The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel
3017740
216952287
2008-06-03T23:23:30Z
82.224.120.47
/* An authorised book? */
{{Infobox Book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = [[Image:TheMoneypennyDiaries.jpg|200px|]]
| image_caption = First edition UK hardback
| author = [[Samantha Weinberg]] <br/> as "Kate Westbrook"
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| series = [[James Bond]]
| genre = [[Spy novel]]
| publisher = [[John Murray (publisher)|John Murray]]
| release_date = 2005 (UK) <br/> 2008 (US)
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| pages =
| isbn = ISBN 0719568684
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = [[Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries]]
}}
'''''The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel''''' is the first in a planned [[trilogy]] of novels chronicling the life of [[Miss Moneypenny]], [[M (James Bond)|M]]'s personal secretary in [[Ian Fleming]]'s [[James Bond]] series. The diaries were authored by [[Samantha Weinberg]] under the [[pseudonym]] Kate Westbrook, who is depicted as the book's editor. The first installment, subtitled ''Guardian Angel'' was released in the [[United Kingdom]] on [[October 10]], [[2005]] by [[John Murray (publisher)|John Murray]] publishers. A [[United States]] edition was published by Thomas Dunne Books on [[May 13]], [[2008]] <ref name="US_release">{{cite web | title=The Moneypenny Diaries Released in the U.S. | work=Moneypenny Finally Lands Stateside | url=http://www.k1bond007.com/2008/05/13/moneypenny-finally-lands-stateside/ | accessdate=May 13 | accessyear=2008}}</ref>, although this edition has no subtitle.
The second volume of the series, ''[[Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries]]'' was published on [[November 2]], [[2006]] in the UK <ref>{{cite web | url = http://web.mac.com/zencato/iWeb/Young_Bond/News/BB07046F-DA4F-4D05-ABAE-5BC64DF73221.html | title = Secret Servant information | work = Secret Servant: The Moneypenny Diaries Coming In November | accessdate = May 13 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref>.
Weinberg is the first woman to write an officially licensed James Bond-related novel.
==Plot introduction==
The first diary fills in the gaps between a number of agent 007's missions including the period between ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (novel)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' and ''[[You Only Live Twice (novel)|You Only Live Twice]]'', but also includes an entire backstory for Moneypenny. For the first time since Fleming introduced the character alongside Bond in ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]'', Moneypenny is given a first name: Jane.
==An authorised book?==
Although it has since been announced as an official book from [[Ian Fleming Publications]], the holder of the literary rights to James Bond, there was some confusion and even deception prior to release as to whether the book was actually authorised by them.
The trilogy had originally been touted as the secret journal of a "real" Miss Moneypenny and that James Bond was a possible pseudonym for a genuine intelligence officer, the idea of which was perhaps influenced similarly to [[John Pearson (author)|John Pearson]]'s [[1973 in literature|1973]] authorised biography of James Bond. ''[[James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007]]'' was based on the obituary in Ian Fleming's ''[[You Only Live Twice (novel)|You Only Live Twice]]'' in which Fleming hints that Bond is perhaps a real man.
An investigation by ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]'' into whether or not ''The Moneypenny Diaries'' were in some way real forced John Murray publishers to admit that the novel was in fact a "spoof". <ref>{{cite web | url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article559954.ece | title = Moneypenny Diaries investigation | work = Moneypenny,these diaries can't be true | accessdate = October 28 | accessyear = 2005 }}</ref> Prior to the admission, Kate Westbrook was said to be niece of the "real" Jane Moneypenny and that the diaries were discovered after her death in 1990. It was also claimed that Westbrook was a fellow of [[Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], however, the college replied stating no such person was in employment there. In an interview, Weinberg revealed that the 'Kate Westbrook' subterfuge stretched as far as her wearing a wig and coloured contact lenses for media interviews and at the launch party. <ref>{{cite web | url = http://commanderbond.net/index.php?action=Story&SID=2983 | title = Samantha Weinberg interview | work = The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview | accessdate = October 28 | accessyear = 2005}}</ref>
The novel was officially recognized as an authorised book from Ian Fleming Publications on the day of the book's publication in the UK, October 10, 2005. A side-effect of the deception resulted in a delay in this book finding an [[United States|American]] publisher.
==Publication history==
*UK first hardback edition: October 10, 2005 [[John Murray (publisher)|John Murray]]
*UK first paperback edition: May 8, 2006 John Murray
*US first hardback edition: May 13, 2008 Thomas Dunne Books
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.ianflemingcentre.com/ Ian Fleming Publications official website]
* [http://commanderbond.net/article/2983 The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview]
{{Bond books}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel, The}}
[[Category:James Bond books]]
[[Category:2005 novels]]
[[Category:British novels]]