Celebrate sixty years of the world's most famous magical flying car.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a fast-paced children's adventure story, originally written by Ian Fleming - the creator of James Bond - to read to his son, Caspar. It follows the Pott family: Caractacus, Mimsie, Jemima and Jeremy, who just invented an incredible whistling sweet. Their next project? Fixing up their new car - a very, very special car... It takes them on the adventure of a lifetime, over the sea, through the sky and into the clutches of some very villainous gangsters!
This prestige hardback edition features the classic cover and iconic illustrations by John Burningham. John Burningham was an award-winning artist and illustrator. Born in 1936, he worked in multiple mediums - painting, illustration, collage and sculpture. He was known especially for the wit and humour in his storytelling and artwork and was hugely admired amongst his contemporaries. His critically acclaimed picture books are loved all over the world.
Ian Lancaster Fleming was born in London on 28 May 1908 and was educated at Eton College before spending a formative period studying languages in Europe. His first job was with Reuters news agency, followed by a brief spell as a stockbroker. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was appointed assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence, Admiral Godfrey, where he played a key part in British and Allied espionage operations.
After the war he joined Kemsley Newspapers as Foreign Manager of The Sunday Times, running a network of correspondents who were intimately involved in the Cold War. His first novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and introduced James Bond, Special Agent 007, to the world. The first print run sold out within a month. Following this initial success, he published a Bond title every year until his death. His own travels, interests and wartime experience gave authority to everything he wrote. Raymond Chandler hailed him as 'the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England.' The fifth title, From Russia With Love, was particularly well received and sales soared when President Kennedy named it as one of his favourite books. The Bond novels have sold more than 100 million copies and inspired a hugely successful film franchise which began in 1962 with the release of Dr No, starring Sean Connery as 007.
The Bond books were written in Jamaica, a country Fleming fell in love with during the war and where he built a house, 'Goldeneye'. He married Ann Rothermere in 1952. His story about a magical car, written in 1961 for their only child, Caspar, went on to become the well-loved novel and film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Fleming died of heart failure on 12 August 1964.
