Octopussy and The Living Daylights 📖
Before James Bond became a cinematic icon, he was the creation of Ian Fleming — and Octopussy and The Living Daylights brings together four of his final short stories.
Published in 1966, the collection takes Bond from the tropical landscapes of Jamaica to the tense streets of Cold War Berlin, the art and antiques world of London, and the bright lights of New York.
The four stories are:
- 🌴 Octopussy — Jamaica / Caribbean
- 🇩🇪 The Living Daylights — Berlin / Germany
- 🇬🇧 The Property of a Lady — London / England
- 🇺🇸 007 in New York — New York / USA
Each is very different, but together they offer exactly the kind of thing we love at Discover the Frog — stories that can inspire real journeys.
Explore the settings behind the stories, discover the destinations through Fleming’s eyes, and then follow the links to find out what these places could offer the modern traveller.
Because sometimes a good book doesn’t just take you somewhere…
It makes you want to go there. 📖🌍🐸
🌴 Octopussy — Jamaica / Caribbean
In Octopussy, Bond becomes involved in a wartime secret that has remained hidden for years. The story centres on a secluded Jamaican estate and the legacy of a wartime operation, bringing together tropical surroundings, buried secrets and Fleming’s familiar world of espionage.
Travel inspiration: Discover Jamaica beyond the beaches — from lush landscapes and historic estates to the island’s fascinating literary and cultural connections.
🇩🇪 The Living Daylights — Berlin / Germany
Set against the tense atmosphere of Cold War Berlin, Bond is tasked with protecting a British agent attempting to cross from East Berlin into the West. Waiting nearby is a sniper — and Bond must identify the threat before the crossing takes place.
Travel inspiration: Explore Berlin’s extraordinary history, from the Brandenburg Gate and remnants of the Berlin Wall to museums, memorials and neighbourhoods that reveal the city’s divided past and dramatic transformation. 🇩🇪🧱🌍
🇬🇧 The Property of a Lady — London / England
Bond is drawn into the mysterious world of art and antiques when a valuable Fabergé object comes up for auction at Sotheby’s in London. What initially appears to be a matter of provenance and ownership soon raises suspicions of a connection to Soviet intelligence.
Travel inspiration: Explore London through its museums, galleries, historic buildings and auction houses — with plenty of opportunities to discover the city’s fascinating connections to art, antiques, literature and espionage. 🇬🇧🏛️📖
🇺🇸 007 in New York — New York / USA
This short story takes Bond to Manhattan, where his assignment is relatively straightforward — but Fleming uses the opportunity to paint a wonderfully detailed picture of New York. Alongside the espionage, the story is full of observations about the city, its people and, naturally, its food.
Travel inspiration: Experience New York through its neighbourhoods, restaurants, landmarks and legendary food scene. From Manhattan’s streets to its skyline and waterfront, there’s plenty here to inspire your own city adventure. 🗽🍎🌆
