Bruno Salvador, known to friends and enemies alike as Salvo, is the ever-innocent, twenty-nine-year-old orphaned love-child of a Catholic Irish missionary and a Congolese headman's daughter. Educated first at mission school in the East Congolese province of Kivu, and later at a discreet sanctuary for the secret sons of Rome, Salvo is inspired by his mentor Brother Michael to train as a professional interpreter in the minority African languages of which, almost from birth, he has been an obsessive collector. Soon a rising ...
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Bruno Salvador, known to friends and enemies alike as Salvo, is the ever-innocent, twenty-nine-year-old orphaned love-child of a Catholic Irish missionary and a Congolese headman's daughter. Educated first at mission school in the East Congolese province of Kivu, and later at a discreet sanctuary for the secret sons of Rome, Salvo is inspired by his mentor Brother Michael to train as a professional interpreter in the minority African languages of which, almost from birth, he has been an obsessive collector. Soon a rising star in his profession, he is courted by City corporations, hospitals, law courts, the Immigration services and -- inevitably -- the mushrooming overworld of British Intelligence. He is also courted -- and won -- by the all-white, Surrey-born Penelope, star reporter on one of our great national newspapers, whom with typical impulsiveness he promptly marries. Yet even as the story opens, a contrary and irresistible love is dawning in him. Despatched to a no-name island in the North Sea to attend a top-secret meeting between Western financiers and East Congolese warlords, Salvo is obliged to interpret matters never intended for his re-awoken African conscience.
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Fine. B-format paperback. Penguin Modern Classics . In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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New. B-format paperback. Penguin Modern Classics . In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 352 p. Contains: Unspecified, Illustrations, black & white. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and previous use. This item may be a former library book with typical markings. No guarantee on products that contain supplements Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Twenty-five year bookseller with shipments to over fifty million happy customers.
This is a fast paced adventure through British and African politics centered around an "innocent" and newly lovestruck young man. The book s reminiscent of Ambler's innocent man intrigues. It starts out very lightheartedly, somtimes hilariously, very unlike LeCarre's other novels. We are, however, slowly and finally swept into a darker side through the hero's well meaning but tragic misteps. Bruno is a native light skinned African living in England, married to a white well connected English reporter, and working for British Intelligence as an ace interpreter. He falls in love with an African nurse as his marriage is breaking apart. Simultaneously he becomes a witness, through his job as interpeter, to a plan being set in motion by Britain and "other" international partners to supposedly save the turbulent East Congo . In fact, he discovers it is a giant scam. He is assigned to act as interpreter and play a very tricky part in an elaborately arranged meeting between the leaders of factions that must be brought together to achieve peace and prosperity to the Congolese. The elaborate and ingenious staging of this meeting as well as the descriptions of the various players is a central part of the story. The novel can be broken into three parts. The amusing introduction of Bruno, his background and relationships with his wife and his new lovemate. Then the technicalities and progress of the clandestine meeting: thirdly, the rapidly unfolding of the drama as Bruno and his lover(with her surprising contacts!) attempt to expose the evil planners. Naturally, time is of the essence. The story is very cleverly done . I have had to get used to LeCarre's new socially conscious novels after being a super devoted fan of his spy stories. I think he has tended to be a little heavy handed, with the issues and characterizations being a bit over simplified. The introduction of some humor in this book goes a long way towards softening some of that and really makes a much better read.
