Mortals

In his richly layered novel Mortals, Norman Rush weaves a compelling story set in 1990s Botswana, following the intertwined lives of three American expatriates: Ray Finch, a CIA agent posing as an English teacher; his disaffected wife Iris; and the unconventional holistic physician Davis Morel. As their personal and political entanglements lead them into the complexities of local power dynamics and insurrection, the novel explores themes of love, rebellion, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. With humor and insight, Rush critiques both the expatriate experience and contemporary American life, making Mortals a profound reflection on the nature of power and liberation.