[potlatch]

[What proportion of Fleming’s output is authentic, and what comes directly from the his imagination?]

Will come back later to read comments.
I did find an interesting site one time about Ian Flemming and his thoughts about his James Bond character.

He did not consider him a ‘good’ person. Too many vices.

[Perdogg]

If James Bond were a real agent he would have his clearance taken away for drinking waaay too much. At the beginning of Thunderball, Bond said he was up to 60 cigarettes a day.

[devolve]

.

Interesting

The first Bond films were made on a shoestring

In “Dr. No” the Sunbeam Alpine that 007 drove was an inexpensive local rental

James Bond films made tremendous profits

[Vanders9]

That is why, of course, he is such an interesting character.

If you read the books, the picture of Bond is of a womaniser, a drinker, a dedicated but utterly ruthless individual. He’s a complete SOB not to put to fine a point on it.