Today, the 13th April 2013, marks 60 years since the publication of Ian Fleming’s very first James Bond novel, CASINO ROYALE.

The novel that introduced James Bond, 007, to the world was written by Fleming in January 1952 at his Jamaican villa – Goldeneye –  and was published by Jonathan Cape (now an imprint of Random House) on the 13th April 1953, sporting a cover designed by Fleming himself. The first print run sold out within a month, and since then over 6 million Bond books have been sold worldwide.

‘The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning…’