The authors take you from Ian Fleming's original novels chronologically through to Die Another Day, along the way detailing the history behind each movie, the creative decisions, the impact of Bond, and how the real world has influenced and been influenced by the most famous secret agent in history. The emphasis on culture makes this a very interesting read, as I learnt how the Bond films changed the British film industry (and not just through the construction of a number of massive soundstages), the blockbuster film industry, and even how the real life MI5 goes about it's business (the first female head of MI5 credits Judi Dench's portrayal as M with helping attain her position).
The collaborative efforts that Cubby Broccoli and his crew put into every movie shows that these movies were not put together by focus groups - it really comes across in the back stories just how each contributer to the Bond mythos cared passionately about this character and his world. Reading The Legacy (and listening to Bond soundtracks as I did so) has helped me to appreciate the worlds into which each movie was birthed, and it has left me wanting to revisit the series afresh, despite just having watched most of the films! I don't think I've read a more interesting or entertaining history of a TV or film product, and I look forward to starting Bond Girls Are Forever, the companion volume, also co-written by John Cork, very soon.
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