Which James Bond book first featured the character Felix Leiter?

Felix Leiter is a fictional character created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond series. He is James Bond's CIA ally and friend, who played a part in six of the Fleming novels; he is introduced in "Casino Royale" as being thin, tall, about thirty-five years old and a former U.S. Marine who was working with the Joint Intelligence Staff of NATO. Fleming named the character after two of his American friends: "Felix" was Ivar Bryce's middle name, whilst Tommy Leiter was a mutual friend.

Leiter is Bond's saviour in "Casino Royale", providing him with 32 million francs when Bond has been cleaned out by SMERSH paymaster Le Chiffre, calling it "Marshall Aid". Media historian James Chapman notes that Bond's relationship with Leiter represented the Special Relationship between Britain and America, although the American Leiter is in the subordinate position to the British Bond.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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8 Comments

Karin Johansson

James Webb, yes they are better than the films. Have two here.

Jas Newman

This left out, as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story. IF's good friend, "Tommy," was Thomas—the son of Joseph Leiter. Joseph was a multi-millionaire, son of a co-founder of Marshall Fields Department store in Chicago. He build a beautiful house high on a wooded bluff on a vast tract of land. After he died, the estate had tax problems and settled with the IRS by ceding the land to the federal government. That land became the headquarters of the CIA in Langley, Virginia. As a side note, the Downton Abbey character, Lady Cora, is based on Tommy's Aunt Mary, who (in real life) served as the highest-ranking American woman in the British Empire when her husband, Lord Curzon, became Viceroy of India.

hammbone

I'm not sure about the books but Felix Leiter was in the 1st Bond movie Dr No and played by Jack Lord.

Wyla Reedy

Sean Connery was and always will be the best at being 007.

Howard Groopman

Figured it had to be one of the early ones.

earlepg

I watched the remake of Casino Royale two nights ago. Having read the original books and watched the original movies, that served as a good reminder for this question.