- New book Solo will follow Bond as a 45-year-old in 1969
- Bond goes on 'self-appointed mission' during Cold War
- Solo will be published in Britain on 26 September
The latest James Bond novel will be called Solo, its author William Boyd revealed today.
Following the record-breaking success of Bond film Skyfall at the box office last year, Solo is hotly-anticipated as a follow-up to Bond creator Ian Fleming's bestselling books.
Britain's most famous secret agent will travel across Africa, America and Europe as middle-aged man of 45.
Boyd told fans on the opening day of The London Book Fair that Bond will 'go off on a self-appointed mission of his own, unannounced and without any authorisation'
He revealed: 'The journey Bond goes on takes in three continents - with the main focus honing in on Africa.
As part of James Bond's enduring appeal since the first novel in 1953, other authors have been writing sequels in the style of Bond's creator Ian Fleming.
Boyd follows in the footsteps of Jeffery Deaver, who wrote Carte Blanche in 2011, and Sebastian Faulks's Devil May Care in 2008.
Boyd explained: 'Titles are very important to me and as soon as I wrote down Solo on a sheet of paper I saw its potential.'
'Sometimes less is more. Not only did it fit the theme of the novel perfectly, it's also a great punchy word, instantly and internationally comprehensible.
The new bond novel will be published on September 26 in the UK by creator Ian Fleming's original publisher Jonathan Cape an imprint of Vintage Publishing, part of The Random House Group.
Corinne Turner, managing director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, said: 'We and the Fleming family are looking forward to immensely.'
