"What We Can Know" is a gripping novel by Ian McEwan set in a dystopian future where the coasts of the United Kingdom have been flooded due to rising sea levels. The survivors live in a world shaped by the losses of the past. In 2119, Tom Metcalfe, an academic at the University of South Downs, dedicates himself to exploring the archives of a bygone era. His discovery of a clue to a long-lost poem leads him on a journey that not only uncovers the secrets of the past but also questions the relationships and entanglements of the people around him. McEwan masterfully draws readers into a story that addresses both the beauty and tragedy of human existence while maintaining hope for a future where not everything is lost.