Oh, I think you are correct. Somewhat similar to those who would announce and brag about their military experiences. Very un-Bond.
I stand suitably chastised...In the future, I'll be sure to limit my comments to the number of bespoke suits I own, what brand of shoes I wear, and how many dresses I buy for my "traveling companions" when I'm staying at fancy hotels.
Back to the topic at hand...Despite the general reports of his urbanity I'm sure he had his issues, as we all do, and maybe the fact that Bond is a bit, well, anally retentive about his tastes is Fleming slightly overegging the pudding in creating that sense of confidence.
Agreed, and I also think this refers perhaps to Fleming's "wish fulfillment." While some aspects of Bond were certainly modeled on himself, I'm sure others were more about who he wished he was...
Chastised? Good, just so you to know that I too can play the "some people here" game that you invoked earlier. As for the bespoke suits, shoes, watches, etc., you'll find plenty of us talking about about that here, including what we have in our personal collections. After all this IS a Bond site. However, I don't recall Bond being a wannabee Airborne Ranger, er I mean Recon Marine
A little inter-service rivalry never hurts. Eh? Okay, 'nuff said. Back on topic: I do agree with you that much of what Fleming wrote on Bond he modeled after himself, and certain aspects of "wish fulfillment" with regards to the fictional scenarios of an MI-6 agent. However, I do not think this is true with respect to Bond being a wannabee when it comes to "class", nor Bond trying to achieve class via the purchase of quality goods that are expensive. When the literary Bond is reviewing his family coat-of-arms, he quite frankly does not appear impressed with the whole affair. In other words, I do not believe class consciousness, at least in the British sense, much mattered to Bond.
4A
