Spanning over a century on the banks of the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, 'The Old Drift' weaves the stories of three intertwining families from a colonial settlement known as The Old Drift. The journey begins with Percy M. Clark's fateful mistake in 1904, which triggers an inescapable chain of events affecting an Italian hotelier and an African busboy. Generations of Zambian lives unfold against a backdrop of history and a touch of fairytale magic, romance, science fiction, and the revolutionary spirit of a nation pushing boundaries. From hairy women and tear-stricken characters to Afronauts, drones, and viral vaccines, Namwali Serpell crafts an unforgettable narrative exploring human errors, the connective fabric of families, and the sweeping passage of time.