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over swarms of "wonderfully grotesque land crabs" that had been brought by the rain. Although Jim Nixon did his best to avoid hitting them, invariably one would "explode with a plop "under a wheel. Eventually, the party, organized by Dr. Murphy, made an approximate count of the flamingoes on the island. Fleming reported that the final estimate was 15,000; but if hurricanes (the season concurred with the mating season) happened to miss the island that year, another 5,000 would be added.

The Inagua expedition party of 1956. Left to right: Ian Fleming, Ivar Bryce, Sam Nixon, Arthur Vernay, and Jim Nixon. Inagua served as the model for Crab Key Island in DOCTOR NO. (Photo by Dr. Robert C. Murphy, courtesy of American Philosophical Society.)

Fleming also reported that a very aged fisherman lived on the island. Two or three times each year, he would go to the local bank, which was the commissioner's office, and lay on the table a "neat pile of Spanish doubloons of the sixteenth century." After the old man received his pound notes in exchange for the treasure, he would leave as discreetly as possible. The old man died the year Fleming visited the island, and no one had ever discovered where the fisherman was getting his gold coins. Fleming presumed that perhaps Inagua held something else besides salt and flamingoes.
    It is easy to see how Ian Fleming could embellish an exciting but tame adventure such as this into the background of a James Bond story. In DOCTOR NO, the flamingoes became spoonbills as Bond travels to a mysterious island to investigate an Audubon Society complaint. Fleming imaginatively turned Inagua into the dreadful island of Crab Key.
    On April 4, 1956, Jonathan Cape published DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, and the Daily Express bought the serial rights to the novel. The jacket was the first to be designed by Pat Marriott, who would later revise some of the earlier jackets. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER featured the neck and shoulders of a girl in a V-neck dress, painted in orange, pink, and black. Around her neck is a pearl-shaped diamond pendant.
    Most critics lauded Fleming's writing style and descriptive passages, but complained that the dialogue and characters were weak. The Birmingham Post ,however, called it "the best thriller of the season," and Raymond Chandler particularly praised Fleming's descriptions of America. It was around this time that through Eric Ambler, Flemingwas introduced to literary agent Peter Janson-Smith. Fleming was disappointed with James Bond's performance in the international market, and Ambler suggested that the author meet his agent. Janson-Smith was successful in obtaining a Dutch publisher for the existing Bond novels on the very first day of working for Fleming. From then on the agent handled all of the author's literary negotiations for the world (excluding the United States), being appointed to the board of directors of Glidrose in 1964. He is still a director.
    Also around this time, Fleming visited a health clinic called Enton Hall. His sciatica was bothering him, and the ten-day treatment not only helped that but revitalized him. He would one day use the experience in a Bond adventure called THUNDERBALL. But Fleming didn't take his doctor's advice upon returning from the clinic. Told to cut down his intake of alcohol and tobacco, Fleming showed only minute signs of cooperation. Already, his doctor wrote, Fleming's heart was going.
    During this period of ill health, Fleming became disenchanted with James Bond again. He wrote to Raymond Chandler on April 27 that he personally didn't think very highly of his own books, and should perhaps take them more seriously. On May 1, Chandler replied that Fleming didn't do himself justice with Bond, and should try something of higher quality. Chandler admitted to feeling that CASINO ROYALE was still Fleming's best book. On June 22, Fleming replied, saying that he was weary with Bond and it wasn't easy guiding the character through his "tricks" in FROM