Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car is a children's story written by Ian Fleming and illustrated by John Burningham. It was initially published in three volumes, the first of which was released on 22 October 1964, before being published as one book. The story concerns the exploits of Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, a car with hidden powers and abilities, and its owners, the Pott family. Fleming, better known as the creator of James Bond, took his inspiration for the subject from a series of aero-engined racing cars called "Chitty Bang Bang" (example pictured), built by Louis Zborowski in the early 1920s. Fleming wrote the book while convalescing after having had a major heart attack; he had created the story as a bedtime story for his son, Caspar. Fleming did not live to see Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang published; he died of a heart attack on 11 August 1964. The story was loosely adapted as the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which in turn was later adapted as a stage musical.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang> _______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries: 1963: An attempt by Greek Cypriot police to search certain Turkish Cypriot women in Nicosia escalated into island-wide violence, leading to 538 deaths and the displacement of nearly 27,000 people. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Christmas_%281963%29> 1968: Apollo 8 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a trajectory to the Moon; its crew became the first humans to visit another celestial body. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8> 1988: A bomb on board Pan Am Flight 103 detonated over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103> 2018: Operatives of the British Special Boat Service boarded the container ship Grande Tema in the Thames Estuary to detain four stowaways who had threatened the crew. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Tema_incident> _____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day: smoke wagon: 1. (rail transport, road transport) A vehicle that generates smoke; specifically, an automobile or a train. 2. (weaponry) A handgun, especially a revolver. <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/smoke_wagon> ___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day: The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming and going of the circumstances of our lives like the glassy surface of a pond that shows our faces radiant with joy or contorted with pain. It also shows us our amazing independence from our circumstances. In cold or warmth, light or dark, deprivation or abundance, we can choose to respond with love or react in fear. --Gary Zukav <https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gary_Zukav> _______________________________________________ Wikipedia Daily Article mailing list. To unsubscribe write to: [email protected] Questions or comments? Contact [email protected]
