Biography
Geoffrey Jenkins was born on June 16th 1920 in Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, South Africa. At just sixteen Jenkins published his first work, a non-fiction piece entitled, "A Century of History".
On the merits of his first publication the young author was offered a journalistic scholarship and he journeyed to London to accept his place. He was a war correspondent during World War Two and joined the Sunday Times staff shortly after armistice.
Whilst working as a journalist Jenkins met and became friendly with Mr Ian Fleming, the would-be author of the James Bond novels. Jenkins ended up working for Fleming who was very complementary about the former's talents as a journalist. Although they would part ways, Fleming to Jamaica to write 007 and Jenkins to Africa once more to write his own series of adventure novels, the pair remained in contact.
Jenkins met his wife, Eve Palmer, in Rhodesia and the pair were married in 1950. The journalist took a senior job in Johannesburg the The Star newspaper but harboured a desire to be a fiction writer.
The author published his first novel, "A Twist of Sand" in 1959 and wrote 14 further novels in the following 30-odd years. After his first three novels became best-sellers, Jenkins resigned his post with the Star to focus on his thrillers full time. Jenkins' novels were almost always set at sea or the African desert and took readers into a world that seemed exotic but Jenkins knew intimately.
Of the author, Fleming once said: "Geoffrey Jenkins has the supreme gift of originality. A Twist of Sand is a literate, imaginative first novel in the tradition of high and original adventure."
Fleming had been planning to write a 15th 007 novel, to follow "The Man With The Golden Gun" and sought assistance from his old friend Jenkins who would be able to advise Fleming about the setting for his latest novel: South Africa. Ian Fleming would never write that novel, with 10.
After finishing "Hunter-Killer" (1966) Jenkins was approached by Glidrose Publications (now Ian Fleming Publications) to write a James Bond continuation novel, using the source material he had gathered for Fleming. After a drawn-out period in which Anne Fleming considered and eventually granted permission for Jenkins to take over 007 in ink, the author penned a manuscript. This was intended to be the first Bond continuation novel, entitled "Per Fine Ounce" but when the manuscript was presented to the Glidrose board, it was rejected. Only 18 pages survive in the hands of the Jenkins estate.
Moving beyond the 007 fiasco, Jenkins penned "Scend of the Sea" followed by "A Cleft of Stars". The latter of these was rumoured to use many of the elements from the lost manuscript.
"A Twist of Sand" was made into a 1968 film starring Bond girl Honor Blackman. 21 years later "In Harm's Way" was filmed under the title of "Dirty Games" and "The River of Diamonds" hit cinemas the following year after many false starts. |
