{"product_id":"the-diamond-smugglers-the-true-story-of-an-international-crime-ring-and-its-downfall-told-by-the-creator-of-james-bond-9780063299108","title":"The Diamond Smugglers: The True Story of an International Crime Ring and Its Downfall, Told by the Creator of James Bond","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE TRUE STORY OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIME RING AND ITS DOWNFALL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1957, as the Cold War raged, Ian Fleming took a respite from writing James Bond to craft a work of nonfiction every bit as tense as a Bond adventure. Aided by an ex-MI5 agent and International Diamond Security Organization operative going by the alias \"John Blaize,\" Fleming chronicled the IDSO's infiltration of the \"million-carat network\"―the world's most notorious diamond smuggling ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery year, a shadowy band of racketeers pirated a fortune in diamonds out of Africa, and the majority of the stolen gems wound up in the hands of Communist nations. In response, the IDSO commissioned a private army, led by legendary British spymaster Sir Percy Sillitoe, to penetrate and topple the ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the operation was complete, the \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e gave the story to Fleming, who had impressed Sillitoe with his earlier Bond adventure \u003cem\u003eDiamonds Are Forever\u003c\/em\u003e. A remarkable feat of investigative journalism, \u003cem\u003eThe Diamond Smugglers\u003c\/em\u003e is the thrilling true story behind one of the greatest spy operations in history. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e William Morrow \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/06\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780063299108\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 144","brand":"Ian Fleming","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44273786978485,"sku":"9780063299108","price":16.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_8eb2fe41-873e-479e-88b1-8917f868412b.jpg?v=1718082535","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-diamond-smugglers-the-true-story-of-an-international-crime-ring-and-its-downfall-told-by-the-creator-of-james-bond-9780063299108","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}