Beyond Bond: the timeless appeal of the spy novel

There is something intrinsic to the British novel-writing tradition of a good espionage story. From its beginnings in the early twentieth century with Rudyard Kipling and Erskine Childers through to the thoroughly contemporary likes of Mick Herron and Charles Cumming, there is apparently no shortage of gripping, witty and brilliantly executed spy tales, all of which continue to fascinate us with their combination of cloak-and-dagger mystery, larger-than-life protagonists and antagonists and twist-laden storylines.

Everyone, of course, thinks of James Bond when it comes to spy stories, and it would be churlish to omit his adventures from a selection like this. But there are many more distinctly unglamorous spooks and joes whose tales are worth a read. Here are eight of the very best, dealing with everything from a serial killer in Stalinist Russia to a famous plot to assassinate Charles de Gaulle, but all executed with verve.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré

The recent death of John le Carré, for many the acknowledged master of the espionage genre, was enormously sad, but it at least had the minor consolation of reminding his readers of his greatness.