The 29-year-old Congo native's mixed parentage puts him in a tentative position in society, despite his being married to an attractive upper-class white Englishwoman, who's a celebrity journalist. Salvo's genius with languages has led to steady work from a variety of employers, including covert assignments from shadowy government entities. One such job enmeshes the interpreter in an ambitious scheme to finally bring stability to the much victimized Congo, and Salvo's personal stake in the outcome tests his professionalism and ethics. Amid the bursts of humor, le Carré convincingly conveys his empathy for the African nation and his cynicism at its would-be saviors, both home-grown patriots and global powers seeking to impose democracy on a failed state.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Ist in der Swap-Box auf Reisen.

for me

wandert mit mir heute zum Meetup

Will be released in Cardiff. Took this from the meet up in Dublin. I like LeCarre and haven't read this one myself, it may have to wait a little while to be released.

Certainly not up to Le Carre's usual standard, this lacked depth and intrigue in both the story and the characters. I enjoyed the Congo setting and was very pleased to find a map at the back. African politics not as familiar as other periods he has covered, this makes an interesting new location.

On the bookshelf up stairs.