The Mission Song

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: David Oyelowo

Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Abandoned by his parents, Bruno Salvador has long looked for guidance. He found it in Mr. Anderson of British Intelligence. Working for Anderson in a clandestine facility, Salvo (as he's known) translates intercepted phone calls, bugged recordings, and snatched voice-mail messages. When Anderson sends him to a mysterious island to interpret during a secret conference, Bruno thinks he is helping Britain--but then he hears something he should not have.

©2006 David Cornwell. All Rights Reserved (P)2006 Hodder & Stoughton Audiobooks. All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"Amid the bursts of humor, le Carré convincingly conveys his empathy." (Publishers Weekly)
"His prose is as lovely and expressive as ever; his ear for dialogue remains wonderfully acute." (Washington Post)

Good Book Made Bettere

Very seldom does a narrator improve on the original work. But David Oyelowo does. His articulation and voice does a great book honor and the overall result makes this the book to try, if you ever wandered what the future of books looks like.

Tedious but Excellent

A bit tedious at first but well worth finishing. The reader is very good..he pulls you in smoothly. I recommend this to those familiar to Le Carre’s style.

Audio Triumph

This is the best audiobook I have heard. I think it is probably better as an audiobook than a text because of the incredible narration.

It is beautifully written - full of colours and textures. It is not a thriller, but grpping nonetheless.

It reminded me of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Mediocre book from a great author

LeCarre is my favorite author and I anticipate and savor his books but listening instead of reading may have influenced my reaction. I was really disappointed - other than the main 2 characters, I just did not feel anything for the people in the book, the conflict did not grab me, and the ending was soft. I loved the narrator's voice, although his accent was heavy enough to be difficult just a couple of times. My high expectations may be the reason I felt let down - I expect to be entranced. Again, it may be that the complexity of his work does not lend itself well to audio format, but this was the first let down from LeCarre in a long time.

Taught, tight writing

Nobody writes like Le Carr? - so much is conveyed in so little words. The action is cerebral, makes you read between the lines. The bad guys are despicable, the good guys are doomed lovers, the World is corrupt as usual. Excellent read.

Loved everything about it

Took a few tries to get started since this book was unlike any other LeCarre book I’ve read.
Once I got into it, I was completely hooked. Some of the best narration I’ve heard and the sound was extraordinary.
Highly recommend this book.

A masterpiece as written and narrated.

Uncanny command of subject matter, voice, relevant languages, accents, emotional force, invective, irony, character, innuendo, self deception, cynicism, racism, coloniality and hypocrisy

Superb book with brilliant reader

Set against an African background but with the action in the UK, this is a rather unusual story about a secret summit of African leaders which is bugged by MI5 and an Afro-British interpreter who is in deeper than he appears to the delegates. The cultured voice of the reader still carries his racial background in its tenor, and he is able to give dicrete voices to each speaker so the listener is never in doubt as to who is speaking. Le Carre as always gives a twisting tale, and with the end of the cold war he has found other forums for his stories. This one is excellent and believable (alas!) but it is the superb reading which makes this audiobook so engrossing and plausible.

Wonderful!

Delightfully delicious. Wonderfully written. John LeCarre is a great wordsmith. The subject is Africa, and he makes one believe we should listen not only to the story but to the moral as well.

A Melodic Narration of a Le Carrre' Suspense Story

I bought this book after reading a review of David Oyelowo's performance. The listener described his narration so beautifully, and raved about it so joyously that I bought the book just to hear his performance. And, I am glad that I ddid. His narration was masterful, full of heart and nuanced. Each voice was distinct and resonant. I absolutely loved this book more than I would have done without his voice. This book is worth listening to just to hear Oyelowo's acting chops.