The aim of this collection of essays is to explore “negative characters” in espionnage narratives of some of the most esteemed English writers, such as Conrad, Maugham, Ambler, Greene, Fleming, MacEwan, among others. The role of women will be analysed, in particular with the figure of Mata Hari, so as to provide a gender perspective on women as villains and /or double agents. The relationship between literature and film studies will also be considered in a comparative approach.