Ian Fleming; Vivienne Michel — The Spy Who Loved Me

London, Jonathan Cape, 1962. First edition. Cloth. A superb first edition, first impression, of this ninth Bond novel by Ian Fleming, an exciting work. From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. The first edition, first impression of this work.In the original unclipped dustwrapper by Richard Chopping.'The Spy Who Loved Me' is the ninth Bond novel, the shortest and most sexually explicit of Fleming's series.This novel is a departure from the others in the series, as it is told in first person by a young Canadian woman, Bond not appearing in the novel until two-thirds of the way through.In 1977 the novel was made into a film with Roger Moore as Bond.From the library of Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, from her library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. After being widowed at 25, Audrey married the fabulously wealthy American department store heir, Marshall Field III, later divorcing him and marrying the Honorable Peter Pleydell-Bouverie. In 1940 she bought Julians Park and redesigned the interior. Her library was impressive, with many examples of her own bookbinding.Audrey was an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty, the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII (though she was also rumoured to be his daughter, or the lover of King Edward VIII), featured in the 'Book of Beauty' by Cecil Beaton. She had many high profile friends, such as Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Fred Astaire, and Nancy Mitford, a sparkling hostess of the Edwardian period, her hedonistic antics bringing her into the Bright Young Things. In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, fine. Dustwrapper is generally smart with chips and the occasional closed tear to the extremities. Occasional handling marks to wrap. Light marks and discolouration to the wraps. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto to the front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Near Fine . Ill.: None. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.