Ian Fleming's Centenary

London's Imperial War Museum lays claim to being "unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day." By that measure, it is hardly a stretch for the prestigious museum to host an exhibit dedicated to Ian Fleming and James Bond, for no one courted conflict with more quintessentially British panache than Bond himself.

The exhibition For Your Eyes Only (17 April 2008 - 1 March 2009) takes visitors through Fleming's early life from his school days, to his time at the Reuters news agency and on to his invention of Bond. As his books led to films, they yield a plethora of posters, gadgets and original artifacts that draw the visitor into Fleming's exhilarating world. The above TIME.com video, hosted by the curators of the exhibit itself, gives a flavor of the exhibition.