What I Know About You

Cairo, 1980s. Tarek’s whole life is laid out for him. A doctor like his father, he has taken over the family medical practice, married his childhood sweetheart and is well respected in society.

When he opens a clinic in a disadvantaged area of the city, he meets Ali, a young man who is free from the societal pressures that govern Tarek’s life. This chance encounter will change everything, throwing Tarek’s marriage, career and his entire existence into question.

From bustling Cairo to the harsh winters of Montréal, from the reign of Nasser to the dawn of a new century, Tarek wanders and reminisces.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, someone is compiling the chapters of his story ...

2023 Prix Femina des lycéens Winner

2023 Première Plume award Winner

2024 Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie Winner

2026 Dublin Literary Award Long-listed

©2023 Éric Chacour & Éditions Alto. Originally published in French by Les Éditions Alto as Ce que je sais de toi by Éric Chacour. (P)2024 Coach House Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

'An absorbing, affecting novel of grief and love, it's so assured and deftly executed that it's hard to believe it's a debut.' (Daily Mail)

'A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful novel that will linger in your memory indefinitely.' (Jon Ransom, author of The Whale Tattoo)

'A magnificent debut novel about family secrets and loves that endure long after their breaking point.' (L’Actualité)

'A splendid exercise in melancholy and heartbreak with highly empathetic characters, Chacour’s first novel is beautifully written and superbly translated from the French by Pablo Strauss. It is not to be missed.' (Booklist)