Comments on: DOTW: The Vesper

By: P. Squiddy

P. Squiddy — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:03:40 +0000

Ah, Bob Sutton’s comment sheds a lot of light on the subject. It doesn’t make as much sense when Lynd is working with the terrorist bankers…

By: Chris P.

Chris P. — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:48:24 +0000

I bought a bottle of Lillet the week I bought Casino Royale. and I love it, but I shake the hell out of mine (lemon-zest in the shaker with ice to start to flavor the ice).

By: ThisNext- Blog

ThisNext- Blog — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 03:33:41 +0000

Cottoning to Gin…

Maybe it’s a little strange that the lead story on the San Francisco Chronicle’s Wine section this week was on gin, but I don’t mind. I’m open minded that way. Truth is, I never much liked gin. My first exposure to it, in my uns…

By: Bob Sutton

Bob Sutton — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 02:39:27 +0000

I really love the idea that Fleming gave us Bond’s drink as a metaphor for the double agent, Vesper Lynd: she’s initially ice-cold, and she comingles Russian, British, and French loyalties.

But her given name is, itself, another classic Fleming double entendre: vespers are the traditional evening prayers said ‘in that violet hour’ by Church of England faithful. Thus, he gives Bond a girl so beautiful that she is an answer to his evening prayers?

If you’ve tasted one, the drink may be a capable substitute.

By: Anita

Anita — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:41:22 +0000

Gosh, it's such a lovely idea for a story that Bon Appetit picked it up on their blog.

By: Nelson

Nelson — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 23:49:03 +0000

Excellent post! I’ve known you almost as long as anyone in the Bay Area has, and I had no idea that you were a reader of Ian Fleming’s novels!
The Vesper sounds like yet another winner from the bar of Cam.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:56:25 +0000

Thanks, Erin and Erik.

Erik: Sometime in my early teens, I found a cache of maybe four or six of those Signet paperback editions at either a used bookstore or a yard sale — I forget which. I spent the next several years trolling more used bookstores for the rest of the set, all from the start of the Bond craze in the early 1960s. I’ve hauled around that stack of pulp ever since.

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 05:21:38 +0000

As someone who spent formative years poring over Bond books, I have to say, yours is one of the best writeups of the Vesper and Bond that I’ve read. Love the stack of pulp in the pic.

Cheers, man!

By: erin

erin — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:56:20 +0000

Fab, fab post. My husband will love it. We’re going to see the movie this weekend (though I know you prefer the book)–we’ll drink a couple beforehand.