What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

 

Ian McEwen books have been my must reads for years, but I would never call them easy reads. What Can We Know juxtaposes the literary scholars of the future against intellectuals of our era who take themselves a bit too seriously. Add the fact that the world we know today has been mostly destroyed by nuclear explosions and the flooding of a warmed globe, and the scholars face even more complications to discern meaning from 21^st century poetry than we might today. 

As always, beautiful writing carries McEwan’s twisty story to a rewarding finish.  What We Can Know was released September 23, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Knopf, for the review copy.