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Draft:Blades (fictional gentlemen's club)

Blades is a fictional gentlemen's club featured prominently in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, particularly in "Moonraker" (1955). Located in London, Blades serves as a literary device representing exclusivity, luxury, and high-stakes gambling in the world of James Bond. Fleming uses this fictional establishment to explore themes of class, wealth, and British upper-class society in his spy novels.[1]

Fictional history and characteristics

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In Fleming's novels, Blades is described as having been established in the late 18th century. The author provides a detailed backstory for the club, including:

  • A purported first mention in a 1778 letter from historian Edward Gibbon
  • An alleged founder named Longchamp, described as a German also associated with the Jockey Club at Newmarket
  • A fictional predecessor club called the Scavoir Vivre, said to have opened on Park Street, off St James's, in 1774[2]

Fleming presents Blades as evolving from a fencing club to a high-stakes gambling establishment, with a motto of "Courage, Honour, Fortune." This fictional history serves to lend an air of authenticity and prestige to the club within the narrative.[3]

Membership and exclusivity

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In the Bond novels, Fleming portrays Blades as highly exclusive, with membership limited to 200 individuals. The fictional requirements for membership include:

  1. Behaving like a gentleman
  2. Proving ownership of £100,000 in cash or gilt-edged securities[4]

These criteria are used by Fleming to emphasize the club's elite status and to highlight the wealth and social standing of its members, including James Bond himself.[5]

Fictional facilities and amenities

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Fleming describes Blades as offering a range of luxurious amenities, including:

  • An elegant dining room with Adam architecture and crystal chandeliers
  • Private card rooms for high-stakes games
  • Backgammon tables and a baccarat table
  • Twelve private bedrooms for members
  • A smoking room with rare cigars and cognacs[6]

These detailed descriptions serve to create a vivid setting for Bond's adventures and to reinforce the club's status as a bastion of luxury and privilege.[7]

Role in James Bond novels

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Blades features most prominently in Fleming's novel "Moonraker" (1955), where it serves as the setting for a crucial high-stakes card game between James Bond and the antagonist, Sir Hugo Drax. The club provides a backdrop for Bond to demonstrate his skills in gambling and observation, as well as his familiarity with upper-class British society.[8]

In "Moonraker," Fleming uses Blades to:

  1. Establish Bond's character and capabilities
  2. Introduce and develop the villain, Sir Hugo Drax
  3. Create tension through high-stakes gambling
  4. Explore themes of class and social hierarchy in British society[9]

The detailed descriptions of the club's atmosphere, customs, and high-stakes gambling contribute to the novel's pacing and help to build suspense leading up to the main plot.[10]

Literary significance

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Blades serves several literary functions in Fleming's work:

  1. Setting: It provides a luxurious and exclusive backdrop for key scenes, particularly in "Moonraker."[11]
  2. Character development: The club helps to establish Bond's character as someone comfortable in elite social circles.[12]
  3. Thematic exploration: Through Blades, Fleming examines themes of class, wealth, and British upper-class society.[13]
  4. Plot device: The club often serves as a place for Bond to gather information or confront adversaries in a controlled environment.[14]

Inspirations and cultural context

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While Blades is fictional, it draws inspiration from real-life London gentlemen's clubs such as White's, Brooks's, and Boodle's. These establishments were known for their exclusivity, aristocratic members, and long-standing traditions. Fleming, who was himself a member of such clubs, used these real-world settings as models for Blades in his Bond novels.[15]

The portrayal of Blades reflects the social norms and class structures of mid-20th century Britain, when Fleming was writing. It provides modern readers with insight into the author's perspective on British high society and the world of espionage during the Cold War era.[16]

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Beyond the original novels, Blades has appeared in various James Bond adaptations and spin-offs, including:

  • The 1989 James Bond film "Licence to Kill," where it makes a brief appearance[17]
  • Several James Bond video games, where it sometimes serves as a level or setting[18]
  • Bond-related literature and fan fiction[19]

These appearances demonstrate the enduring appeal of the Blades concept in the James Bond franchise and its recognition as an iconic element of Fleming's fictional world.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chancellor 2005, p. 113.
  2. ^ Macintyre 2008, p. 89.
  3. ^ Lycett 1996, p. 257.
  4. ^ Fleming 1955, p. 42.
  5. ^ Black 2005, p. 78.
  6. ^ Fleming 1955, pp. 44–45.
  7. ^ Comentale, Watt & Willman 2005, p. 167.
  8. ^ Lycett 1996, p. 258.
  9. ^ Black 2005, p. 79.
  10. ^ Macintyre 2008, p. 90.
  11. ^ Comentale, Watt & Willman 2005, p. 168.
  12. ^ Black 2005, p. 80.
  13. ^ Chancellor 2005, p. 114.
  14. ^ Lycett 1996, p. 259.
  15. ^ Macintyre 2008, p. 91.
  16. ^ Black 2005, p. 81.
  17. ^ Chapman 2007, p. 203.
  18. ^ Britton 2012, p. 147.
  19. ^ Proctor 2018, p. 89.

Bibliography

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  • Black, Jeremy (2005). The Politics of James Bond: From Fleming's Novels to the Big Screen. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-6240-9.
  • Britton, Wesley (2012). Spy Television. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-37929-2. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  • Chancellor, Henry (2005). James Bond: The Man and His World. John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-6815-2.
  • Chapman, James (2007). Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-515-9.
  • Comentale, Edward P.; Watt, Stephen; Willman, Skip (2005). Ian Fleming & James Bond: The Cultural Politics of 007. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21743-1.
  • Fleming, Ian (1955). Moonraker. Jonathan Cape.
  • Lycett, Andrew (1996). Ian Fleming. Phoenix. ISBN 978-1-85799-783-5.
  • Macintyre, Ben (2008). For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7475-9527-4.
  • Proctor, William (2018). Remaking the Franchise: Fandom and The New Hollywood. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-2787-3. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
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