{"product_id":"the-diamond-smugglers-the-true-story-of-an-international-crime-ring-and-its-downfall-told-by-the-creator-of-james-bond-9780063445734","title":"The Diamond Smugglers: The True Story of an International Crime Ring and Its Downfall, Told by the Creator of James Bond","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE TRUE STORY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIME RING AND ITS DOWNFALL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1957, as the Cold War raged, Ian Fleming took a respite from writing James Bond to craft a work of nonfiction every bit as tense as a Bond adventure. Aided by an ex-MI5 agent and International Diamond Security Organization operative going by the alias \"John Blaize,\" Fleming chronicled the IDSO's infiltration of the \"million-carat network\"―the world's most notorious diamond smuggling ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery year, a shadowy band of racketeers pirated a fortune in diamonds out of Africa, and the majority of the stolen gems wound up in the hands of Communist nations. In response, the IDSO commissioned a private army, led by legendary British spymaster Sir Percy Sillitoe, to penetrate and topple the ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the operation was complete, the \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e gave the story to Fleming, who had impressed Sillitoe with his earlier Bond adventure \u003cem\u003eDiamonds Are Forever\u003c\/em\u003e. A remarkable feat of investigative journalism, \u003cem\u003eThe Diamond Smugglers\u003c\/em\u003e is the thrilling true story behind one of the greatest spy operations in history. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ian Fleming\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e William Morrow Large Print\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/30\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.35lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.70d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780063445734\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFleming, Ian:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIan Lancaster Fleming\u003c\/strong\u003e was born in London in 1908. His first job was at Reuters news agency, after which he worked briefly as a stockbroker before working in Naval Intelligence during World War Two. His first novel, \u003cem\u003eCasino Royale\u003c\/em\u003e, was published in 1953 and was an instant success. Fleming went on to write thirteen other Bond books as well as two works of nonfiction and the children's classic \u003cem\u003eChitty Chitty Bang Bang\u003c\/em\u003e. The Bond books have earned praise from figures such as Raymond Chandler, who called Fleming \"the most forceful and driving writer of thrillers in England\" and President Kennedy, who named \u003cem\u003eFrom Russia with Love\u003c\/em\u003e as one of his favorite books. The books inspired a hugely successful series of film adaptations that began in 1962 with the release of \u003cem\u003eDr. No\u003c\/em\u003e. He was married to Ann O'Neill, with whom he had a son, Caspar. He died in 1964.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Ian Fleming \/ Paperback \/ English","offer_id":47566699692189,"sku":"9780063445734","price":47.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_21d566ef-3469-4cbf-ac98-f78da5006899.jpg?v=1768315176","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/the-diamond-smugglers-the-true-story-of-an-international-crime-ring-and-its-downfall-told-by-the-creator-of-james-bond-9780063445734","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}