Robin H

With the exception of "Lessons" (2022) , I have not been captivated by McEwan's novels during the past ten years. " Nutshell", " Cockroach" and " Machines Like Me" were too quirky and absurd. I am thrilled to say that with " What We Can Know", McEwan is back on track as an erudite, philosophical, historical and emotional story teller - and what a story he has to tell!

In the world of 2119, global disasters which began in 2030 have resulted in plagues, tsunamis and famines. The UK is an archipelago; the US a wasteland governed by warring tribes. Somehow, literature has survived and professor Thomas Metcalfe is obsessed with locating the only remaining copy of a poem recited by the renowned poet Francis Blundy on the occasion of his wife Vivien's birthday dinner. As Thomas shifts through all the digital records from that era , he realizes that he will never really know what motivated Francis and his friends.

The book takes a very personal turn when the second half is revealed to be a journal written by Vivien. And this is where McEwan comes into his own , relating stories of kidnapping, adultery, murder and deceit. He makes a very good case that people today don't know how good their lives are and how foolish we are being to avoid acting on the perils of climate change. The depth of Metcalfe's longing for the pleasures of 2014 England are so poignant as is Metcalfe's realization that the famous poem may not even have been that good!

" What We Can Know" would be a wonderful book club book selection, although there are some very disturbing scenes with a main character succumbing to the ravages of dementia which could upset readers affected by a loved one with the disease. In all, the tone of the book is witty, wistful, intelligent and extremely thought provoking.