Today I sat down with Éric Chacour, a Canadian novelist born to Egyptian parents, to discuss his stunning debut novel. What I Know About You has captivated readers in its original French, winning the prestigious Prix Femina des Lycéens, and been translated into numerous languages, and with Pablo Strauss’ 2024 translation, now makes its grand entrance into the English-speaking world.

Eric's novel, which he spent 10 years working on before it was published in 2023, is a richly woven tapestry of family, love, loss, and the queer identity. Set against the backdrop of a changing Egypt, the story shines a light on the tension between personal desires and cultural expectations, offering readers a nuanced look at what it means to belong in different settings.

In this episode, as always, Eric has selected for us the four books which have most strongly influenced his life and literary journey – from tales of mysterious libraries to the adventures of dashing heroes. But, we also spend some time getting to grips with Eric's creative process, the inspirations behind his storytelling, and what it means to write a novel that crosses both geographical and emotional borders. I was so interested to learn about his path to becoming a novelist, from youthful inspiration to the sometimes challenging reality of life as a published author, and how Canadian national treasure Celine Dion fits into the picture. This was a great chat, and I’ve definitely come away from it with my mind expanded. 

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Eric Chacour’s four books were:

The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2001)

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas (1844)

Promise at Dawn, Romain Gary (1960)

The Orphan Muses, Michel Marc Bouchard (1989)