In 'Cleanness', Garth Greenwell returns to the world he crafted in his acclaimed debut 'What Belongs to You'. Set against the backdrop of a changing Sofia, Bulgaria, amidst the decay of Soviet-era structures and a chorus of hopeful political dissent, an American teacher's life is recounted through a series of poignant and stirring narratives. His impending departure from Sofia prompts reflections on intimate encounters that echo and intermingle with his own history. From a queer student's candid confession mirroring his personal awakening to love, through the menacing unraveling of a stranger's seduction, to a tender relationship with another expatriate, each encounter probes the depths of connection and the complexities of desire. Greenwell's masterful prose captures the nuanced language of longing and dissects the quintessence of identity and belonging.