John Le Carré's books have long held a place of honor on lists of classic spy novels. Himself a former British intelligence officer, he turns the myth of the all-powerful and omnipresent intelligence services inside out. His heroes are living people in difficult work, often requiring them to choose between duty and conscience. “A Song for a Zebra” is the personal odyssey of Salvo, a young, talented, half-Congolese, multi-African language translator who works freelance for the Department of Defense. Having received a responsible secret mission, he flies to an unnamed northern island to translate at a conference on which the fate of the Congo depends. Honor and decency force the quiet, naive Salvo to challenge powerful opponents, having only one weapon with him - love for his half-forgotten homeland and for his beautiful black compatriot.