by Norman Rush
First published 1991
An American anthropologist finds herself stranded in Botswana with a failed thesis and uncertain future. She possesses a sharp intellect and demanding standards, but her academic project has collapsed. Then she hears rumors about Nelson Denoon, a mysterious intellectual who has supposedly created an experimental community deep in the Kalahari Desert. This utopian settlement operates under unusual rules, with Denoon as nearly its sole male resident. The anthropologist becomes obsessed with finding both the man and his hidden society. Her journey transforms into something between scientific investigation and romantic pursuit. She must navigate the complexities of desire while questioning fundamental assumptions about social organization and human relationships. The search forces her to examine what she truly wants from life, love, and the possibility of creating a better world.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, anthropology, africa, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, romantic-pursuit
Setting: Botswana, Kalahari Desert
Period: 20th-century
Hardcover · Knopf