Ian McEwan: What We Can Know

Few writers have shaped contemporary fiction quite like Ian McEwan. For more than forty years, readers have been captivated by novels including Atonement, Amsterdam, On Chesil Beach and Lessons, works that have challenged, unsettled and moved us. In a rare appearance, McEwan joins us to discuss his highly anticipated new novel, What We Can Know, and to reflect on a lifetime spent exploring the complexities of love, morality, memory and human behaviour. This promises to be one of the literary highlights of the year. This event will be chaired by Helen Sharp, a Folkestone-based journalist and editor of Folk Life magazine, who has a passion for people, places and the stories that bring them to life. Through her work, Helen celebrates the characters, creativity and conversations that make Folkestone such a fascinating place to call home. A natural storyteller with a journalist’s curiosity, she has a knack for asking the questions that get beneath the surface and uncover something unexpected. With a love of literature and an eye for the telling detail, she’s looking forward to turning the tables on one of Britain’s greatest storytellers, Ian McEwan, and discovering the person, passions and inspirations behind his remarkable novels. Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of stories, ideas and conversation by the sea. Curated by novelist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s festival brings together more than 60 events across two weeks, welcoming world-class writers, thinkers and storytellers to Folkestone. The Festival is part of Folkestone is a Library, our ambitious town-wide celebration of reading, writing and storytelling, helping make Folkestone one of the UK’s most exciting literary destinations. We believe great conversations should be for everyone, which is why every event includes a £5 Cost of Living Ticket, available with no questions asked. Please help us spread the word. Together, we’re building a thriving community of readers, writers and curious minds. Folkestone Book Festival is proudly supported by Eurotunnel, Canterbury Christ Church University, Holiday Extras, and the Friends of Folkestone Book Festival. Creative Folkestone is supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone & Hythe District Council and Saga. Founding Funder The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.