Rules of the Wild

More about the book

A mesmerizing novel of love and nostalgia set in contemporary East Africa, this story transports us to a landscape of stunning beauty while offering a sharp portrait of a close-knit tribe of expatriates in Kenya. These characters navigate challenges of race, class, and a longing for home, including "safari boys," altruistic individuals, and fame-seeking reporters who care more for elephants than the local people. They intertwine their lives through dinner parties, romantic entanglements, and political debates, all while grappling with their sense of belonging in a place that feels foreign. At the heart of the narrative is Esmé, a beautiful young woman filled with introspection and irony. She shares her passionate yet self-deprecating story against a backdrop of both physical freedom and civil unrest, as she seeks to understand her place in Africa and her feelings for two men: Adam, a second-generation Kenyan who introduces her to the wonders of her adopted land, and Hunter, a British journalist disillusioned by its challenges. This novel evokes the worlds of Isak Dinesen, Beryl Markham, and Ernest Hemingway, exploring our infinite desire for love and a true home, marking an astonishing literary debut.