The Bourne Identity

Robert Ludlum · 1980 · Novel

Explore this on the mapTrace its ancestors and descendants live in the tree.

Action-oriented spy narrative Conspiracy and pursuit

Popularized the amnesia-driven conspiracy thriller, combining intense action, international intrigue, and a quest for identity.

What it is

An amnesiac man, pulled from the Mediterranean Sea, discovers he is a highly trained assassin and must uncover his past while evading unknown enemies.

↑Inherited from(1)

From Russia with Love· 1957↑ open

Fleming's Bond novels set the standard for international espionage with action and intrigue, which Ludlum evolved with a more grounded, amnesiac protagonist.

↓Passed on to(1)

The Da Vinci Code· 2003↓ open

Ludlum's template of a protagonist uncovering a vast conspiracy while on the run is clearly echoed in Brown's fast-paced, puzzle-driven narrative.