/ Literary 007 / 1959 - Goldfinger /

Summary

Written by Evan Willnow on 08 Mar, 2002

Goldfinger

Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger was first released to the public on 23 March 1959. The reader not only read of Fleming’s best-known villain and henchman, were treated to a daring plot, and for the first time heard the name Pussy Galore; but the reader was given a good hard look at somewhere Fleming had not taken the reader before—inside of James Bond’s mind.

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The Blurb

“Keep away from MR. AURIC GOLDFINGER. He is a most powerful man. If he wished to crush you, he would only have to roll over in his sleep to do so.”

OPERATION GRAND SLAM

Secret agent James Bond had been warned not to tangle with Goldfinger. But the super-criminal’s latest odsession was too strong, too dangerous. He had to be stopped.

Goldfinger was determined to take possession of half the supply of mined gold in the world—to rob Fort Knox!

For this incredible venture he had inlisted the aid of the top criminal in the U.S., including a bevy of beautiful thieves from the Bronx. And he had conceived so foolproof a plan that it would take all of Bond’s unique talents to make it fail—as fail it must.

Back of Signet paperback edition

Better Than The Film

The service door opened. The chauffeur stood in the frame. He still wore his bowler hat and shiny black gloves. He gazed impassively at Goldfinger. Goldfinger crooked a finger. The chauffeur approached and stood within the circle by the fire.

Goldfinger turned to Bond. He said conversationally, ‘This is my handy man.’ He smiled thinly. ‘That is something of a joke. Oddjob, show Mr. Bond your hands.’ He smiled again at Bond. ‘I call him Oddjob because that describes his functions on my staff.’

The Korean slowly pulled of his gloves and came and stood at arm’s length from Bond and held out his hands palm upwards. Bond got up and looked at them. They were big and fat with muscle. The fingers all seemed to be the same length. They were very blunt at the tips and the tips glinted as if they were made of yellow bone.

‘Turn them over and show Mr. Bond the sides.’

There were no finger-nails. Instead there was this same, yellowish carapace. The man turned the hands sideways. Down each edge of the hands was a hard ridge of the same bony substance.

Bond raised his eyebrows at Goldfinger.

Goldfinger said, ‘We will have a demonstration.’ He pointed at the thick oak banisters that ran up the stairs. The rail was a massive six inches by four thick. The Korean obediently walked over to the stairs and climbed a few steps. He stood with his hands at his sides, gazing across at Goldfinger like a good retriever. Goldfinger gave a quick nod. Impassively the Korean lifted his right hand high and straight above his head and brought the side of it down like an axe across the heavy polished rail. There was a splintering crash and the rail sagged, broken through the centre. Again the hand went up and flashed down. This time it swept right through the rail leaving a jagged gap. Splinters clattered down on to the floor of the hall. The Korean straightened himself and stood to attention, waiting for further orders. There was no flush of effort in his face and no hint of pride in his achievement.

Chapter 11, Goldfinger

Chapters

  1. REFLECTIONS IN A DOUBLE BOURBON

  2. LIVING IT UP

  3. THE MAN WITH AGORAPHOBIA

  4. OVER THE BARREL

  5. NIGHT DUTY

  6. TALK OF GOLD

  7. THOUGHTS IN A D.B.III

  8. ALL TO PLAY FOR

  9. THE CUP AND THE LIP

  10. UP AT THE GRANGE

  11. THE ODD-JOB MAN

  12. LONG TAIL ON A GHOST

  13. ‘IF YOU TOUCH ME THERE…’

  14. THINGS THAT GO THUMP IN THE NIGHT

  15. THE PRESSURE ROOM

  16. THE LAST AND THE BIGGEST

  17. HOODS CONGRESS

  18. CRIME DE LA CRIME

  19. SECRET APPENDIX

  20. JOURNEY INTO HOLOCAUST

  21. THE RICHEST MAN IN HISTORY

  22. THE LAST TRICK

  23. T.L.C. TREATMENT

Timeline

The events of Goldfinger occur between:

May to June 1957

Dates calculated by Walter von Tagen III

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