From Russia, with Love is the fifth novel by the
English author Ian
Fleming to feature his fictional British Secret Service agent
James
Bond. Fleming wrote the story in early 1956 at his Goldeneye estate in
Jamaica; at the time he thought it might be his final Bond book. The
story centres on a plot by SMERSH, the Soviet counter-intelligence
agency, to assassinate Bond in such a way as to discredit both him and
his organisation. As bait, the Russians use a beautiful cipher clerk and
the Spektor, a Soviet decoding machine. Much of the action takes place
in Istanbul and on the Orient Express (pictured). The book was inspired
by Fleming's visit to Turkey on behalf of The Sunday Times to report on
an Interpol conference; he returned to Britain by the Orient Express.
From Russia, with Love deals with the East–West
tensions of the Cold
War, and the decline of British power and influence after the
Second
World War. In 1963 it was adapted into the second film in the Bond
series, starring Sean Connery.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Russia,_with_Love_%28novel%29>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1854:
The paddle steamer SS Arctic sank after a collision with
SS Vesta 50 miles (80 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, killing
approximately 320 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Arctic_disaster>
1930:
With his victory in the United States Amateur Championship,
Bobby Jones became the only person to complete a Grand Slam in golf.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jones_%28golfer%29>
1964:
The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2, an advanced Cold War
tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft that was later cancelled,
made its maiden flight.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_TSR-2>
1988:
Led by pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, the political
party National League for Democracy was founded in Burma.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_League_for_Democracy>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
xebec:
A small two-masted, and later three-masted, Mediterranean transport ship
with an overhanging bow and stern.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xebec>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The greatest weakness of all weaknesses is to fear too much to
appear weak.
--Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jacques-B%C3%A9nigne_Bossuet>