Ian McEwan returns with 'What We Can Know', an intellectual thriller

Ian McEwan, a master of contemporary fiction, returns with a new novel titled 'What We Can Know'. Published by Knopf, the book presents itself as an intellectual thriller centered around the disappearance of a fundamental poetic work.

The plot follows Tom Metcalfe and his obsession with Vivien Blundy. At the heart of the story is 'A Corona for Vivien', a complex and celebrated poem, described as the masterpiece of the fictional poet Francis Blundy. The only existing copy of this work, a birthday gift for his wife, has mysteriously vanished.

McEwan places his imaginary poet among the great names of contemporary literature, comparing him to Seamus Heaney and having his works analyzed by critics of the caliber of Frank Kermode. The search for this literary 'Holy Grail', which could redefine the interpretation of the period 1990-2030, becomes a race against time between past and future.

The novel, spanning 320 pages, was reviewed by John P. Loonam, who praised its ability to tackle complex intellectual issues while maintaining a fast pace and an engaging plot, to the point of making it difficult to put down.