New James Bond novel in the works with historian Dan Jones to write it

Historian Dan Jones has been commissioned to write a new James Bond novella to celebrate the National Year of Reading.

All In pays tribute to Bond creator Ian Fleming’s fourth novel, Diamonds Are Forever, 70 years after its publication in 1956.

The new story was announced on October 5, known as “James Bond Day” as it was the date the first 007 film – Dr No – premiered in 1962.

The action of the new adventure finds Bond in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1954 as the British are leaving.

Daniel Craig is the most recent actor to portray James Bond in the film series (Suzan Moore/PA)

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Jones, the author of other books including Henry V and The Plantagenets, said: “Being asked to write a James Bond story is one of the greatest honours in contemporary fiction.

“I’m very excited to take Bond to Ceylon at such a pivotal moment in world history – and thrilled that Ian Fleming Publications are trusting me to pay tribute to Diamonds Are Forever, which is one of the great books in the Bond canon.

“But happiest of all is my inner child – the little boy who was such an avid reader that he went to the library twice on a Saturday, who would read the back of the breakfast cereal box if he ran out of books, and who scarcely dared to dream that he would grow up to be a writer, let alone one who has been asked to Go All In for the National Year of Reading.”

The character of James Bond was created by novelist Ian Fleming (PA Archive)

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The first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. Fleming wrote 12 Bond novels and two short story collections.

Several authors have continued the series, most recently Charlie Higson with King Zero, released in September.

All In will be published as a special edition via ianflemingshop.com on December 3.