibition details:
Name: Casino Royale and Beyond: Sixty Years of Ian Fleming's Literary Bond
Opening dates: April 12 - July 12, 2013
Location: The Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 346 Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, USA
Entry: Free admission
Sponsor: The Rare Book & Manuscript Library (Phone: +1-217-333-3777)

Other exhibits:
The James Bond Theme: Music to Live, Die, and Love Another Day
Opening dates: April 12, 2013 - March 14, 2014
Venue: Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film
Unlike all the other Bond novels, which were sold to a single company, Eon Productions, for filming, Casino Royale went through several producers and was made into three startlingly different films. This exhibit tells the story of these three versions, from the modest CBS-TV production in 1954, to the bizarre, psychedelic spoof of 1967, to the 'canonical' 2006 Daniel Craig version, considered one of the best Bond films. Also, a look at the other 'unconventional' (non-Eon) film, Never Say Never Again (1983), and the unproduced Bond script, "Warhead."
Opening dates: April 12 - June 16, 2013
Venue: Spurlock Museum

Concert:
Jazz Band Concert - Featuring the Music of the James Bond Films
Date: April 13, 2013 at 7:00 PM
Venue: Spurlock Museum Knight Auditorium

Film Screening:
James Bond Film Festival
Dates: April 26–28, 2013
Venue: Spurlock Museum Knight Auditorium

Kick-Off Talk and Reception:
The Birth of Bond: Ian Fleming's Casino Royale at 60 by Michael L. VanBlaricum
Reception immediately following the talk in The Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Date: April 12, 3:00 PM
Venue: Main Library, Room 66

Other events for the 60th Anniversary of the literary 007 featured on From Sweden with Love:
>New edition of Ian Fleming's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car" (March 12, 2013)
>Publication of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Race Against Time" (March 12, 2013)
>New edition of Ian Fleming's "The Diamond Smugglers" (April 4, 2013)
>New edition of Ian Fleming's "Thrilling Cities" (April 4, 2013)
>Casino Royale: 60th anniversary (April 13, 2013)
>Publication of a new James Bond novel by William Boyd (September 26, 2013)
>Publication of "The James Bond Omnibus: Volume 5" (November 22, 2013)

Photo above:
The first UK edition cover of Casino Royale (1953) from a private collection.

For more information about the Ian Fleming exhibition, visit:

www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/Bond/index.html

Tags:

#exhibitions

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