The original typescript of the penultimate James Bond book with substantive autograph corrections and additions by the author. 260 leaves (254 x 202), typed, carbon and photocopied leaves (rectos only), 25 lines to the page, double-spaced, punched holes, bound in blue wrappers with a prong fastener (Ryman's "Handy File"), typed white label on front wrapper reading "'You Only Live Twice' by Ian Fleming". Wrappers worn with creases and tears, first three leaves loose, occasional creases, a little foxing to five leaves (pp. 23-27), but in very good condition.

A significant manuscript of scholarly importance revealing Fleming's detailed revision of his novel. You Only Live Twice (published in 1964) was the first Bond novel written after the film franchise had started in 1962, and reflects Sean Connery's depiction of James Bond.
Fleming composed You Only Live Twice on his typewriter during January and February 1963 at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. He continued to work on the novel and a revised typescript of 160 pages was sent to his typist, Jean Frampton, in April 1963. Frampton was asked to make eight copies (thought to be two sets of four): two top copies, and six carbons. Gilbert describes these copies as "65,000 words on numbered leaves, typed on folio paper (to the rectos only), twenty-five lines to the full page, double-spaced" with a height of 250 mm. The present manuscript has a leaf size of 254 mm, includes a few photocopied leaves, with editorial corrections in at least two hands. It is therefore likely to be a publisher's production copy, and the final time Fleming revised his text before the novel was sent to the printer.
The first page, comprising a listing of works by Fleming, is a top typed copy. The following four pages (contents, dedication, divisional title, first page of text) are photocopies (with original editorial annotations). The remaining pages (numbered 2-138, divisional title, and 139-255) are carbons. There are only four pages which have no markings at all. It is evident that several people worked on this manuscript and almost every page contains some form of holograph marking, chief amongst which is Fleming's distinctive hand in navy biro and his revisions are a constant throughout the work. The manuscript contains upwards of eighty material authorial changes, usually adding or changing a word or phrase, subtly changing the feel of the narrative, often tightening the prose or adding to the tension.
There are three notable emendations in this manuscript. Fleming's deletion of the poisonous attributes of tobacco is interesting, given the author's liking for cigarettes. The original deleted text for this particular plant as "listed by Customs and Excise… as Imported by Doctor Guntram Shatterhand", reads "Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca and N. tabacum): N. glauca is a small tree, N. tabacum is the commercial bush. Both yield toxic alkaloid, nicotine. May be fatal, due to exhaustion after retching, diarrhoea, muscular weakness, violent cardiac palpitations". Later in the manuscript, at the conclusion of chapter 19 ("The Question Room"), the text has been significantly reworked and expanded with the addition of a paragraph which Fleming uses to draw to a crescendo, Blofeld's victory speech as he prepares to decapitate Bond with a samurai sword. Finally, in the following chapter ("Blood and Thunder"), there is Blofeld's grand exposition of his evil scheme. This too, has been significantly revised by Fleming, portraying Blofeld less as pantomime villain and more urbane, villainous, sophisticate. As a whole the author's changes throughout the manuscript give a revealing insight in to his creative process, particularly character development, in the way he fleshes out and delicately engineers the explanations and motivations of Bond's most famous enemy.

Stock ID: 45510