The Dennis Wheatley 'Museum' - Dennis Wheatley and Ian Fleming

Dennis Wheatley and Ian Fleming

Dennis Wheatley knew and was friends with many of his contemporary novelists, and quite a lot is known of his relationships with many of them, because much of the correspondence survives.

Very little survives however - as far as we know - to indicate the affection or otherwise between DW (1897-1977) and Ian Fleming (1908-1964), and I thought it would might be of interest if I reviewed what is currently known about it. As usual, I am including among the exhibits some which have never been seen in public before.

The relationship between them is interesting on several counts:

First of all, because these two famous authors came to know each other in unusual circumstances. They were both involved in secret intelligence in World War Two, with DW being a member of the London Controlling Section while Ian Fleming - whose brother Peter was also involved in secret deception work, and knew DW very well - was high-up in Naval Intelligence. Both had equivalent ranks. It is also known from DW's World War Two lunch and dinner lists that during the war DW (who was already a famous author) entertained Fleming (who was not to write his first novel until almost ten years after the war had ended) twice during that period. What they talked about is, of course, unknown.

Second, it appears that at least two of the supporting characters in the James Bond novels may have been partly based on people they both knew - Maxwell Knight of MI5 ('M'), and Joan Bright, super-secretary and organiser of secret meetings at the highest level in World War Two, ('Miss Moneypenny').

Perhaps more important than either of these however is the thesis - put forward most strongly by Jeremy Duns - that Fleming based James Bond on DW's secret agent Gregory Sallust - both having similar looks, a liking for the good life, an eye for a pretty woman, and plenty of daring and charm. In similar vein, Ken Gallacher recently described DW's Gregory Sallust novel 'Contraband' (1936) as the 'first James Bond novel'.

Whatever the underlying truth in all of this may be, I thought it might be interesting to review what little is known of the Wheatley/Ian Fleming relationship, and what it shows. As and when any DW/IF correspondence surfaces - if it ever does - the conclusions reached in this brief exhibition may well have to be revised.

Before looking at this exhibition, readers may wish to read one of Jeremy Duns' articles on the subject - a link is given below.