The Diamond Smugglers
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Smugglers is a non-fiction
work by Ian Fleming
that was first published in 1957 in the United Kingdom
and in 1958 in the United States
.
One of Fleming's few books that did not feature his superspy creation, James Bond
, The Diamond Smugglers tells the true story about a huge diamond smuggling operation responsible for smuggling 10 million pounds sterling worth of gems out of Africa
every year. The novel expands upon articles Fleming wrote for the London Sunday Times
in 1957.
The book is often erroneously listed in some sources as a Bond novel, in part because it was published by the same company. It was, in fact, the first Fleming work to carry the Glidrose Productions
copyright. This company, which later became known as Ian Fleming Publications, holds the publishing rights to all official James Bond novels.
Around the time of Fleming's death, there were plans to produce a movie based upon this book, but it never materialized.
Fleming's fascination with the world of diamond smugglers also manifested itself in his James Bond novel, Diamonds Are Forever
, and may have formed the basis for a story idea Fleming allegedly collaborated on with author Geoffrey Jenkins
in his unpublished James Bond novel Per Fine Ounce
(circa 1966).
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
work by Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
that was first published in 1957 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and in 1958 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
One of Fleming's few books that did not feature his superspy creation, James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
, The Diamond Smugglers tells the true story about a huge diamond smuggling operation responsible for smuggling 10 million pounds sterling worth of gems out of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
every year. The novel expands upon articles Fleming wrote for the London Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
in 1957.
The book is often erroneously listed in some sources as a Bond novel, in part because it was published by the same company. It was, in fact, the first Fleming work to carry the Glidrose Productions
Ian Fleming Publications
Ian Fleming Publications is the production company formerly known as both Glidrose Productions Limited and Glidrose Publications Limited, named after its founders John Gliddon and Norman Rose...
copyright. This company, which later became known as Ian Fleming Publications, holds the publishing rights to all official James Bond novels.
Around the time of Fleming's death, there were plans to produce a movie based upon this book, but it never materialized.
Fleming's fascination with the world of diamond smugglers also manifested itself in his James Bond novel, Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever (novel)
Diamonds Are Forever is the fourth of Ian Fleming's James Bond series of novels. It was first published by Jonathan Cape in the UK on 26 March 1956 and the first print run of 12,500 copies sold out quickly...
, and may have formed the basis for a story idea Fleming allegedly collaborated on with author Geoffrey Jenkins
Geoffrey Jenkins
-Early life:Jenkins was born Pretoria. At the age of 17 he wrote and had published A Century of History which received a special eulogy from General Jan Smuts at the centenary of Potchefstroom....
in his unpublished James Bond novel Per Fine Ounce
Per Fine Ounce
Per Fine Ounce is the title of an unpublished novel by Geoffrey Jenkins featuring Ian Fleming's James Bond. It was completed circa 1966 and is considered a "lost" novel by fans of James Bond because it was actually commissioned by Glidrose Productions, the official publishers of James Bond...
(circa 1966).