Thrilling Cities
Cape, 1963.
First edition. Original white buckram backed boards in pictorial dustwrapper. A dedication copy, inscribed by Fleming on the title page to friend and colleague, Denis Hamilton, quoting the printed dedication, "To "A man called 'CD'"" from Ian. Further annotated "CDH" by Fleming on the reverse of the front flap of the dustwrapper, indicating that this was probably one of a handful of author's copies marked for presentation. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographic plates. A fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper, with just a hint of wear to the spine ends, but quite bright on the pink spine, which is susceptible to sun damage.
Charles Denis Hamilton, affectionately known as CD, met Fleming on the staff of the Sunday Times (which Hamilton was to become editor of in 1961) after the war. They became firm friends and Hamilton urged Fleming to start writing novels. In 1961 Hamilton tended to Fleming when he collapsed with a heart attack during an editorial conference.
Thrilling Cities began as a series of articles undertaken by Fleming for the Sunday Times, once again at Hamilton's insistence,
"Partly to please Thomson and Denis Hamilton, who disclosed some of their plans for the Sunday Times to him, Fleming showed himself eager to take part in them and agreed to undertake the round-the-world trip and, if it came off, to do a companion series of articles on European cities." (Pearson).
In his Author's Note to the book, Fleming writes,
"Nothing remains but to dedicate this biased, cranky but at least zestful hotchpotch to my friends and colleagues on the Sunday Times in London and abroad, and particularly to a man called 'C.D.', who pulled the trigger..."
Stock ID: 30193
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