It was created in 1951 by Lord Kemsley, proprietor of The Sunday Times, to publish the works of contemporary authors.
In 1952, as a wedding present to his then Foreign Editor, Kemsley made Ian Fleming its managing director.
[6] This was shelved, however, in favour of an illustrated book The Holy Places, which had previously only been published in periodical form.
In the early years, the press also published works by other highly respected authors including travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor and the essayist Cyril Connolly, whose book The Missing Diplomats, a scoop on the Cambridge Spy Ring,[8] was a popular work, prompting Ann to write "business is flourishing"[9] A possible purchase of the press by Ian and Ann Fleming was considered in 1954-5, but although a price was discussed it appears the sale never came to fruition.
Inspired by the centenary of Ian Fleming in 2008, the Queen Anne Press published a limited edition of his complete works, including a new collection entitled Talk of the Devil; a posthumous volume of rarely seen material, some of it unpublished;[12] the title was taken from a list that Fleming kept in his notebook.