Reese Witherspoon as Elena Richardson in 'Little Fires Everywhere' Image via Hulu By Remus Noronha Published Jun 20, 2026, 9:33 PM EDT Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap From literary classics to contemporary favorites, books have always served as a major inspiration for Hollywood. But while some books are perfect for film adaptations, some are better suited for the small screen. Television and streaming have seen some of the greatest works in contemporary and classic literature being translated to the screen, sometimes reimagined, and sometimes directly adapted.
From literary legends Leo Tolstoy to modern icons like Margaret Atwood and John le Carré , authors from different eras and genres have had their work take the shape of remarkable productions and great performances. Unfortunately, not all such shows remain timeless or become mainstream pop-culture sensations like The Lord of the Rings or The Handmaid’s Tale . Here’s our handpicked selection of near-perfect book-to-TV adaptations that sadly nobody remembers.
Alec Guinness as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Image via BBC Directed by John Irvin and written by Arthur Hopcraft for the BBC, 1979’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the first visual adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, featuring the grizzled MI6 spymaster, George Smiley. The series follows the retired agent, who is brought back to MI6 after the death of the head of the British Secret Service, as he attempts to catch a Russian double agent. Alec Guinness stars as Smiley, with Michael Jayston , Anthony Bate , George Sewell , and Patrick Stewart in notable roles.
In its day, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was considered a masterpiece of spy fiction on TV and was lauded for Guinness’s perfect depiction of Smiley and its faithfulness to the original story. Unfortunately, the 1979 series has since skipped audience memory, with the 2011 film adaptation taking its place as the more acclaimed and popular adaptation. However, with its intricate production and timely depiction of the 1970s Cold War-era sentiments, the seven-part BBC series will always remain a television landmark and one of the finest screen translations of John le Carré’s spy classics .
Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks sitting on her cot in her prison cell facing the right stone wall, with sunlight streaming through the window onto her, in Alias Grace Image via Sarah Gadon Created by Sarah Polley and adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel, Alias Grace follows Grace Marks, a 16-year-old Irish immigrant and housemaid in mid-1800s Canada, who is accused of killing her employer. Her case takes a new turn when a young psychiatrist, Thomas Jordan, is assigned to evaluate her mental state to determine if she should be pardoned. The series stars Sarah Gadon as the titular character, with Paul Gross , Anna Paquin , Edward Holcroft ,…