“Solo”: Bond Returns To The Pages of Books

“Set in 1969, the story takes the suave British spy from London’s plush Dorchester Hotel to a war-ravaged West African country and on to Washington on a perilous lone mission” – and that is how precisely the new Bond novel “Solo” is being described. Authorized by the creator Ian Fleming’s family, William Boyd came up with a novel where he tried subtle changes in the 007 but balances fidelity to the iconic character – James Bond. The author confessed that in his mind James Bond looks like Daniel Day-Lewis.

But how he came about Daniel Day-Lewis? “Fleming once described the spy as ‘looking like the American singer-songwriter Hoagy Carmichael.’ Daniel Day-Lewis looks like Hoagy Carmichael.’” The author says.

Steering away from the high-held larger-than-life big screen image, Boyd gave it towards a complex and complicated shade. “He’s not a cartoon character. Fleming gave him all his traits, his tastes, his likes and dislikes – and his complexes. Bond has a dark side. He’s troubled sometimes. He weeps quite easily. And he makes mistakes. That’s what’s so interesting about him.” Boyd told to The Associated Press. “Even though he’s this handsome superspy, when you read the books you realize that he’s haunted.”

Not only that, this time he is not the barely 30 young suave guy.”Bond is mature. He’s seasoned,” Boyd said. “He’s lived a lot; he’s a man of experience. He may not run quite as fast as he could when he was 25, but he’s seen how life has changed and times have changed. It’s a good age for him to be.”

Espionage has been a familiar ground for Boyd with recognized spy thrillers “Restless” and “Waiting for Sunrise” in his kitty. In “Solo”, he took Bond to Africa. In Fleming’s work, he visited once there only. This time he visits Zanzarim, a fictional country with similarities to Nigeria during the civil war of 1969.

“Bond is a sensualist,” Boyd said though there in the novel, there are two enigmatic femme characters, Boyle seems not to keen to the expression of “Bond Girls”. .” Bond has relationships with women. It seems to me he wants a relationship – it’s not just casual sex.”

With changing dimensions in all aspects, the character this time deviates with his penchant for alcohol consumption too. “There’s a recipe for a dry martini in this novel which is my particular recipe for a dry martini, which I’ve lent to James Bond for the duration of the novel,” the writer signs off.

• About the Author

About Sankha Ghosh

Sankha Ghosh was never born in that 'City of Joy', never was a banker, never watched a Godard, never loved Kafka, never fell for that Solitary Reaper, never danced on a friend’s wedding, never fought for human rights, never had a crush at college and never ever aspired to work on a novel! Never was he as simple as this! #He wishes