You Only Live Twice

Published in 1964, You Only Live Twice is the eleventh novel, and twelfth book, by Ian Fleming feature James Bond, secret agent 007. First published in 1964 around the time of Fleming’s death, it concludes the “Blofeld Trilogy”. The title of the book is taken from the Japanese poet Bashō who wrote: 


You only live twice:

Once when you are born

And once when you look death in

the face.


You Only Live Twice is followed by The Man with the Golden Gun.


Ian Fleming (May 28, 1908 - August 12, 1964), the inventive mind behind one of fiction’s most renowned characters, James Bond, was a British author, journalist and naval intelligence officer. His internationally acclaimed Bond stories — full of violence, spying, espionage, colorful locations and beautiful women — are worldwide bestsellers and have been the source material for many Hollywood films. In addition to 12 James Bond novels. Fleming also authored 9 short stories. In 2008, The Times ranked Fleming 14th on the list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.