Alexander McCall Smith - Author
Alexander McCall Smith was our Guest Editor in July 2011 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.
Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. Then, after the publication of his highly successful No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has sold over twenty-five million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into forty-six languages and become bestsellers through the world. These include the Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in the Scotsman newspaper, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the von Igelfeld series, and the Corduroy Mansions series, novels which started life as a delightful (but challenging to write) cross-media serial, written on the website of the Telegraph Media Group. This series won two major cross-media awards - Association of Online Publishers Digital Publishing Award 2009 for a Cross Media Project and the New Media Age award. Alexander is also the author of collections of short stories, academic works, and over thirty books for children. He has received numerous awards for his writing, including the British Book Awards Author of the Year Award in 2004 and a CBE for service to literature in 2007. He holds honorary doctorates from nine universities in Europe and North America. In March 2011 he received an award from the President of Botswana for his services through literature to that country. Alexander McCall Smith lives in Edinburgh. He is married to a doctor and has two daughters.
Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
A Lovereading guide to the works of Alexander McCall Smith...
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was first published in 1998 and then, suddenly, it took off in America to the extent that no less than11 reprints were required in 2003.
Since then, so prolific has been his output, and so has his popularity soared, that there was a time when the sheer multitude of McCall Smith's books led to confusion as to which book fitted into each of the various series under which he writes. One has hardly been able to keep up with the sheer abundance of books published - we reckon at least thirty in less than a decade.
Now, thankfully, things have settled down and the legions of McCall Smiths avid fans can compartmentalise his new books into the four main series under which they sit - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, The Isabel Dalhousie Novels, The 44 Scotland Street Series and The Corduroy Mansions Series with a few more on top!
There are constant features across the whole panoply of McCall Smith's output. Wry and witty observations about the day-to-day lives of normal people. An innocence and delight in the human condition. And, always, a twinkle on the eye shared by writer and reader. He is a happy writer and that makes for happy readers.
He is best known for the following 4 series of novels (they are shown below in the order they were published) :-
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The Full Cupboard of Life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Blue Shoes and Happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, The Double Comfort Safari Club, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe, The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Precious and Grace.
Isabel Dalhousie series: The Sunday Philosophy Club,Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, The Comfort of Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, The Novel Habits of Happiness.
44 Scotland Street series: 44 Scotland Street, Espresso Tales, Love Over Scotland, The World According to Bertie, The Unbearable Lightness of Scones, The Importance of Being Seven, Bertie Plays the Blues, Sunshine on Scotland Street, Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers, The Revolving Door of Life, The Bertie Project, A Time of Love and Tartan.
Corduroy Mansions Series: Corduroy Mansions, The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, A Conspiracy of Friends.
Author Photo © Graham Clark
November 2017 Book of the Month The Peter Woodhouse of the title is a dog rescued from a cruel farmer and “hidden” at an American Airforce Camp where he becomes their lucky mascot with a penchant for flying. This is 1944. Val is a land girl, Mike an American pilot. They fall in love and decide to marry but before they do Mike, the dog and a navigator are shot down over Holland. Unbeknownst to Val, who is now pregnant, they all survive. A compassionate German soldier, Ubi, helps them. The war ends, Mike, dog and navigator return to England, Ubi to Germany and we follow all their eventful and eventually linking lives. This is sensitive and gently told but now drama mounts and tragedy sets in as the years unfold with lots of surprises including bizarrely a Motodrom, until 1981. It is a stand-alone tale which the author frequently produces but this one is very different from his norm, not as light hearted and quirky as most. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
September 2017 Book of the Month A heart-warming stand-alone novel about a group of passengers on an Edinburgh to London train. They have one thing in common - they have all been in love. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'McCall Smith possesses an amazing gift to be able to write about love. He does it with warmth and great perception, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of sentimentality. It takes great skill to be able to write this well, and great humanity; qualities he has in abundance.' - Neville Moir, Birlinn Ltd
August 2017 Book of the Month With customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith gives us another instalment in this popular series, now running in its twelfth season in the Scotsman, making it the longest running serial novel ever. What trials are in store for Bertie and the gang this year? The twelfth novel in the 44 Scotland Street series, the longest running serial novel in the world.
If you have been with this series from the beginning, and this is the 11th, you will be familiar with the characters who live around Scotland Street in Edinburgh. Mr McCall Smith is a natural storyteller who manages to subtly fill in the background so newcomers will soon learn about the personalities and foibles of the inhabitants and they are a fascinating collection of people. Bertie of the title is only seven but has the wisdom of Solomon and the mother from hell. The ‘Project’ of the title refers to his mother, Irene’s plan for his intense upbringing. Yoga, psychotherapy, Italian lessons are in; fun, Swiss army knives, junk food are not in! Bertie’s father, Stuart, is a kind, lovely man but completely overruled by his wife. When Stuart’s mother suspects Stuart is having an affair she is delighted, hoping he will rid himself of her truly awful daughter-in-law. As always, new characters are introduced. In this book it is Clare, a very typical, outdoor-loving, extreme-sports enthusiastic Australian. She and the narcissistic Bruce of earlier books join forces and Clare replaces the two Scandinavian au pairs of familiar Matthew and Elspeth to help with their now walking boy triplets. This is the expected delightful read and leaves one eagerly anticipating the next in the series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Explore in ‘Chance Developments’ five charming and poignant short stories. I absolutely adore the premise for this little book and the cover just invites you in. Alexander McCall Smith has imagined a background tale to the five black and white photos that appear at the beginning of each short story. The photos are eloquent and moving, the stories delve deeply into possibilities, love and friendship, joy and melancholy. From Sister Flora to a circus performer, each story is a small snapshot of what might have been, and as I read, I found myself drawn back to the photo, to look again and ponder. Alexander McCall Smith has transformed five forgotten photos into a discovery of delight. ~ Liz Robinson May 2017 Book of the Month. Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'If you come across an old photograph what do you think about the people staring back out at you? Maybe that they are just anonymous people from another age, as if from another planet. Or do you, like McCall Smith, hear their voices, know their names, sense their hopes and dreams and imagine how their lives might have turned out.Blessed with a wonderful, humane imagination, McCall Smith brilliantly constructs paths for these forgotten people - some joyous, others bumpy and winding, all with unexpected twists and turns. An astonishing achievement: original and moving.' ~ Neville Moir, Editor of Chance Developments
Precious and Grace is a book steeped with addictive charm, wit and intelligent sleuthing. In the heat of summer in Botswana, co-directors of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, find their friendship tested to the limit by a curious case. Packed with intrigue, this heartfelt tale of friendship reveals how coming to terms with the past may be the only way to face the future.
Precious and Grace is a book steeped with addictive charm, wit and intelligent sleuthing. In the heat of summer in Botswana, co-directors of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, find their friendship tested to the limit by a curious case. Packed with intrigue, this heartfelt tale of friendship reveals how coming to terms with the past may be the only way to face the future.
If you have been with this series from the beginning, and this is the 11th, you will be familiar with the characters who live around Scotland Street in Edinburgh. Mr McCall Smith is a natural storyteller who manages to subtly fill in the background so newcomers will soon learn about the personalities and foibles of the inhabitants and they are a fascinating collection of people. Bertie of the title is only seven but has the wisdom of Solomon and the mother from hell. The ‘Project’ of the title refers to his mother, Irene’s plan for his intense upbringing. Yoga, psychotherapy, Italian lessons are in; fun, Swiss army knives, junk food are not in! Bertie’s father, Stuart, is a kind, lovely man but completely overruled by his wife. When Stuart’s mother suspects Stuart is having an affair she is delighted, hoping he will rid himself of her truly awful daughter-in-law. As always, new characters are introduced. In this book it is Clare, a very typical, outdoor-loving, extreme-sports enthusiastic Australian. She and the narcissistic Bruce of earlier books join forces and Clare replaces the two Scandinavian au pairs of familiar Matthew and Elspeth to help with their now walking boy triplets. This is the expected delightful read and leaves one eagerly anticipating the next in the series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Welcome back to 44 Scotland Street and to the lives of the much loved (well, in most cases) inhabitants. ‘The Revolving Door of Life’ is the tenth novel in the series and although you really should start at the beginning, you could actually read this as a completely charming standalone novel. Should I have a favourite character, perhaps not, as all have a delicious quirk that draws me to them, however the absolutely delightful Bertie sits in a favoured spot in the back of my mind. Alexander McCall Smith has a beautifully light touch, he has the ability to open up the oddities of human behaviour without being heavy handed and harsh. It’s the small things, the little thoughts, the asides that are exquisitely described and so powerful. Amusing, eyebrow raising and full of satisfying warmth and love, this is an enchanting and joyful read. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
One of our Books of the Year 2016. June 2016 Book of the Month. A fabulously quirky, ‘standalone’ romance-cum-farce from this feel-good author. Abandoned by his long-time girlfriend, travel writer Paul goes to Tuscany to research his next book. Arrangements are made but upon arrival no car is available. Enter one bulldozer, a wacky scenario which results in some charming pieces. Paul enters village life and that atmosphere is vividly and warmly described. Attempting to rescue an American ‘damsel in distress’ he falls instantly in love. Then long-time girlfriend turns up and life gets complicated. Full of joy and wellbeing, of sunshine and wine this affectionate, gently tale, a love triangle, or possibly a love square as more women seem to enter Paul’s life, is a sheer delight from start to finish. Highly recommended. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'Alexander McCall Smith is fantastic at writing about Italy: its food & wine, its music, the history, the landscape and la bella figura. Onto this beautiful canvas he’s introduced una macchina colossale– a bulldozer. Only McCall Smith has the literary dexterity to pull this off. Funny, elegant and moving – occasionally earth-moving – this book is a joy; you’ll be swept away, literally.' ~ Neville Moir, Publishing Director, Polygon
Isabel Dalhousie is one of Edinburgh's most generous (but discreet) philanthropists - but should she be more charitable? She wonders, sometimes, if she is too judgmental about her niece's amorous exploits, too sharp about her housekeeper's spiritual beliefs, too ready to bristle in battle against her enemies. As the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, she doesn't, of course, allow herself actual enemies, but she does feel enmity - especially towards two academics who have just arrived in the city. Isabel feels they're a highly destabilizing influence; little tremors in the volcanic rock upon which an Enlightened Edinburgh perches. Equally troubling is the situation of the little boy who is convinced he had a previous life. When Isabel is called upon to help, she finds herself questioning her views on reincarnation. And the nature of grief. And - crucially - the positioning of lighthouses. The only questions Isabel doesn't have to address concern her personal life.
Explore in ‘Chance Developments’ five charming and poignant short stories. I absolutely adore the premise for this little book and the stunning hardback cover made me ooh with delight. Alexander McCall Smith has imagined a background tale to the five black and white photos that appear at the beginning of each short story. The photos are eloquent and moving, the stories delve deeply into possibilities, love and friendship, joy and melancholy. From Sister Flora to a circus performer, each story is a small snapshot of what might have been, and as I read, I found myself drawn back to the photo, to look again and ponder. Alexander McCall Smith has transformed five forgotten photos into a discovery of delight. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'If you come across an old photograph what do you think about the people staring back out at you? Maybe that they are just anonymous people from another age, as if from another planet. Or do you, like McCall Smith, hear their voices, know their names, sense their hopes and dreams and imagine how their lives might have turned out.Blessed with a wonderful, humane imagination, McCall Smith brilliantly constructs paths for these forgotten people - some joyous, others bumpy and winding, all with unexpected twists and turns. An astonishing achievement: original and moving.' ~ Neville Moir, Editor of Chance Developments
Mma Ramotswe, the proprietress of the No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency, is not one to sit about. Her busy life gives her little time for relaxation (apart from the drinking of tea, of course). Nonetheless, she is convinced by co-director Mma Makutsi to take a holiday. But Mma Ramotswe finds it impossible to resist the temptation to follow the cases taken on by Mma Makutsi, and to interfere in them - secretly, she intends ...This leads her to delve into the past of a famous man whose reputation has been called into question, and to join forces with a new assistant detective (and part-time science teacher), Mr. Polopetsi. While 'on holiday' Mma Ramotswe also manages to help a young boy named Samuel in the search for his missing mother; and then of course there is the agency's arch-enemy Violet Sephotho, scheming to set up a rival secretarial college. Lessons must be learned, whether we are willing or not, and in the end Mma Ramotswe finds that a little trust goes a long way, especially when it comes to having confidence in our dearest friends and colleagues.
Welcome back to 44 Scotland Street and to the lives of the much loved (well, in most cases) inhabitants. ‘The Revolving Door of Life’ is the tenth novel in the series and although you really should start at the beginning, you could actually read this as a completely charming standalone novel. Should I have a favourite character, perhaps not, as all have a delicious quirk that draws me to them, however the absolutely delightful Bertie sits in a favoured spot in the back of my mind. Alexander McCall Smith has a beautifully light touch, he has the ability to open up the oddities of human behaviour without being heavy handed and harsh. It’s the small things, the little thoughts, the asides that are exquisitely described and so powerful. Amusing, eyebrow raising and full of satisfying warmth and love, this is an enchanting and joyful read. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
Continuing the series of Jane Austen 'reboots', Alexander McCall Smith updates the story of interfering Emma . She is exactly as she is in the original, giving dinner parties and picnics, attempting matchmaking and generally meddling in other people’s affairs. It is non-taxing, pleasant, easy reading. ~ Sarah Broadhurst The titles in the Austen Project series are: Sense & Sensibility by Joanna TrollopeNorthanger Abbey by Val McDermidEmma by Alexander McCall SmithEligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace, and so no sooner than she becomes a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - in spite of Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner' - she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe. Grace Makutsi is a lady with a business plan,but who could predict temperamental chefs, drunken waiters and more? Luckily, help is at hand, from the only person in Gaborone more gently determined than Mma Makutsi ...Mma Ramotswe, of course.
Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2015. A scrumptious, joyous read, stuffed full of sharp wit, laugh out loud frolics and gentle soothing compassion. Fatty and his loving, loyal saint of a wife Betty leave the comforts of home for a holiday to Ireland in 1979. A number of lamentable and often laughable events befall Fatty and because she is at his side, Betty too. The author as well as pointing out the ridiculous, also allows us to see Fatty from Betty’s eyes and therefore opens ours. Completely charming, this is a little gem of a book and an absolute pleasure to read. ~ Liz Robinson
Clover (real name Sally) meets James in primary school. She is six years old. By the time she is 13 she realises she is truly in love with James but boarding school, university, gap year and time leave their paths crossing but not lying parallel for long. It takes them twenty years to bring their love to fruition. Aaah. Sensitively written with lovely rounded characters, this is an absolute gem but his Botswana and Scotland Street series are better.
November 2014 Book of the Month. This is a strange series where famous authors have been asked to give a modern version of Austen’s classics so Joanna Trollope did Pride and Prejudice, Val McDermid Northanger Abbey and now Alexander McCall Smith does interfering Emma. She is exactly as she is in the original, giving dinner parties and picnics, attempting matchmaking and generally meddling in other people’s affairs. It is non-taxing, pleasant, easy reading which I believe works so much better in the original. The third in The Austen project, a reworking of Emma written by Alexander McCall Smith, is published in November 2014. The first two in this project are already published and include Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid. A reworking of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld is scheduled for 2015.
Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace, and so no sooner than she becomes a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - in spite of Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner' - she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe. Grace Makutsi is a lady with a business plan, but who could predict temperamental chefs, drunken waiters and more? Luckily, help is at hand, from the only person in Gaborone more gently determined than Mma Makutsi ...Mma Ramotswe, of course.
Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2015. One of our Books of the Year 2014. A scrumptious, joyous read, stuffed full of sharp wit, laugh out loud frolics and gentle soothing compassion. Fatty and his loving, loyal saint of a wife Betty leave the comforts of home for a holiday to Ireland in 1979. A number of lamentable and often laughable events befall Fatty and because she is at his side, Betty too. The author as well as pointing out the ridiculous, also allows us to see Fatty from Betty’s eyes and therefore opens ours. Completely charming, this is a little gem of a book and an absolute pleasure to read. ~ Liz Robinson September 2014 Book of the Month. The third in The Austen project, a reworking of Emma written by Alexander McCall Smith, is published in November 2014. The first two in this project are already published and include Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid. A reworking of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld is scheduled for 2015.
As summer blooms in Edinburgh's gardens and Bertie Pollock's birthday appears on the horizon, all at 44 Scotland Street is not cake and sunshine. Newlywed Angus Lordie has been booked by his bride into what he must not call the loony bin; Bruce's first encounter with hot wax brings more anguish than he bargained for; and Bertie's birthday dreams of scout camp and a penknife look set to be replaced by a game of Royal Weddings and a gender-neutral doll. But fate, an amorous Bedouin and the Dubai Tourist Authority conspire to transport Bertie's mother Irene to a warmer - if not a better - place, and once again in Scotland Street the triumph of human kindness over adversity gives cause for celebration.
Not only is Mr J. L. B. Matekoni attempting to reform himself into a modern husband, but after her marriage to Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Ramotswe's challenging but irreplaceable associate Mma Makutsi has joyful news. With the arrival of an heir to the Double Comfort furniture empire and Mma Makutsi busy with motherhood, cobras and a senior aunt, Mma Ramotswe must grapple alone with tea-making, detective work and a new uncertainty. Disturbing developments over the will of a local dignitary, Edgar Molapo, point to fraud and a shocking family secret, while tracing the source of a smear campaign against the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, in which notorious troublemaker Violet Sephotho may or not have a hand, proves to require a keen eye and an open mind. But the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is resilient and adaptable, and change brings salutary lessons: that our enemies are not always obvious, that a snake under the bed may be an ally, and that a mother's love conquers all.
As Botswana awaits the familiar blessing of the rains and the resumption of the eternal cycle, seismic upheaval is taking place at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Not only is Mr J. L. B. Matekoni attempting to reform himself into a modern husband, but after her marriage to Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Ramotswe's challenging but irreplaceable associate Mma Makutsi has joyful news. With the arrival of an heir to the Double Comfort furniture empire and Mma Makutsi busy with motherhood, cobras and a senior aunt, Mma Ramotswe must grapple alone with tea-making, detective work and a new uncertainty. Disturbing developments over the will of a local dignitary, Edgar Molapo, point to fraud and a shocking family secret, while tracing the source of a smear campaign against the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, in which notorious troublemaker Violet Sephotho may or not have a hand, proves to require a keen eye and an open mind. But the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is resilient and adaptable, and change brings salutary lessons: that our enemies are not always obvious, that a snake under the bed may be an ally, and that a mother's love conquers all.
February 2014 Book of the Month. Clover (real name Sally) meets James in primary school. She is six years old. By the time she is 13 she realises she is truly in love with James but boarding school, university, gap year and time leave their paths crossing but not lying parallel for long. It takes them twenty years to bring their love to fruition. Aaah. Sensitively written with lovely rounded characters, this is an absolute gem but his Botswana and Scotland Street series are better.
A heart-warming stand-alone novel about a group of passengers on an Edinburgh to London train. They have one thing in common - they have all been in love. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'McCall Smith possesses an amazing gift to be able to write about love. He does it with warmth and great perception, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of sentimentality. It takes great skill to be able to write this well, and great humanity; qualities he has in abundance.' - Neville Moir, Birlinn Ltd
As a mother, wife, employer and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is aware that to be human is to be responsible. So when a neighbour brings her a new and potentially dangerous puzzle to solve, once again Isabel feels she has no option but to shoulder the burden. A masterpiece painting has been stolen from Duncan Munrowe, old-fashioned philanthropist, father to two discontented children, and a very wealthy man. As Isabel enters into negotiations with the shadowy figures who are in search of a ransom, a case where heroes and villains should be clearly defined turns murky: the list of those who desire the painting - or the money - lengthens, and hasty judgement must be avoided at all cost.
Gently satirical and wonderfully perceptive, we are back for a 9th instalment in the eccentric lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street, including the remarkably precocious six-year-old Bertie - whose seventh birthday is looming. The characters are the strength of this series where not much of import happens but it’s easy to get totally hooked. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'Writing a daily novel is not easy, so to do so for ten years is small wonder. What I find so amazing about the 44 Scotland Street series is that McCall Smith continues to be so inventive, so funny and observant of modern mores, and he finds so many imaginative storylines. It’s a constant joy to read and in the soon-to-be seven-year-old Bertie he has created a truly original and endearing character in modern literature. Pure genius.' - Neville Moir, Director of Polygon Publishing
The second in his new dectective series 'The Sunday Philosophy Club' based in Scotland starring amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie. We love the wit and wisdom and think it’s utterly charming.
Personally I prefer Precious Ramotswe of his Botswana novels to Isabel Dalousie, the amateur sleuth featured here, but I do remember it took me more than one book to be totally enchanted by her so I know Isabel will grow on me. And I also know I enjoy the African setting more than the more sombre Edinburgh one of this series. But for all that, I can’t resist this author, the wit and wisdom is here and Isabel’s moral ground similar to Precious as she too tackles the mysteries of life. It’s utterly charming. She is expected in a television series in the autumn which I am much looking forward to.Comparisons: Agatha Christie, P G Wodehouse, Robert Goddard.Similar this month: Peter Robinson, Ben Sherwood.
November 2012 Book of the Month. Linking a group of passengers on a Edinburgh to London train, this is an exquisitely produced pocket-sized edition of his latest book and it’s a perfect gift or stocking filler. Four passengers meet on a train and exchange stories of love and railways. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm.
Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg. There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised. Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation.
Alexander McCall Smith published The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency in 1998 and then, suddenly, it took off in America to the extent that no less than 11 reprints were required in 2003. Since then, so prolific has been his output, and so has his popularity soared, that there was a time when the sheer multitude of McCall Smith's books led to confusion as to which book fitted into each of the various series under which he writes. One has hardly been able to keep up with the sheer abundance of books published - we reckon at least thirty in less than a decade. Now, thankfully, things have settled down and the legions of McCall Smiths avid fans can compartmentalise his new books into the four main series under which they sit - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, The Isabel Dalhousie Novels, The 44 Scotland Street Series and The Corduroy Mansions Series with a few more on top!There are constant features across the whole panoply of McCall Smith's output. Wry and witty observations about the day-to-day lives of normal people. An innocence and delight in the human condition. And, always, a twinkle on the eye shared by writer and reader. He is a happy writer and that makes for happy readers. 'The Forgotten Affairs of Youth' is the eighth of the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel, still a lovable combination of intriguing philosopher and amateur sleuth, faces another delightful adventure in her eventful little life. But, as in all McCall Smith's books, her life is not 'little' at all. The issues she faces and emotions she feels are universal. Another lovely book for us all to enjoy.
This is the eighth of the hugely successful 44 Scotland Street series from one of the world’s best-loved authors. In this instalment we have an unprepared groom, a double dose of narcissism, an unlikely internet sensation and boys (and dogs) hatching escape plans; all delivered with customary charm and deftness by the author. Regardless of the weather this is a book that will bring everyone who reads it some sunshine this Summer.
The third novel in McCall's acclaimed series about the colourful inhabitants of Corduroy Mansions, Pimlico. This installment follows the adventures of Oedipus Snark, the nasty Liberal Democrat and his mother Berthea who is writing an unauthorised biography of him, and a vegetarian dog called Freddie de la Hay.
While investigating unpleasant occurrences on a southern cattle-post, Mma Ramotswe, always on the side of the weak against the strong, has reason to reflect on Rule No.3 of The Principles of Private Detection: never lie to the client. Apprentice mechanic Charlie seems to be avoiding certain important responsibilities. And as Mma Makutsi's big day approaches, her nemesis Violet Sephotho is casting her net wider: by standing for election which could spell trouble for the entire nation. But as friends and family gather under starry African night skies, it turns out that even the most perplexing of apparitions - and the most shocking of crimes - may yield to rational explanation. And, of course, to Mma Ramotswe's inimitable way with love, intuition and redbush tea.
A World Book Day 2012 Quick Read. With his trademark gift for storytelling, international bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith brings us five tales of love, heartbreak, hope and the cleverness of ladies.
Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg. There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised. Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation.
August 2011 Book of the Month. The story of Bertie and his dysfunctional family at 44 Scotland Street continues in this seventh instalment alongside the familiar cast of favourites - Big Lou, Domenica, Angus Lordie, Cyril and others - in their daily pursuit of a little happiness but domestic bliss seems in short supply. Alexander McCall Smith published The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency in 1998 and then, suddenly, it took off in America to the extent that no less than11 reprints were required in 2003. Since then, so prolific has been his output, and so has his popularity soared, that there was a time when the sheer multitude of McCall Smith's books led to confusion as to which book fitted into each of the various series under which he writes. One has hardly been able to keep up with the sheer abundance of books published - we reckon at least thirty in less than a decade. Now, thankfully, things have settled down and the legions of McCall Smiths avid fans can compartmentalise his new books into the four main series under which they sit - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, The Isabel Dalhousie Novels, The 44 Scotland Street Series and The Corduroy Mansions Series with a few more on top!There are constant features across the whole panoply of McCall Smith's output. Wry and witty observations about the day-to-day lives of normal people. An innocence and delight in the human condition. And, always, a twinkle on the eye shared by writer and reader. He is a happy writer and that makes for happy readers. 'Bertie Plays the Blues' follows 'The Importance of Being Seven' as the seventh 44 Scotland Street novel. Set in Edinburgh, of course, the old familiar characters are there and McCall Smith is still on sparkling form. Bertie puts himself up for adoption on eBay. This short, eight-word sentence captures the unique McCall Smith sense of fun. You won't be disappointed.
If you're a fan of Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series or know someone who is then do take a look at this delightful and enchanting children's tale telling how the young Precious Ramotswe became the No. 1 Detective she is today. Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here we find out just who has been stealing her schoolfriends' snacks and how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love as she solves her first case! Kids aged 8 to 108 will love it!
The sixth volume of Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful serial novels set in Edinburgh's New Town. Warm-hearted, wise and very funny, The Importance of Being Seven brings us a fresh and delightful set of insights into philosophy and fraternity among Edinburgh's most loveable residents.
The Charming Quirks of Others is the latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s Isobel Dalhousie series, which sees the Scottish sleuth becoming entangled in an investigation at a local boarding school -- out now in paperback.
May 2011 Book of the Month. The third novel in McCall's acclaimed series about the colourful inhabitants of Corduroy Mansions, Pimlico. This installment follows the adventures of Oedipus Snark, the nasty Liberal Democrat and his mother Berthea who is writing an unauthorised biography of him, and a vegetarian dog called Freddie de la Hay. Corduroy Mansions Series:1. Corduroy Mansions2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 3. A Conspiracy of Friends
Second novel in the new London-based series from Alexander McCall Smith, comparable in warmth and humour to 44 Scotland Street. Corduroy Mansions Series:1. Corduroy Mansions2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 3. A Conspiracy of Friends
The 11th in the No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series sees sleuth Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Grace Makutsi on the trail of a mystery safari guide who has been named in the will of a generous benefactor. McCall Smith’s Botswana adventures have sold more than 13 million copies world wide and this is another warm, funny and engaging instalment. Expect gentle humour, eccentric, loveable characters and pearls of homespun wisdom from one of our favourite storytellers.
More sleuthing from the wonderful Isabel Dalhousie. As in all his novels McCall Smith brings together a great cast of characters and our leading lady is always charming and inquisitive as she tries to crack another mystery. Please note that this title is also available in a Large Print edition. Click here to find out more.
Number six in the Scotland Street Series and still has all the McCall Smith charm and ease. A great series.
His fans will love another wittily observed gem of a book. With McCall Smith, the places change – you could be in Botswana or Scotland or, now, London - but the sheer humanity is the same. Here, a new group of interesting and disparate characters face the daily trials and tribulations of life that affect us all, wherever we may be. Corduroy Mansions Series:1. Corduroy Mansions2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 3. A Conspiracy of Friends
Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 June 2010. May 2010 Book of the Month. More stories from the residents of the crumbling apartment block in Pimlico. The second in a great new series from the author of the No1 Ladies Detective Agency. Corduroy Mansions Series: 1. Corduroy Mansions 2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold
Alexander McCall Smith is shortlisted for the Specsavers ITV3 Crime Thriller Bestseller Dagger 2009. The tenth in Mma Ramotswe’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, her fans will know just what to expect but at the same time remain delightfully enthralled by a new set of Precious adventures. McCall Smith is consistent and reliable in his witty observations of day-to-day life. However, can Mma Ramotswe equally rely on her trusty white van? Perhaps if she walked more, then she would be healthier and her van would last longer. Or would it? Despite being a series of ‘Detective’ novels, if you are a reader who prefers kindness and comfort to killing and cruelty, then these are the books for you and you will discover why they have been a phenomenal success around the world.
The sixth installment in the best-selling chronicles of the irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousie. More sleuthing from the wonderful Isabel Dalhousie. As in all his novels McCall Smith brings together a great cast of characters and our leading lady is always charming and inquisitive as she tries to crack another mystery. A message from Joanna Lumley: “Anything that makes reading easier is to be applauded – a bright light, a quiet room, large clear print…what could be more enticing. Focus has all my support." Joanna Lumley
His fans will love another wittily observed gem of a book. With McCall Smith, the places change – you could be in Botswana or Scotland or, now, London - but the sheer humanity is the same. Here, a new group of interesting and disparate characters face the daily trials and tribulations of life that affect us all, wherever we may be.
A stand alone novel, this is a gentle tale of a woman relocating to the Suffolk countryside just before the Second World War. La (shot for Lavender) decides to start up an orchestra with the locals and members from the nearby RAF base. The story revolves around La’s relationships with the locals, with the local farmer she works for and her love interest, grounded Polish pilot Feliks. This reads like a book written in another era, no doubt the tone McCall Smith was going for. Very enjoyable.
His fans will love another wittily observed gem of a book. With McCall Smith, the places change – you could be in Botswana or Scotland or, now, London - but the sheer humanity is the same. Here, a new group of interesting and disparate characters face the daily trials and tribulations of life that affect us all, wherever we may be.
The fifth volume of the Scotland Street series is here with the wonderful cast of characters that reside there. These are a joy to read and plenty of different story lines to keep the action going and the reader satisfied. Lovely stuff.
Winner of the Best Fiction AudioBook of 2009. The tenth in Mma Ramotswe’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, her fans will know just what to expect but at the same time remain delightfully enthralled by a new set of Precious adventures. McCall Smith is consistent and reliable in his witty observations of day-to-day life. However, can Mma Ramotswe equally rely on her trusty white van? Perhaps if she walked more, then she would be healthier and her van would last longer. Or would it?Despite being a series of ‘Detective’ novels, if you are a reader who prefers kindness and comfort to killing and cruelty, then these are the books for you and you will discover why they have been a phenomenal success around the world. The audio edition of the collected first season of Alexander McCall Smith's Tea Time for the Traditionally Built has been named the Best Fiction AudioBook of 2009.The competition was decided by public vote via www.completelynovel.com. From the press release announcing the winners:"Twenty titles were selected from over one hundred titles entered by audio publishers. The judging panel was formed of key figures from audio publishing, trade press and national media including The Times' audiobook reviewer Christina Hardyment and prolific audio abridger Kati Nicholl. The panel's selections were based on excellence in several criteria: quality of literary content, abridgement, reading, production value and sound quality."
Another wonderful chapter (the 9th in the series) in the colourful lives of these down-to-earth people and their moralistic way of life. There are crimes to solve, a lady’s relatives to find but the real charm of this series is the continuing relationship of the main characters. In this one we learn a lot more about the fostered children, Motholeli and Puso. It’s another lovely mix of gentle philosophy and life-affirming commentary. A joy to read.
Whenever I read a McCall Smith No.1 Ladies€™ Detective Agency title I can always smell the smells and visualize the situations he's describing so clearly, for his writing is so acute and precise and his love for the country and its people shine through. Apart from having a cracking title for the book this latest feast is every bit as good as his earlier ones in the series. It'€™s a real-feel good novel with edge.
Whenever I read a McCall Smith No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency title I can always smell the smells and visualize the situations he’s describing so clearly, for his writing is so acute and precise and his love for the country and its people shine through. Apart from having a cracking title for the book this latest feast is every bit as good as his earlier ones in the series. It’s a real-feel good novel with edge.Read by Adjoa AndohAbridged on 5 CDsRunning time approx 6 hours
I enjoyed this book. The author’s prose is, as usual, simple, almost naïve in style but as the story of the Eros figure of Angus progresses, and the five modern but very different fables interwoven into his quest for love emerge, we are drawn into a world of dreams where the characters’ hopes and fears in life are gently explored. There is the newly wed wife who is visited by Angus while she dozes awaiting her husband’s return from a late night stroll, the brothers from the remote fishing village whose filial love is interrupted by the elder’s departure for Canada, the boy who searches for the identity of his real father, the young man who tends lovingly the pigs used for bio-research, the betrayed wife who is helped by her psychotherapist to a reconciliation with her husband. Each story has a link to Angus, the dream-maker and so reality and dreams are woven together in this mesmerizing re-telling of the Celtic myth of Angus. A gentle and enriching read.
McCall Smith’s writing is certainly addictive. Read one and you want to read more. Love Over Scotland is no different in that with his usual skill and charm he has pulled together a handful of quirky and brilliantly observed characters into a touching storyline with such ease. Serious issues are from time to time integrated into the storyline and yet with such lightness of touch the message is almost subliminal. Reading a McCall Smith is a bit like curling up with a really good friend. Just add a cup of cocoa and your set for the evening ahead. Pure joy.
Fans of the The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency will revel in the tricky new challenges the traditionally built Mma Ramotswe faces with her unique combination of common sense and kindness. Those who are yet to discover McCall Smith's witty and delightful writing will find that Botswana provides an evocative background for all the great problems of the world: justice, respect, whistle-blowing, feminism, forgiveness, friendship - and, of course, how to deal with an angry ostrich. Oh, and does money buy you happiness? Yes, if you use it to buy Blue Shoes (but perhaps not if you are Mma Makutsi, assistant to, though less traditionally built than, Mma Ramotswe herself). Why can't all the world be like this?
Fans of the The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency will revel in the tricky new challenges the traditionally built Mma Ramotswe faces with her unique combination of common sense and kindness. Those who are yet to discover McCall Smith's witty and delightful writing will find that Botswana provides an evocative background for all the great problems of the world: justice, respect, whistle-blowing, feminism, forgiveness, friendship - and, of course, how to deal with an angry ostrich. Oh, and does money buy you happiness? Yes, if you use it to buy Blue Shoes (but perhaps not if you are Mma Makutsi, assistant to, though less traditionally built than, Mma Ramotswe herself). Why can't all the world be like this?
Despite threatening to wind-up this Botswana crime series as he develops an equally intriguing Scottish heroine, Isabel Dalhousie, Precious Ramotswe is still his most endearing character and I personally love the African lore and setting that surrounds her and her astute wisdom. This is the sixth in the series and the only one in 2005, but fans rejoice, I understand he has been persuaded to write another for next year. If you don’t know the series, then do start at the beginning with The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but as each tale is self-contained, you don’t have to. I would recommend him to everyone. He is different, utterly engaging, gentle and life affirming. Comparisons: none, but if you like Agatha Christie, Laurie Lee, Simon Brett.Similar this month: Gervase Phinn, Kate Long.
A 2013 World Book Night selection. This charming, light-hearted, wise tale hit the literary world in 2001 and became a word-of-mouth bestseller. If you are new to the series you really should start here to get the full background. After that you can appreciate the others in any order you like but they do follow through as Precious Ramotswe’s love/office/family and friendships develop. They are uplifting, warm and strangely compelling, a must-read for all. Comparison: Colin Cotterill (The Coroner’s Lunch), Celestine Hitiura Vaite (Frangipani), Saumya Balsare (Cambridge Curry Club).
The latest installment from THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY series Mma Ramotswe's friend will persuade her to stand for election to the City Council. 'We need women like her in politics,' Mma Potokwani says, 'instead of having the same old men every time . . .' To be elected, Mma Ramotswe must have a platform and some policies. She will have to canvas opinion. She will have to get Mma Makutsi's views. Her slogan is 'I can't promise anything - but I shall do my best'. Her intention is to halt the construction of the Big Fun Hotel, a dubious, flashy business near a graveyard - an act that many consider to be disrespectful. Mma Ramotswe will take the campaign as far as she can, but lurking around the corner, as ever, is the inextinguishable Violet Sephotho.
Mma Ramostwe's friend will persuade her to stand for election to the City Council. 'We need women like her in politics,' Mma Potokwani says, 'instead of having the same old men every time . . .' To be elected, Mma Ramotswe must have a platform and some policies. She will have to canvas opinion. She will have to get Mma Makutsi's views. Her slogan is 'I can't promise anything - but I shall do my best'. Her intention is to halt the construction of the Big Fun Hotel, a dubious, flashy hotel near a graveyard - an act that many consider to be disrespectful. Mma Ramotswe will take the campaign as far as she can, but lurking around the corner, as ever, is the inextinguishable Violet Sephotho.
A poem does not have to be famous to be cherished. The best-known poems of Robert Burns have been loved by countless people over the years, but there are other poems that may be largely unknown that will mean a great deal to the few who are familiar with them. This anthology is a personal curation and not just a simple collection of poems. Each poem, handpicked by Alexander McCall Smith, leads the reader from one poem to the another. Intimate in tone, the editor shares the pleasure he finds in these poems through short epigraphs written for each piece. Grouped together in themes, from: Islands, Friendship, Love and Marriage, through to War and Conflict, Secrets, and Joy, this book would make the prefect gift for any occasion. It is a book for readers with a deep love of poetry, as well as those who are looking for the key that will open up the world of poetry.
Fans around the world adore the best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's premier lady detective. In the first book of the bestselling series, Mma Ramotswe - with help from her loyal associate, Grace Makutsi - navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, good humour and the occasional cup of tea. Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger . . . Delightfully different, THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY offers a captivating glimpse of an unusual world.
Catch up with the delightful goings-on in the fictitious 44 Scotland Street from Alexander McCall Smith . . . 'A joyous, charming portrait of city life and human foibles, which moves beyond its setting to deal with deep moral issues and love, desire and friendship' Sunday Express If only Pat Macgregor had an inkling of the embarrassment romantic, professional, even aesthetic that flowed from accepting narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce Anderson's invitation for coffee, she would never have said yes. And if only Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, hadn't wandered into his local bookshop and picked up a particular book at a particular time, he would never have knocked over his former English teacher or attracted the attentions of the police. Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart's application for promotion and his wife Irene's decision to go off and study for a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to serial fiction's favourite street. But for three seven-year-old boys Bertie Pollock, Ranald Braveheart Macpherson, and Big Lou's foster son Finlay - it also means a getting a glimpse of perfect happiness. Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out to include tennis-playing Rwandan Forest People, researches into levitating Celtic saints, bogus headhunters in Papua New Guinea and primary school performances of Beckett. But its heart remains where it has always been true to life, love and laughter in Edinburgh's New Town.
It is summer in Edinburgh and Isabel Dalhousie is once again caught between 'gossip' and significant rumour. It is none of her business that Patricia, the mother of her son Charlie's little friend Basil, is estranged from Basil's father, or that the woman has a somewhat brazen attitude to childcare. And yet, it is curious. Isabel, however, has much else on her mind as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. Along with the work involved for its impending next issue, she really needs to get her house in order and tend to the demands of her niece, Cat. Thankfully, the arrival of Antonia, the exuberant Italian au pair, will take care of urgent chores. And the hiring of Claire, a diligent if unsettlingly beautiful new assistant at the Review, surely means that Isabel can breathe, at least a little. But her sharp observation and assured role as confidante soon have Isabel doubting all her recent decisions. What's more, her instinct to help others may have put her in real danger. In her desire to run both a smooth household and working life, has she simply created more chaos? Perhaps the quiet side of passion is, after all, the best side on which to be?
Precious Ramotswe learns valuable lessons about first impressions and forgiveness in this latest installment of the much-loved, best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. At Botswana's No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi are intrigued by the troubling dismissal of an employee at a thriving local business. The ladies proceed with investigations as they are inclined to do - with Mma Makutsi's customary vigour, and Mma Ramotswe's rather more subtle caution. Soon enough, interesting discoveries are made... marital subterfuge, undue influence and commercial chicanery! Clearly, there is more to this dismissal than at first imagined. While Mma Makutsi's focus, as self-appointed Principal Investigating Officer, is firmly on the case, Mma Ramotswe's attention is diverted by personal matters. Not only has her disgraced ex-husband reappeared in town, but she has stumbled on an unsettling family secret of her own - one that might threaten what she holds closest to her heart. As Precious contemplates this painful possibility, she must draw on her strength and compassion and confront The House of Unexpected Sisters. And for both Mma Makutsi and Mma Ramotswe, the wise words of their mentor Clovis Andersen - 'the needle swings in confusing ways' - have never been more prescient . . .
Start your engines and get in gear for an action-packed story from the bestselling author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, with fun and energetic illustrations by Kate Hindley. When Max finds an old car that has his last name - Champion - on the bonnet, he learns that his grandfather used to make some of the best cars around ... and race them! That is, until his ideas book and his favourite car, Arabella, were stolen by greedy rival Mr Grabber. Can Max find a way to get back what Grandfather Gus lost? And will Arabella ever be seen again?
Recently distracted by the arrival of her and Jamie's second son, Magnus, Isabel Dalhousie - philanthropic editor of the Review of Applied Ethics - is anxious. The next issue of the Review is far from ready, her eldest, Charlie, is jealous, and their housekeeper, Grace, has an officious approach to childcare. With some relief, Isabel returns to helping out at her niece Cat's delicatessen, where surely the most taxing duty is the preparation of sandwiches. It's not long before Isabel's helpful, philosophical nature draws her into customers' problems, specifically that of ambitious, self-proclaimed matchmaker, Bea Shandon. Bea has staged a potentially dangerous liaison involving enigmatic plastic surgeon, Tony MacUspaig, who may not be quite who he claims to be - and Isabel's help is required in getting to the truth of the matter. Good-hearted Isabel proceeds with her usual thorough attention to task, and on Bea's advice talks to her friend Rob, a trustworthy regular on Bea's dinner party circuit, and known to have deep suspicions about MacUspaig. It becomes clear, however, that Rob has an agenda of his own and Isabel is now contending with that, along with a mysterious medical condition of Jamie's and some frustrating dead ends when it comes to Bea's predicament. When the truth finally reveals itself, Isabel must conclude that along with MacUspaig, Bea, Jamie - and even Cat - she herself is not immune to misunderstandings, or the neurotic fantasies that arise from keeping secrets . . .
It takes a lot to get under the skin of Cornelius 'Fatty O'Leary, but then there is a lot of skin to get under. The heroically proportioned Fatty can normally take life as it comes. Right at home in easy-going Fayetteville, Arkansas, he is happily married to his childhood sweetheart Betty, and likes nothing better than the company of good friends Tubby O'Rourke and Porky Flanagan. But when Fatty and Betty head off to Ireland on the trip of a lifetime, they find that they have left their comfort zone far behind. Calamity and mayhem ensue as one mishap after another befalls the beleaguered couple. Can Fatty's broad shoulders take the strain or will he suffer one indignity too many? Will he get his just deserts, or just dessert?
Ben and Fee MacTavish and the rest of the School Ship Tobermory crew head down under to take part in a tall ships race, but after a good start the Tobermory runs aground after it drops out to rescue a local boy, Kimba, stranded on the rocks. When the ship's dog Henry disappears, Kimba helps Ben, Fee and their friends find him. But as the trail leads them deeper into the Outback, they begin to realize that a missing dog is the least of their problems. Who are the mysterious couple claiming to be flying doctors, and why are they interested in an abandoned mine?
Hari is a dreamer with an unusual talent. He spends the few coins he earns washing cars on cinema trips to watch (and learn from) his beloved Bollywood films. Then one day Hari's gloriously fancy footwork is spotted by Mr Ram, a man on a mission to resolve conflicts near and far. Hari so entrances everyone with his magical dancing that soon he is travelling all over the world and his electric feet bring harmony to all who see him dance. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+
A second collection of eight BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations based on the popular books by Alexander McCall Smith. 'this full- cast production will charm listeners whether they already know and love these stories or are hearing them for the first time' - Audiofile Magazine 'How to Handle Men through the Application of Psychology': Precious Ramotswe sets out to release her fiance from a terrifying obligation, and a new case sparks a love quest. 'House of Hope': Precious and her assistant visit some bad girls as part of their mission to find a husband for their client, but Precious has some marriage problems of her own. 'The Return of Note': When Precious Ramotswe's ex-husband turns up to cause trouble, she finds an unlikely ally. 'The Ceremony': Precious works her way through a list of her own problems. But will the return of an old love jeopardise her romantic plans? 'There Is No Such Thing As Free Food': Precious is preoccupied both professionally and personally by the subject of food. 'The Best Profession for a Blackmailer': Mr Polopetsi, part-time mechanic and would-be assistant detective, takes on a case of his own; while Mma Makutsi finds out if blue shoes are the key to happiness. 'A Very Rude Woman': Precious faces change at the Agency, while Mr J.L.B. Matekoni meets the rudest person in all Botswana. 'Talking Shoes': A new detective takes on a case for the Agency, while Mma Ramotswe, among others, has a problem with high blood pressure. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mme Makutsi, these dramatisations will appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective. Duration: 6 hrs approx.
November 2017 Book of the Month The Peter Woodhouse of the title is a dog rescued from a cruel farmer and “hidden” at an American Airforce Camp where he becomes their lucky mascot with a penchant for flying. This is 1944. Val is a land girl, Mike an American pilot. They fall in love and decide to marry but before they do Mike, the dog and a navigator are shot down over Holland. Unbeknownst to Val, who is now pregnant, they all survive. A compassionate German soldier, Ubi, helps them. The war ends, Mike, dog and navigator return to England, Ubi to Germany and we follow all their eventful and eventually linking lives. This is sensitive and gently told but now drama mounts and tragedy sets in as the years unfold with lots of surprises including bizarrely a Motodrom, until 1981. It is a stand-alone tale which the author frequently produces but this one is very different from his norm, not as light hearted and quirky as most. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
'While My Italian Bulldozer certainly advocates a kind, considerate, some might even say old-fashioned approach to resolving affairs of the heart, it also succeeds in subtly, almost imperceptibly ripping up the traditional rules of the romantic comedy and creating something refreshingly original' Scotsman When writer Paul Stewart heads to the idyllic Italian town of Montalcino to finish his already late book, it seems like the perfect escape from stressful city life. Upon landing, however, things quickly take a turn for the worse when he discovers his hired car is nowhere to be found. With no record of any reservation and no other cars available it looks like Paul is stuck at the airport. That is, until an enterprising stranger offers him an unexpected alternative. While there may be no cars available there is something else on offer: a bulldozer. With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts and so begins a series of laugh out loud adventures through the Italian countryside, following in the wake of Paul and his Italian Bulldozer. A story of unexpected circumstance and lesson in making the best of what you have, My Italian Bulldozer is a warm holiday read guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Precious Ramotswe has always idolised her father, the late Obed Ramotswe. She feels that she knows all about his life - but does she? Sometimes our parents surprise us, and we discover that things were not quite what we thought them to be. And the same goes for Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's feisty assistant, who also makes certain discoveries about her own past that cause some surprise. The placid world of the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is further disturbed by the arrival in Gaborone of somebody whom Mma Ramotswe - and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, for that matter - definitely do not want to see. Of course calm eventually prevails - as it always does in the timeless world of these remarkable ladies. Tea is served, and life continues.
September 2017 Book of the Month A heart-warming stand-alone novel about a group of passengers on an Edinburgh to London train. They have one thing in common - they have all been in love. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'McCall Smith possesses an amazing gift to be able to write about love. He does it with warmth and great perception, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of sentimentality. It takes great skill to be able to write this well, and great humanity; qualities he has in abundance.' - Neville Moir, Birlinn Ltd
This is a story of incredible acrobatics and death-defying stunts! Join Freddie Mole as he tumbles through the air, flies around the big tent and tames four growling lions! Freddie is an ordinary boy who joins the circus one day. He can't believe his luck as he is asked to understudy some of the acts. But is he brave enough to go into the lions' cage?
August 2017 Book of the Month With customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith gives us another instalment in this popular series, now running in its twelfth season in the Scotsman, making it the longest running serial novel ever. What trials are in store for Bertie and the gang this year? The twelfth novel in the 44 Scotland Street series, the longest running serial novel in the world.
After successfully thwarting a dastardly plan to steal rare marine animals from the sea around the Scottish island of Mull, Ben and Fee MacTavish feel they can relax and continue learning all about nautical life on board School Ship Tobermory. But it's not long before their everyday routine is interrupted by an extraordinary event. Ben, Fee, their fellow students and the crew of the Tobermory find themselves embroiled in another adventure that leads them thousands of miles from Mull to a small island in the Caribbean, where they learn extraordinary details about Captain Macbeth's past and come face to face with modern-day pirates.
Follow the exploits of the children who go to a most unusual school - the sail-powered training ship Tobermory. When a film crew arrives in Tobermory Bay, Ben and Fee are invited to be extras. But their suspicions are soon aroused - is the film crew genuine, or are they up to something sinister? Ben and Fee soon discover the truth when they uncover a dastardly plan masterminded by a South American businessman...
Imagine going to school on a boat! The rip-roaring excitement continues in the second volume of thisadventure-mystery series set on the high seas, from the author of the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency!Ben and Fee MacTavish and their schoolmates on board the School Ship Tobermory are headed thousands of miles from their base in Mull to a small island in the Caribbean. They will learn extraordinary details about Captain Macbeth's past and come face to face with modern-day pirates. The students and crew aboard the Tobermory will have to band together and use their wits to escape harm and overcome the evil pirates.
If you have been with this series from the beginning, and this is the 11th, you will be familiar with the characters who live around Scotland Street in Edinburgh. Mr McCall Smith is a natural storyteller who manages to subtly fill in the background so newcomers will soon learn about the personalities and foibles of the inhabitants and they are a fascinating collection of people. Bertie of the title is only seven but has the wisdom of Solomon and the mother from hell. The ‘Project’ of the title refers to his mother, Irene’s plan for his intense upbringing. Yoga, psychotherapy, Italian lessons are in; fun, Swiss army knives, junk food are not in! Bertie’s father, Stuart, is a kind, lovely man but completely overruled by his wife. When Stuart’s mother suspects Stuart is having an affair she is delighted, hoping he will rid himself of her truly awful daughter-in-law. As always, new characters are introduced. In this book it is Clare, a very typical, outdoor-loving, extreme-sports enthusiastic Australian. She and the narcissistic Bruce of earlier books join forces and Clare replaces the two Scandinavian au pairs of familiar Matthew and Elspeth to help with their now walking boy triplets. This is the expected delightful read and leaves one eagerly anticipating the next in the series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Claire Benedict and Nadine Marshall star in these eight BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas adapted by Alexander McCall Smith Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile `Must-listen...beautifully cast, precisely timed, simply wonderful' Daily Telegraph Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books to life. In these eight episodes, Mma Ramotswe takes on her first case - and a new secretary; tries to solve a bone mystery; tackles a domestic drama and a doctor's erratic behaviour; and investigates the case of a missing American. In addition, she is hired by a beauty contest judge to check the integrity of the finalists; looks for two women wronged by her client, Mr Molefelo; learns of a rival detective agency; and is commissioned by a physiotherapist to find out what her errant husband is up to. The stories included are: The Daddy; The Bone; The Maid; Tears of the Giraffe; The Chief Justice of Beauty; The Confession; The Kalahari Typing School for Men and The Admirer. Claire Benedict stars as Mma Ramotswe, with Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi and Joseph Marcell as Mr JLB Matekoni. Duration: 6 hours approx
THE PERFECT HAMBURGER by the bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderfully entertaining story, ideal for young readers. Joe has just created the yummiest, juiciest, most delicious hamburger ever - and his friend Mr Borthwick wants to sell it in his hamburger shop to try and win back customers from the new fast-food place across the road. But there's a problem - Joe has completely forgotten the recipe... A pinch of this, a touch of that and a spoonful of something else...the race is on for Joe to remember!
Explore in ‘Chance Developments’ five charming and poignant short stories. I absolutely adore the premise for this little book and the cover just invites you in. Alexander McCall Smith has imagined a background tale to the five black and white photos that appear at the beginning of each short story. The photos are eloquent and moving, the stories delve deeply into possibilities, love and friendship, joy and melancholy. From Sister Flora to a circus performer, each story is a small snapshot of what might have been, and as I read, I found myself drawn back to the photo, to look again and ponder. Alexander McCall Smith has transformed five forgotten photos into a discovery of delight. ~ Liz Robinson May 2017 Book of the Month. Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'If you come across an old photograph what do you think about the people staring back out at you? Maybe that they are just anonymous people from another age, as if from another planet. Or do you, like McCall Smith, hear their voices, know their names, sense their hopes and dreams and imagine how their lives might have turned out.Blessed with a wonderful, humane imagination, McCall Smith brilliantly constructs paths for these forgotten people - some joyous, others bumpy and winding, all with unexpected twists and turns. An astonishing achievement: original and moving.' ~ Neville Moir, Editor of Chance Developments
Precious and Grace is a book steeped with addictive charm, wit and intelligent sleuthing. In the heat of summer in Botswana, co-directors of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, find their friendship tested to the limit by a curious case. Packed with intrigue, this heartfelt tale of friendship reveals how coming to terms with the past may be the only way to face the future.
Isabel Dalhousie now has a second child - another boy, Magnus. He comes home with her at the beginning of the book and she discovers that Charlie is far from thrilled. He sees no need for a new baby. In Cat's delicatessen, Isabel meets a woman with whom she had been at school. This woman, Bea Shand, is known as an enthusiastic match-maker. She is very worried, though, as she has introduced a woman she knows to a plastic surgeon who is now described by another friend as a gold-digger. This other friend reveals that the surgeon has a bad track record: he has been involved with a series of well-off women and has succeeded in separating a number of then from their money. Bea asks Isabel to investigate; she herself tried to warn her friend of the danger she was in but was rebuffed badly. Isabel starts to make enquiries. At first the pattern that emerges confirms her friend's dire diagnosis, but as things develop it emerges that not only is the surgeon innocent, but he himself is the one in danger! In the meantime, as a sub-plot, Isabel finds that the man who warned her of the surgeon's proclivities, is taking an interest in her (Isabel). He appears to be smitten by her; she tries to get away from him but discovers that she has inadvertently given Jamie grounds to believe that she (Isabel) is having an affair. This is awkward, but is resolved satisfactorily. Her final conclusion: match-make at one's peril. Never tell people half-truths for paternalistic reasons. Mind your own business (a lesson that Isabel never seems to learn).
Roll up, roll up for a sensational circus story from the bestselling author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, with fun, energetic illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout. Join Freddie Mole as he tumbles through the air, flies around the big tent and tames four growling lions! Freddie is an ordinary boy who joins the circus one day. He can't believe his luck as he is asked to understudy some of the acts. But is he brave enough to go into the lions' cage? A joyful, exciting tale of bravery and showbusiness glamour by a much loved author.
Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, new, enchanting tale for children, we see how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!Find out as Alexander McCall Smith tells the story of in another adventure featuring Precious Ramotswe.
An irresistible bind-up edition of two infectiously entertaining adventure mysteries, Spaghetti Tangle and Teacher Trouble, from the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, and with amazing illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout. Spaghetti Tangle John and Nicky would give anything in the world for a bowl of chips or a piece of chocolate cake, but they live with their strange aunty and she won't let them eat anything that's not raw! One day they sneek out and slurp down a plate piled high with spaghetti. Now they want more ... Lucky for them, there's a competition to visit the spaghetti factory and eat as much as you like. What will aunty say? Teacher Trouble It's Jenny's first day at a new school and she looks very grown-up - her mum has made sure of it. But when she arrives at the school, she looks so smart that the rest of her class think she is their new teacher! Soon Jenny finds herself in all sorts of tricky situations. How long will it be before Jenny is found out? And what will happen then?
If you have been with this series from the beginning, and this is the 11th, you will be familiar with the characters who live around Scotland Street in Edinburgh. Mr McCall Smith is a natural storyteller who manages to subtly fill in the background so newcomers will soon learn about the personalities and foibles of the inhabitants and they are a fascinating collection of people. Bertie of the title is only seven but has the wisdom of Solomon and the mother from hell. The ‘Project’ of the title refers to his mother, Irene’s plan for his intense upbringing. Yoga, psychotherapy, Italian lessons are in; fun, Swiss army knives, junk food are not in! Bertie’s father, Stuart, is a kind, lovely man but completely overruled by his wife. When Stuart’s mother suspects Stuart is having an affair she is delighted, hoping he will rid himself of her truly awful daughter-in-law. As always, new characters are introduced. In this book it is Clare, a very typical, outdoor-loving, extreme-sports enthusiastic Australian. She and the narcissistic Bruce of earlier books join forces and Clare replaces the two Scandinavian au pairs of familiar Matthew and Elspeth to help with their now walking boy triplets. This is the expected delightful read and leaves one eagerly anticipating the next in the series. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
After successfully thwarting a dastardly plan to steal rare marine animals from the sea around the Scottish island of Mull, Ben and Fee MacTavish feel they can relax and continue learning all about nautical life on board School Ship Tobermory. But it's not long before their everyday routine is interrupted by an extraordinary event. Ben, Fee, their fellow students and the crew of the Tobermory find themselves embroiled in another adventure that leads them thousands of miles from Mull to a small island in the Caribbean, where they learn extraordinary details about Captain Macbeth's past and come face to face with modern-day pirates.
Welcome back to 44 Scotland Street and to the lives of the much loved (well, in most cases) inhabitants. ‘The Revolving Door of Life’ is the tenth novel in the series and although you really should start at the beginning, you could actually read this as a completely charming standalone novel. Should I have a favourite character, perhaps not, as all have a delicious quirk that draws me to them, however the absolutely delightful Bertie sits in a favoured spot in the back of my mind. Alexander McCall Smith has a beautifully light touch, he has the ability to open up the oddities of human behaviour without being heavy handed and harsh. It’s the small things, the little thoughts, the asides that are exquisitely described and so powerful. Amusing, eyebrow raising and full of satisfying warmth and love, this is an enchanting and joyful read. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
Jane has always been just a little bit different - she has springs in her knees! She bounce, bounce, bounces all over town and they call her Springy Jane. She wins all the high jump competitions and can reach the top book shelf, and if anyone stares too hard she just bounces right over them! But a terrible flood and a trapped old lady mean Springy Jane is called on for help - will her springs save the day? Part of Barrington Stoke's picture book range for all the family, with easy-read font.
Mma Ramotswe is not one to sit about. Her busy life as the proprietress of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency gives her little time for relaxation. Nonetheless, she is persuaded by her co-director Mma Makutsi to take a holiday. But Mma Ramotswe finds it impossible to resist the temptation to interfere with the agency's cases - secretly, she intends . . . This leads her to delve into the past of a man whose reputation has been called into question. It also leads her to an orphan named Samuel. Meanwhile, Violet Sephotho, Mma Makutsi's arch-enemy, has had the temerity to set up a new secretarial college - one that aims to rival that great institution, the Botswana Secretarial College. Will she get her comeuppance? It will be a close-run thing.
Follow the exploits of the children who go to a most unusual school - the sail-powered training ship Tobermory. When a film crew arrives in Tobermory Bay, Ben and Fee are invited to be extras. But their suspicions are soon aroused - is the film crew genuine, or are they up to something sinister? Ben and Fee soon discover the truth when they uncover a dastardly plan masterminded by a South American businessman.
A Knopf Canada Original E-Short, anda spin-off story from the Isabel Dalhousie series.Philosopher and amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie has an unstinting commitment to her principles. Sticking to her promises has always been one of them. Then Isabel runs into an old classmate facing marital and financial troubles, who reveals a secret about a painting up for auction that becomes more and more difficult for Isabel to keep. In the meantime she comes across a revealing note accidentally put in the pocket of her son's jacket at daycare, and obviously intended for another classmate's parent.Thankfully, Isabel's devoted husband, Jamie, is there to help our heroine navigate her competing moral obligations. Beautifully perceptive and witty, this original short story by Alexander McCall Smith shows Isabel calling upon all of her intelligence, charm, and tact.
A Vintage Shorts "e;Short Story Month"e; Original Selection Philosopher and amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie has an unstinting commitment to her principles. Sticking to her promises has always been one of them. Then Isabel runs into an old classmate facing marital and financial troubles, who reveals a secret that becomes more and more difficult for Isabel to keep. Thankfully, Isabel's devoted husband, Jamie, is there to help our heroine navigate her competing moral obligations. Beautifully perceptive and witty, this original short story by Alexander McCall Smith shows Isabel calling upon all of her intelligence, charm, and tact. An ebook short.
Edinburgh basks in glorious, but brief, summer sunshine, and Isabel Dalhousie - philosopher, philanthropist and mother - searches for the perfect birthday present for her husband Jamie. While carefully seeking out a gift, Isabel finds herself at a viewing for an auction, and happens upon an old friend in distress - a friend who decides to unburden herself of her secrets, and to reveal a clue within a painting hanging on the walls of the auction house.Soon Isabel discovers that this secret binds her not only to her friend, but also to another woman. Questions about morality and loyalty disturb Isabel's peaceful existence with her young son and precious family, but she must face up to them in order to ensure that no one is led astray. Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine is a charming and gentle novella featuring one of Alexander McCall Smith's most loved characters: Isabel Dalhousie.
One of our Books of the Year 2016. June 2016 Book of the Month. A fabulously quirky, ‘standalone’ romance-cum-farce from this feel-good author. Abandoned by his long-time girlfriend, travel writer Paul goes to Tuscany to research his next book. Arrangements are made but upon arrival no car is available. Enter one bulldozer, a wacky scenario which results in some charming pieces. Paul enters village life and that atmosphere is vividly and warmly described. Attempting to rescue an American ‘damsel in distress’ he falls instantly in love. Then long-time girlfriend turns up and life gets complicated. Full of joy and wellbeing, of sunshine and wine this affectionate, gently tale, a love triangle, or possibly a love square as more women seem to enter Paul’s life, is a sheer delight from start to finish. Highly recommended. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'Alexander McCall Smith is fantastic at writing about Italy: its food & wine, its music, the history, the landscape and la bella figura. Onto this beautiful canvas he’s introduced una macchina colossale– a bulldozer. Only McCall Smith has the literary dexterity to pull this off. Funny, elegant and moving – occasionally earth-moving – this book is a joy; you’ll be swept away, literally.' ~ Neville Moir, Publishing Director, Polygon
Isabel Dalhousie is one of Edinburgh's most generous (but discreet) philanthropists - but should she be more charitable? She wonders, sometimes, if she is too judgmental about her niece's amorous exploits, too sharp about her housekeeper's spiritual beliefs, too ready to bristle in battle against her enemies. As the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, she doesn't, of course, allow herself actual enemies, but she does feel enmity - especially towards two academics who have just arrived in the city. Isabel feels they're a highly destabilizing influence; little tremors in the volcanic rock upon which an Enlightened Edinburgh perches. Equally troubling is the situation of the little boy who is convinced he had a previous life. When Isabel is called upon to help, she finds herself questioning her views on reincarnation. And the nature of grief. And - crucially - the positioning of lighthouses. The only questions Isabel doesn't have to address concern her personal life.
I love this city, and always shall. I write about it. I dream about it. I walk its streets and see something new each day - traces of faded lettering on the stone, still legible, but just; some facade that I have walked past before and not noticed; an unregarded doorway with the names, in brass, of those who lived there sixty years ago, the bell-pulls sometimes still in place, as if one might summon long-departed residents from their slumbers. Edinburgh is a city of stories - a place that has witnessed everything from great historical upheavals, to the individual lives of a remarkable cast of characters. Every spire, cobblestone, bridge, close and avenue has a tale to tell. In this sumptuous new book, Alexander McCall Smith curates his own, distinctive story of Edinburgh - combining his affectionate, incisive wit with a wealth of stunning imagery drawn from Scotland's national collection of architecture and archaeology. Through a series of photographs, maps, drawings and paintings - many never before published - he takes the reader on a unique tour. Just like the city's architecture, the book can move in an instant from sweeping views to secret, hidden vignettes.This is a story of famous landmarks and lost buildings; the people who made them; the people who lived in them. 'A Work of Beauty' is an intimate portrait of a city by one of Scotland's greatest storytellers.
Roll up, roll up for a sensational circus story from the bestselling author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, with fun, energetic illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout. Join Freddie Mole as he tumbles through the air, flies around the big tent and tames four growling lions! Freddie is an ordinary boy who joins the circus one day. He can't believe his luck as he is asked to understudy some of the acts. But is he brave enough to go into the lions' cage? A joyful, exciting tale of bravery and showbusiness glamour by a much loved author.
Explore in ‘Chance Developments’ five charming and poignant short stories. I absolutely adore the premise for this little book and the stunning hardback cover made me ooh with delight. Alexander McCall Smith has imagined a background tale to the five black and white photos that appear at the beginning of each short story. The photos are eloquent and moving, the stories delve deeply into possibilities, love and friendship, joy and melancholy. From Sister Flora to a circus performer, each story is a small snapshot of what might have been, and as I read, I found myself drawn back to the photo, to look again and ponder. Alexander McCall Smith has transformed five forgotten photos into a discovery of delight. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'If you come across an old photograph what do you think about the people staring back out at you? Maybe that they are just anonymous people from another age, as if from another planet. Or do you, like McCall Smith, hear their voices, know their names, sense their hopes and dreams and imagine how their lives might have turned out.Blessed with a wonderful, humane imagination, McCall Smith brilliantly constructs paths for these forgotten people - some joyous, others bumpy and winding, all with unexpected twists and turns. An astonishing achievement: original and moving.' ~ Neville Moir, Editor of Chance Developments
Follow the exploits of the children who go to a most unusual school - the sail-powered training ship Tobermory. When a film crew arrives in Tobermory Bay, Ben and Fee are invited to be extras. But their suspicions are soon aroused - is the film crew genuine, or are they up to something sinister? Ben and Fee soon discover the truth when they uncover a dastardly plan masterminded by a South American businessman...
An irresistible bind-up edition of two fabulously fun, wonderfully witty adventure mysteries, from the bestselling author of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, and with amazing illustrations by Kate Hindley throughout. Popcorn Pirates The greediest gang of grub-guzzling pirates ever to sail the high seas is after the Popcorn Islands' harvest. Can Lucy, Hermione and Sam stop them? The Bubblegum Tree The secret ingredient for Gopal's Best Pink Bubblegum has not been delivered for two months. Billy, Nicola and Mr Gopal are off to the jungle in a flying boat to solve the baffling mystery ...
Welcome back to 44 Scotland Street and to the lives of the much loved (well, in most cases) inhabitants. ‘The Revolving Door of Life’ is the tenth novel in the series and although you really should start at the beginning, you could actually read this as a completely charming standalone novel. Should I have a favourite character, perhaps not, as all have a delicious quirk that draws me to them, however the absolutely delightful Bertie sits in a favoured spot in the back of my mind. Alexander McCall Smith has a beautifully light touch, he has the ability to open up the oddities of human behaviour without being heavy handed and harsh. It’s the small things, the little thoughts, the asides that are exquisitely described and so powerful. Amusing, eyebrow raising and full of satisfying warmth and love, this is an enchanting and joyful read. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, new, enchanting tale for children, we see how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!Find out as Alexander McCall Smith tells the story of in another adventure featuring Precious Ramotswe.
In this warm, intelligently observed novella, Isabel Dalhousie, Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful heroine, learns valuable lessons about inviting the past (and everyone in it) back into your life.Isabel Dalhousie--philosopher, mother and friend--has generously agreed to host the opening dinner for her school reunion weekend. Twenty-five former classmates will descend upon her Edinburgh home, bringing with them new names new looks, and old reputations. While some see the reunion as an opportunity to forge new friendships and reaffirm old ones, others aren't interested in changing their minds about the past. One particular classmate, Barbara Grant, was known as an especially mean girl who bullied the others relentlessly. As hostess, Isabel feels compelled to help her guests on the path toward reconciliation, but bitter feelings and long-held secrets threaten to derail her efforts entirely. With her trademark insight and compassion, Isabel Dalhousie may find a way to navigate the treacherous waters of mean "e;girls"e;, with mercy and forgiveness.
A Vintage Shorts ';Short Story Month' Original SelectionIn this warm, intelligently observed novella, Isabel Dalhousie, Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful heroine, learns valuable lessons about inviting the past (and everyone in it) back into your life.Isabel Dalhousie--philosopher, mother and friend--has generously agreed to host the opening dinner for her school reunion weekend. Twenty-five former classmates will descend upon her home, bringing with them new names, new looks, and old reputations. While some will see the reunion as an opportunity to forge new friendships and reaffirm old ones, others aren't interested in changing their minds about the past. One particular classmate, Barbara Grant, was known as an especially mean girl who bullied the others relentlessly. As hostess, Isabel feels compelled to help her guests on the path toward reconciliation and forgiveness, but bitter feelings and long-held secrets threaten to derail her efforts entirely. With her trademark insight and compassion, Isabel Dalhousie may find a way to navigate these treacherous waters.An eBook short.
Continuing the series of Jane Austen 'reboots', Alexander McCall Smith updates the story of interfering Emma . She is exactly as she is in the original, giving dinner parties and picnics, attempting matchmaking and generally meddling in other people’s affairs. It is non-taxing, pleasant, easy reading. ~ Sarah Broadhurst The titles in the Austen Project series are: Sense & Sensibility by Joanna TrollopeNorthanger Abbey by Val McDermidEmma by Alexander McCall SmithEligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, enchanting tale for children, we find out just who has been stealing her school friends' snacks and how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!
Three classic adventure tales from the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, now together in paperback for the first time. Imagine living in the heart of Africa. Imagine living in a place where the sun rises every morning over blue mountains. Akimbo and his parents live on the edge of an African game reserve. It's his father's task to protect the thousands of amazing animals who make it their home, and wildlife-loving Akimbo dreams of helping him. In these three adventures, Akimbo protects elephants from poachers, saves a lion cub from a trap, and rescues a man from a crocodile! This 3-in-1 collection contains Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo and the Lions and Akimbo and the Crocodile Man. Fans of The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories will love these stories of wild animals and thrilling adventures. Alexander McCall Smith grew up in Zimbabwe and then moved to Scotland. He was a professor of Medical Law and has written almost 100 books, including the well-loved and bestselling No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. He lives in Edinburgh. Illustrator Peter Bailey has worked with some of Britain's best-known authors and poets, including Allan Ahlberg, Dick King-Smith, Michael Morpurgo and Philip Pullman.
Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace, and so no sooner than she becomes a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - in spite of Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner' - she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe. Grace Makutsi is a lady with a business plan,but who could predict temperamental chefs, drunken waiters and more? Luckily, help is at hand, from the only person in Gaborone more gently determined than Mma Makutsi ...Mma Ramotswe, of course.
The second flagship and bestselling series from the literary sensation Alexander McCall Smith, the Isabel Dalhousie series is enormously engaging, wonderfully witty and complete with local Edinburgh colour and flavour. The novels follow the intrepid and irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousiepart-time sleuth and editor of The Review of Applied Ethicsas she muses on moral questions and wades through the mysteries of other people's lives, with the help of her no-nonsense housekeeper, Grace; frequent visits to her niece, Cat's, Italian delicatessen; and the friendship of Cat's musician ex-boyfriend, Jamie. In The Sunday Philosophy Club; Friends, Lovers, Chocolates; and The Right Attitude to Rain Isabel resolves tricky matters of both heart and mind, including sometimes, her own.
Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2015. A scrumptious, joyous read, stuffed full of sharp wit, laugh out loud frolics and gentle soothing compassion. Fatty and his loving, loyal saint of a wife Betty leave the comforts of home for a holiday to Ireland in 1979. A number of lamentable and often laughable events befall Fatty and because she is at his side, Betty too. The author as well as pointing out the ridiculous, also allows us to see Fatty from Betty’s eyes and therefore opens ours. Completely charming, this is a little gem of a book and an absolute pleasure to read. ~ Liz Robinson
Isabel Dalhousie - philosopher, mother and friend - is taking on the mammoth task of hosting her school reunion. In the hours before twenty-five former classmates descend on her home, and the caterers arrive to set up a buffet, Isabel has time to reflect. She is mindful of the fact that reunions can bring up all sorts of uncomfortable feelings. Later that night, with the party in full swing, Isabel realises that the pull of the past remains as strong as ever. Some people are interested in fuelling disagreements, while others are hoping to make amends. As hostess of the party, Isabel feels compelled to help them on the path to mercy and forgiveness. But what if the reasons for forgiveness are murky and suspect? And what if long-held secrets threaten to derail Isabel's efforts?In this warm, intelligently observed novella, Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful heroine, Isabel, learns valuable lessons about inviting the past into your life.
Clover (real name Sally) meets James in primary school. She is six years old. By the time she is 13 she realises she is truly in love with James but boarding school, university, gap year and time leave their paths crossing but not lying parallel for long. It takes them twenty years to bring their love to fruition. Aaah. Sensitively written with lovely rounded characters, this is an absolute gem but his Botswana and Scotland Street series are better.
Beloved and bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith lends his delightful touch to the Austen classic, Emma.'It's comfort reading at its most soothing' IndependentPrepare to meet a young woman who thinks she knows everything.Fresh from university, Emma Woodhouse triumphantly arrives home in Norfolk ready to embark on adult life with a splash. Not only has her sister, Isabella, been whisked away on a motorcycle up to London, but her astute governess, Miss Taylor is at a loose end, abandoned in the giant family pile, Hartfield, alongside Emma's anxiety-ridden father. Someone is needed to rule the roost and young Emma is more than happy to oblige.As she gets her fledging design business off the ground, there is plenty to delight her in the buzzing little village of Highbury. At the helm of her own dinner parties and instructing her new little protegee, Harriet Smith, Emma reigns forth. But there is only one person who can play with Emma's indestructible confidence, her old friend and inscrutable neighbour George Knightley - this time has Emma finally met her match?You don't have to be in London to go to parties, find amusement or make trouble. Not if you're Emma, the very big fish in the rather small pond. But for a young woman who knows everything, Emma has a lot to learn about herself.Ever alive to the uproarious nuances of human behaviour, and both the pleasures and pitfalls of village life, beloved author Alexander McCall Smith's Emma is the busybody we all know and love, and a true modern delight.
A beautiful, heartwarming story set in Africa about a young boy and his yearning for a pet dog. From internationally bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith. Timo and his mother do not have much money - in fact, they have almost none. But that does not matter too much, because Timo has his mother and she has him. They have their little house. They have friends and neighbours. They have the world about them. All of that can be enough for happiness. There is one more thing, though, that Timo would like to have ...A dog! High quality cream paper and a special easy-to-read font ensure a smooth read for all.
A free sampler of beloved and bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith's modern and delightful EMMA.Prepare to meet a young woman who thinks she knows everything.Fresh from university, Emma Woodhouse triumphantly arrives home in Norfolk ready to embark on adult life with a splash. Not only has her sister, Isabella, been whisked away on a motorcycle up to London, but her astute governess, Miss Taylor is at a loose end, abandoned in the giant family pile, Hartfield, alongside Emma's anxiety-ridden father. Someone is needed to rule the roost and young Emma is more than happy to oblige.As she gets her fledging design business off the ground, there is plenty to delight her in the buzzing little village of Highbury. At the helm of her own dinner parties and instructing her new little protegee, Harriet Smith, Emma reigns forth. But there is only one person who can play with Emma's indestructible confidence, her old friend and inscrutable neighbour George Knightley - this time has Emma finally met her match?You don't have to be in London to go to parties, find amusement or make trouble. Not if you're Emma, the very big fish in the rather small pond. But for a young woman who knows everything, Emma has a lot to learn about herself.Ever alive to the uproarious nuances of human behaviour, and both the pleasures and pitfalls of village life, beloved author Alexander McCall Smith's Emma is the busybody we all know and love, and a true modern delight.
A brand new novel from one of the world's most popular authors When his loving wife Betty plans a trip to Ireland for Fatty O'Leary's 40th birthday things go wrong almost immediately: the seats in economy class on the plane are too small; Irish bathroom furniture is not as commodious as he'd have liked. And all the time Fatty must put up with the unthinking cruelty of strangers.
An all-new, never-before-published eBook original novel by the bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, about a hapless American tourist's larger-than-life comical trip to Ireland. Cornelius P. "e;Fatty"e; O'Leary and his wife Betty plan a vacation in Ireland for his fortieth birthday, where they will tour his ancestral homeland and relax in the countryside. Almost immediately, things go terribly wrong: the seats in economy class on the plane are too small; the country hotel's dinner spread and bathroom fixtures leave much to be desired; and the down-to-earth O'Learys find their fellow guests are more than a little snobbish. In this amusing and touching portrayal of a kindly and misunderstood soul, McCall Smith has created yet another memorable character who will become an instant favorite to his many fans.Available exclusively as an eBook.
An all-new, never-before-published original short novel by the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, about a hapless American tourist's larger-than-life comical trip to Ireland. Shortlisted for the 2015 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for comic fictionCornelius P. ';Fatty' O'Leary and his wife, Betty, plan a vacation in Ireland for his fortieth birthday, where they will tour his ancestral homeland and relax in the countryside. Almost immediately, things go terribly wrong: the seats in economy class on the plane are too small; the country hotel's dinner spread and bathroom fixtures leave much to be desired; and the down-to-earth O'Learys find their fellow guests are more than a little snobbish. In this amusing and touching portrayal of a kindly, misunderstood soul, McCall Smith has created yet another memorable character who will become an instant favorite to his many fans.An eBook short.
Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2015. One of our Books of the Year 2014. A scrumptious, joyous read, stuffed full of sharp wit, laugh out loud frolics and gentle soothing compassion. Fatty and his loving, loyal saint of a wife Betty leave the comforts of home for a holiday to Ireland in 1979. A number of lamentable and often laughable events befall Fatty and because she is at his side, Betty too. The author as well as pointing out the ridiculous, also allows us to see Fatty from Betty’s eyes and therefore opens ours. Completely charming, this is a little gem of a book and an absolute pleasure to read. ~ Liz Robinson September 2014 Book of the Month. The third in The Austen project, a reworking of Emma written by Alexander McCall Smith, is published in November 2014. The first two in this project are already published and include Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid. A reworking of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld is scheduled for 2015.
A novel about love and following one's heart, and the unexpected places to which this can lead us At the age of four Clover chooses her own name. Aged six, she falls in love with her best friend, James. But in the adult world, things are not so simple: Clover's mother finds she's fallen out of love with her husband, and realises that James's father is interested in her. As Clover and James, and their parents, navigate their irresistible but baffling mazes of emotion, we are given a beautifully realised tale about how love can shape a life.
As summer blooms in Edinburgh's gardens and Bertie Pollock's birthday appears on the horizon, all at 44 Scotland Street is not cake and sunshine. Newlywed Angus Lordie has been booked by his bride into what he must not call the loony bin; Bruce's first encounter with hot wax brings more anguish than he bargained for; and Bertie's birthday dreams of scout camp and a penknife look set to be replaced by a game of Royal Weddings and a gender-neutral doll. But fate, an amorous Bedouin and the Dubai Tourist Authority conspire to transport Bertie's mother Irene to a warmer - if not a better - place, and once again in Scotland Street the triumph of human kindness over adversity gives cause for celebration.
Not only is Mr J. L. B. Matekoni attempting to reform himself into a modern husband, but after her marriage to Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Ramotswe's challenging but irreplaceable associate Mma Makutsi has joyful news. With the arrival of an heir to the Double Comfort furniture empire and Mma Makutsi busy with motherhood, cobras and a senior aunt, Mma Ramotswe must grapple alone with tea-making, detective work and a new uncertainty. Disturbing developments over the will of a local dignitary, Edgar Molapo, point to fraud and a shocking family secret, while tracing the source of a smear campaign against the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, in which notorious troublemaker Violet Sephotho may or not have a hand, proves to require a keen eye and an open mind. But the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is resilient and adaptable, and change brings salutary lessons: that our enemies are not always obvious, that a snake under the bed may be an ally, and that a mother's love conquers all.
February 2014 Book of the Month. Clover (real name Sally) meets James in primary school. She is six years old. By the time she is 13 she realises she is truly in love with James but boarding school, university, gap year and time leave their paths crossing but not lying parallel for long. It takes them twenty years to bring their love to fruition. Aaah. Sensitively written with lovely rounded characters, this is an absolute gem but his Botswana and Scotland Street series are better.
A heart-warming stand-alone novel about a group of passengers on an Edinburgh to London train. They have one thing in common - they have all been in love. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm. A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'McCall Smith possesses an amazing gift to be able to write about love. He does it with warmth and great perception, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of sentimentality. It takes great skill to be able to write this well, and great humanity; qualities he has in abundance.' - Neville Moir, Birlinn Ltd
When facing a moral dilemma, Isabel Dalhousie--Edinburgh philosopher, amateur detective, and title character of a series of novels by best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith--often refers to the great twentieth-century poet W. H. Auden. This is no accident: McCall Smith has long been fascinated by Auden. Indeed, the novelist, best known for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, calls the poet not only the greatest literary discovery of his life but also the best of guides on how to live. In this book, McCall Smith has written a charming personal account about what Auden has done for him--and what he just might do for you. Part self-portrait, part literary appreciation, the book tells how McCall Smith first came across the poet's work in the 1970s, while teaching law in Belfast, a violently divided city where Auden's September 1, 1939, a poem about the outbreak of World War II, strongly resonated. McCall Smith goes on to reveal how his life has related to and been inspired by other Auden poems ever since. For example, he describes how he has found an invaluable reflection on life's transience in As I Walked Out One Evening, while The More Loving One has provided an instructive meditation on unrequited love. McCall Smith shows how Auden can speak to us throughout life, suggesting how, despite difficulties and change, we can celebrate understanding, acceptance, and love for others. An enchanting story about how art can help us live, this book will appeal to McCall Smith's fans and anyone curious about Auden.
In this delicious short collection to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the international phenomenon The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith's wise, generous heroine finds that dieting is not for everyone and sometimes it is simply better to be traditionally built, especially when there is cake to be had. And when the Ladies' Club of Gaborone invites Mma Ramotswe as their keynote speaker, she reaches some thought-provoking conclusions about the problems - or otherwise - of ladies and men. Also features reflections from the author on his much-loved series.
As a mother, wife, employer and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is aware that to be human is to be responsible. So when a neighbour brings her a new and potentially dangerous puzzle to solve, once again Isabel feels she has no option but to shoulder the burden. A masterpiece painting has been stolen from Duncan Munrowe, old-fashioned philanthropist, father to two discontented children, and a very wealthy man. As Isabel enters into negotiations with the shadowy figures who are in search of a ransom, a case where heroes and villains should be clearly defined turns murky: the list of those who desire the painting - or the money - lengthens, and hasty judgement must be avoided at all cost.
For philosophically-minded Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, getting through life with a clear conscience requires careful thought. And whilst juggling the arrival of baby Charlie, a passionate relationship with his father Jamie, a truce with her furious niece Cat, and struggles for authority over her son with her formidable housekeeper Grace, Isabel finds herself drawn into the story of a painter's mysterious death off the island of Jura. A master storyteller, in The Careful Use of Compliments Alexander McCall Smith is as witty and wise as his irresistibly spirited heroine. This recording is unabridged. Typically abridged audiobooks are not more than 60% of the author's work and as low as 30% with characters and plotlines removed.
Scotland Street witnesses the wedding of the century of Angus Lordie to Domenica Macdonald, but as the newlyweds depart on honeymoon Edinburgh is in disarray. Recovering from the trauma of being best man, Matthew is taken up by a Dane called Bo, while Cyril eludes his dog-sitter and embarks on an odyssey involving fox-holes and the official residence of a cardinal. Narcissist Bruce meets his match in the form of a sinister doppelganger; Bertie, set up by his mother for fresh embarrassment at school, yearns for freedom; and Big Lou goes viral. But the residents of Scotland Street rally, and order - and Cyril - is restored by the combined effects of understanding, kindness, and, most of all, friendship.
Itchy Coo and Black & White Publishing are delighted to present a new case for the young Precious Ramotswe, translated into Scots for the very first time. Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, new, enchanting tale for children, we see how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we know and love. In The Mischief at Meerkat Brae , Precious befriends a new boy to her school called Pontsho and his sister Teb, and when she goes to their home for the first time, she discovers that they have an unusual pet, a very clever meerkat called Kosi. Then, when Pontsho and Teb become very upset when their cow goes missing, Precious decides to use her detective skills to solve the mystery but soon finds that all is not quite as simple as it seems on Meerkat Brae...
Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have always relied on the advice of the classic guide to their trade, The Principles of Private Detection. But who is the eminent author, Mr Clovis Andersen, and what if he were to come to Botswana? That seems a very unlikely possibility, and yet . . . When Mr Andersen visits Botswana on holiday, he is delighted and intrigued to stumble across a roadside sign that reveals the existence of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Professional courtesy suggests that he call and announce himself. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti are embarking on married life and building a new house - a tricky business under any circumstances but especially hazardous when the name of the contractor is the Joy and Light Building Company.
Personally I prefer Precious Ramotswe of his Botswana novels to Isabel Dalousie, the amateur sleuth featured here, but I do remember it took me more than one book to be totally enchanted by her so I know Isabel will grow on me. And I also know I enjoy the African setting more than the more sombre Edinburgh one of this series. But for all that, I can’t resist this author, the wit and wisdom is here and Isabel’s moral ground similar to Precious as she too tackles the mysteries of life. It’s utterly charming. She is expected in a television series in the autumn which I am much looking forward to.Comparisons: Agatha Christie, P G Wodehouse, Robert Goddard.Similar this month: Peter Robinson, Ben Sherwood.
For philosophically minded Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, getting through life with a clear conscience requires careful thought. And with the arrival of baby Charlie, not to mention a passionate relationship with his father Jamie, fourteen years her junior, Isabel enters deeper and rougher waters. Late motherhood is not the only challenge facing Isabel. Even as she negotiates a truce with her furious niece Cat, and struggles for authority over her son with her formidable housekeeper Grace, Isabel finds herself drawn into the story of a painter's mysterious death off the island of Jura. Perhaps most seriously of all, Isabel's professional existence and that of her beloved Review come under attack from the machiavellian and suspiciously handsome Professor Dove. A master storyteller whether debating ethics in Edinburgh or pursuing lady detectives in Africa, here Alexander McCall Smith is as witty and wise as his irresistibly spirited heroine.
The second in his new dectective series 'The Sunday Philosophy Club' based in Scotland starring amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie. We love the wit and wisdom and think it’s utterly charming.
If he's in the right mood, divine Angus might grant you sight of your true love in a dream. In twentieth-century Scotland, Angus's troubled alter ego searches for his true family and identity; a psychotherapist who helps people understand their dreams, his life seems to parallel that of his mythic namesake. Weaving together the tales of the Celtic god and the Scottish scientist, Alexander McCall Smith unites dream and reality, leaving us to wonder: what is life, but the pursuit of our dreams?
November 2012 Book of the Month. Linking a group of passengers on a Edinburgh to London train, this is an exquisitely produced pocket-sized edition of his latest book and it’s a perfect gift or stocking filler. Four passengers meet on a train and exchange stories of love and railways. Poignant stories full of warmth, romance and charm.
Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg. There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised. Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation.
Alexander McCall Smith published The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency in 1998 and then, suddenly, it took off in America to the extent that no less than 11 reprints were required in 2003. Since then, so prolific has been his output, and so has his popularity soared, that there was a time when the sheer multitude of McCall Smith's books led to confusion as to which book fitted into each of the various series under which he writes. One has hardly been able to keep up with the sheer abundance of books published - we reckon at least thirty in less than a decade. Now, thankfully, things have settled down and the legions of McCall Smiths avid fans can compartmentalise his new books into the four main series under which they sit - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, The Isabel Dalhousie Novels, The 44 Scotland Street Series and The Corduroy Mansions Series with a few more on top!There are constant features across the whole panoply of McCall Smith's output. Wry and witty observations about the day-to-day lives of normal people. An innocence and delight in the human condition. And, always, a twinkle on the eye shared by writer and reader. He is a happy writer and that makes for happy readers. 'The Forgotten Affairs of Youth' is the eighth of the Isabel Dalhousie series. Isabel, still a lovable combination of intriguing philosopher and amateur sleuth, faces another delightful adventure in her eventful little life. But, as in all McCall Smith's books, her life is not 'little' at all. The issues she faces and emotions she feels are universal. Another lovely book for us all to enjoy.
Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here in this delightful, new, enchanting tale for children, we see how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!
Contemporary / British EnglishPrecious Ramotswe is a kind, warm-hearted and large African lady. She is also the only female private detective in Botswana. Her agency - the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency - is the best in the country. With help of her secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her best friend, Mr JLB Matekoni, she solves a number of difficult problems. A missing husband, a missing finger and a missing child - she will solve these mysteries in her own special way. This Pack contains a Book and MP3
Even down to its well-set Georgian townhouses, Edinburgh is a hymn to measure and harmony. But on Scotland Street, domestic accord is in short supply. Matthew and Elspeth welcome three new arrivals, though the joys of multiple parenthood are somewhat lost due to sleep deprivation and the difficulties of telling their brood apart. Angus and Domenica are to marry, and Domenica has ambitious and disturbing plans for their living arrangements, especially when it appears that Antonia, in Italy recuperating from Stendhal Syndrome, may not return. And little Bertie, feeling blue, puts himself up for adoption on eBay. Can Edinburgh's most deliciously dysfunctional residents forsake discord and learn to dance to the same happy tune?
Glorious short stories from international bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, in a collection written especially for World Book Day There are times when ladies must use all their wisdom and good sense to face life's problems and mysteries. Mma Ramotswe, owner of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, keeps her wits about her as she looks into why the country's star goalkeeper isn't saving goals. Georgina turns her rudeness into a virtue when she opens a successful hotel. Italian shop-keeper Fabrizia shows her bravery when her husband betrays her. And in Suffolk during the Second World War, gentle La proves that music really can make a difference. With his trademark gift for storytelling, Alexander McCall Smith brings us five tales of love, heartbreak, hope and the cleverness of ladies. This recording is unabridged. Typically abridged audiobooks are not more than 60% of the author's work and as low as 30% with characters and plotlines removed.
The third novel in McCall's acclaimed series about the colourful inhabitants of Corduroy Mansions, Pimlico. This installment follows the adventures of Oedipus Snark, the nasty Liberal Democrat and his mother Berthea who is writing an unauthorised biography of him, and a vegetarian dog called Freddie de la Hay.
While investigating unpleasant occurrences on a southern cattle-post, Mma Ramotswe, always on the side of the weak against the strong, has reason to reflect on Rule No.3 of The Principles of Private Detection: never lie to the client. Apprentice mechanic Charlie seems to be avoiding certain important responsibilities. And as Mma Makutsi's big day approaches, her nemesis Violet Sephotho is casting her net wider: by standing for election which could spell trouble for the entire nation. But as friends and family gather under starry African night skies, it turns out that even the most perplexing of apparitions - and the most shocking of crimes - may yield to rational explanation. And, of course, to Mma Ramotswe's inimitable way with love, intuition and redbush tea.
In this Isabel Dalhousie original short story, available exclusively in electronic format, our intrepid heroine - accused by a distraught wife of being the "e;other woman"e; - makes a surprising discovery as she attempts to defend her reputation.Summer in Edinburgh is a season of delicate sunshine and showers, picnics with loved ones in blossoming gardens, and genteel celebrations of art and music. But Isabel Dalhousie's peaceful idyll is broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr. George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband.Wounded by the injustice of Roz's wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz's apparent state of hysteria, Isabel sets out to discover more about the McLeods, and to set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her own reputation. For insight into the McLeods' relationship she turns to Millie, who is both an old acquaintance of Isabel's and a university colleague of George's.In this engaging, intelligently observed story, Alexander McCall Smith's sharp-eyed heroine is reminded once again to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others, and to value friendship wherever it's found.
In this Isabel Dalhousie original short story, available exclusively in electronic format, our intrepid heroineaccused by a distraught wife of being the "e;other woman"e;makes a surprising discovery as she attempts to defend her reputation.Summer in Edinburgh is a season of delicate sunshine and showers, picnics with loved ones in blossoming gardens, and genteel celebrations of art and music. But Isabel Dalhousie's peaceful idyll is broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr. George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband. Wounded by the injustice of Roz's wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz's apparent state of hysteria, Isabel sets out to discover more about the McLeods, and to set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her own reputation. For insight into the McLeods' relationship she turns to Millie, who is both an old acquaintance of Isabel's and a university colleague of George's. In this engaging, intelligently observed story, Alexander McCall Smith's sharp-eyed heroine is reminded once again to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others, and to value friendship wherever it's found.
Summer in Edinburgh is a season of delicate sunshine and showers, picnics with loved ones in blossoming gardens and genteel celebrations of art and music. But Isabel Dalhousie's peaceful idyll is broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband.Wounded by the injustice of Roz's wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz's apparent state of hysteria, Isabel is minded to discover more about the McLeods and set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her reputation. She turns to Millie, an old acquaintance and a university colleague of George's, for insight. Once again, in this engaging, intelligently observed novella, Alexander McCall Smith's sharp-eyed heroine Isabel is reminded to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others, and to value friendship wherever it's found.
The sixth volume of Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful serial novels set in Edinburgh's New Town. Warm-hearted, wise and very funny, The Importance of Being Seven brings us a fresh and delightful set of insights into philosophy and fraternity among Edinburgh's most loveable residents.
The Charming Quirks of Others is the latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s Isobel Dalhousie series, which sees the Scottish sleuth becoming entangled in an investigation at a local boarding school -- out now in paperback.
Second novel in the new London-based series from Alexander McCall Smith, comparable in warmth and humour to 44 Scotland Street. Corduroy Mansions Series:1. Corduroy Mansions2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 3. A Conspiracy of Friends
'World First' a brand new story from Alexander McCall Smith that is now available in paperback! A world first from Itchy Coo, this is a brand new book for younger readers, telling the story of the girlhood adventures of Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Written by one of the world's favourite authors, Alexander McCall Smith, and translated into Scots by award winning author, James Robertson, this story will not be available in any other language until 2011. The Scots is simple and accessible, and a glossary will be provided for those not familiar with Scots words.
The 11th in the No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series sees sleuth Precious Ramotswe and her assistant Grace Makutsi on the trail of a mystery safari guide who has been named in the will of a generous benefactor. McCall Smith’s Botswana adventures have sold more than 13 million copies world wide and this is another warm, funny and engaging instalment. Expect gentle humour, eccentric, loveable characters and pearls of homespun wisdom from one of our favourite storytellers.
More sleuthing from the wonderful Isabel Dalhousie. As in all his novels McCall Smith brings together a great cast of characters and our leading lady is always charming and inquisitive as she tries to crack another mystery. Please note that this title is also available in a Large Print edition. Click here to find out more.
His fans will love another wittily observed gem of a book. With McCall Smith, the places change – you could be in Botswana or Scotland or, now, London - but the sheer humanity is the same. Here, a new group of interesting and disparate characters face the daily trials and tribulations of life that affect us all, wherever we may be. Corduroy Mansions Series:1. Corduroy Mansions2. The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 3. A Conspiracy of Friends
Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. The Daddy introduces us to Mma Ramotswe as she embarks on her first case and takes on a new secretary, the resourceful and talented Mma Makutsi. Together, they must find the truth about a Daddy who appears to have returned from the dead - as well as investigating a wayward teenage girl and attempting to find a vanished child. The Bone sees the determined duo following Mr Patel's daughter to find out whether she has a boyfriend. They must also solve the darker and more frightening case of the finger bone found in a car - does it belong to a missing boy snatched by a witch doctor? Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Alexander McCall Smith is shortlisted for the Specsavers ITV3 Crime Thriller Bestseller Dagger 2009. The tenth in Mma Ramotswe’s No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, her fans will know just what to expect but at the same time remain delightfully enthralled by a new set of Precious adventures. McCall Smith is consistent and reliable in his witty observations of day-to-day life. However, can Mma Ramotswe equally rely on her trusty white van? Perhaps if she walked more, then she would be healthier and her van would last longer. Or would it? Despite being a series of ‘Detective’ novels, if you are a reader who prefers kindness and comfort to killing and cruelty, then these are the books for you and you will discover why they have been a phenomenal success around the world.
Isabel Dalhousie is a new mother and a connoisseur of philosophy; she'd rather not be a sleuth. But when a chance conversation at a dinner party draws her into the case of a doctor whose career has been ruined, she cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice. Because for Isabel ethics are not theoretical at all, but an everyday matter of life and death. As she attempts to unravel the truth behind Dr Thompson's disgrace, Isabel's patient intelligence is also required to deal with challenges in her own life. There is her baby son Charlie; Cat's deli to look after, not to mention her vulnerable assistant Eddie; and a mysterious and unlikeable composer who has latched on to Jamie, making Isabel fear for the future of her new family. Isabel treads a difficult path between trust and gullibility, philanthropy and interference, while keeping in her sights the small but certain comforts of family, philosophy and a fine Saturday morning.
A stand alone novel, this is a gentle tale of a woman relocating to the Suffolk countryside just before the Second World War. La (shot for Lavender) decides to start up an orchestra with the locals and members from the nearby RAF base. The story revolves around La’s relationships with the locals, with the local farmer she works for and her love interest, grounded Polish pilot Feliks. This reads like a book written in another era, no doubt the tone McCall Smith was going for. Very enjoyable.
The fifth volume of the Scotland Street series is here with the wonderful cast of characters that reside there. These are a joy to read and plenty of different story lines to keep the action going and the reader satisfied. Lovely stuff.
Includes brilliant baboon facts! Akimbo loves his life in Africa and the animals that live there. In this newest Akimbo story, a lady comes to study the baboons in the game reserve where Akimbo's father is the head ranger. Akimbo is keen to help and find out all he can about baboons - and in so doing comes closer to a much more dangerous animal
Another wonderful chapter (the 9th in the series) in the colourful lives of these down-to-earth people and their moralistic way of life. There are crimes to solve, a lady’s relatives to find but the real charm of this series is the continuing relationship of the main characters. In this one we learn a lot more about the fostered children, Motholeli and Puso. It’s another lovely mix of gentle philosophy and life-affirming commentary. A joy to read.
Poor put-upon Bertie is still struggling to escape his overbearing mother's influence, his yoga lessons and his pink bedroom while wondering why new baby brother Ulysses looks uncomfortably like his psychotherapist. The insufferably handsome Bruce has returned from London to land, on his feet and rent-free, in the arms of heiress Julia Donald. But all is not well among the residents of 44 Scotland Street: Angus's dog and constant companion Cyril is under threat of execution, victim of a miscarriage of justice, while pretty, indecisive Pat and hopeless romantic Matthew are on the verge of making the most terrible mistake of their lives . . . Big Lou finds a new man, Matthew and Pat edge their relationship towards something more permanent - although this development is not without complications, when a glimpse of someone who just might be her handsome, caddish ex-flatmate Bruce sets Pat's pulse racing - and Domenica's friendship with Antonia is tested to the limit when an assortment of her belongings mysteriously appear in Antonia's new flat.
Contemporary / British English The second exciting story from The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe is now known as Botswana's first and only lady detective and has many cases. She's looking for a young American who disappeared ten years ago. Will she finally marry Mr JLB Matekoni?
Contemporary / British English Precious Ramotswe is a kind, warm-hearted and large African lady. She is also the only female private detective in Botswana. Her agency ? the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency ? is the best in the country. With help of her secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her best friend, Mr JLB Matekoni, she solves a number of difficult problems. A missing husband, a missing finger and a missing child ? she will solve these mysteries in her own special way.
As winter turns to spring across the red earth, acacia trees and slow green rivers of Botswana, all is not quite as it should be on Zebra Drive, home to Mma Ramotswe and her beloved husband Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. At the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency there are the usual number of cases to be pursued, from persistent theft at Teenie Magama's printing works to the rather more serious case of three suspicious deaths at the Mochudi hospital, but there is discontent among the ranks. It is bad enough that Mr Matekoni's apprentice Charlie is off on another escapade and Mma Makutsi's impending marriage threatens her happy working relationship with Mma Ramotswe. And when - in trying to prove himself a worthy husband - Mr J. L. B. Matekoni himself decides to try a little detective work, disaster looms . . . Tender, witty and wise, the latest instalment in the lives of Alexander McCall's Smith's extended Botswana family instructs us with familiar modesty in the importance of trust, love, not judging by appearances and what really makes a good husband.
Precious Ramotswe, a cheerful woman of traditional build, is the founder of Botswana's first and only ladies' detective agency. Here is a gentle interpretation of the detective role: solving her cases through her innate wisdom and understanding of human nature, she 'helps people with problems in their lives'. With a tone that is as elegant as that which is unfailingly used by his protagonist, Alexander McCall Smith tenderly unfolds a picture of life in Gaborone with a mastery of comic understatement and an evident sympathy for his subjects and their milieu. In the background of all this is Botswana, a country of vast landscapes and echoing skies, one so beautiful and entrancing that it breaks the heart. Mma Ramotswe has prepared the red bush tea and is waiting for you to join her. She has much to tell you.
Akimbo loves his life in Africa. He loves living in the great game reserve where his father is ranger. He is able to see all sorts of wonderful animals. But he doesn't see many snakes - they usually slither away when he gets close. But then his Uncle Peter asks if Akimbo would like to visit his snake park and Akimbo jumps at the chance!
Mysteries of love, romance and truth-telling lie at the heart of Isabel Dalhousie's concerns in Alexander McCall Smith's new Sunday Philosopher's Club novel. Isabel's niece Cat is still worshipped by the young musician, Jamie, but Cat has a new and unsuitable love-interest. Meanwhile Isabel's Texan cousins have arrived in Edinburgh and are provoking a quite separate set of dilemmas. In between these events and complications, Edinburgh life continues, calmly sailed through by Isabel, her housekeeper, Grace, and, of course, that cautious resident of Isabel's garden, brother Fox. His alone is the uncomplicated existence...This recording is unabridged. Typically abridged audiobooks are not more than 60 per cent of the author's work and as low as 30 per cent with characters and plotlines removed.
The key to contentment in the Scottish climate is the right attitude to rain - just as in life the key to happiness lies in making the best of what you have. Bruised in love by her faithless Irish husband, Isabel Dalhousie is a connoisseur of intimate moral issues: she edits a philosophical journal and spends a great deal of her time considering how to improve the lives of those around her. There is her housekeeper Grace, whose future she must secure; her niece Cat, who is embarking on a new relationship with a dubious workaholic mummy's boy; and even an American couple newly arrived in Edinburgh on a tour. And then there is Jamie, Cat's ex-boyfriend, a handsome, gifted musician fourteen years Isabel's junior, with whom she is slowly and hopelessly falling in love. Intensely thoughtful and consistently entertaining, THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO RAIN is shot through with compassion and unassuming intelligence.
If he's in the right mood, divine Angus might grant you sight of your true love in a dream; you might even fall in love with him, but he'll never love you back. He's too busy making mischief, stealing the palace of the gods from his father, turning his enemies into pigs etc ; until he is trapped by his own romantic games and falls for an unattainable woman, doomed to seek her forever. In twentieth-century Scotland, Angus's troubled alter ego searches for his true family and identity; a psychotherapist who helps people understand their dreams, his life seems to parallel that of his mythic namesake, until we ask, could they be one and the same? Mesmerically weaving together the tales of the Celtic god and the Scottish scientist, Alexander McCall Smith unites dream and reality, leaving us to wonder: what is life, but the pursuit of our dreams?
With his characteristic warmth, inventiveness and brilliant wit, Alexander McCall Smith gives us more of the gloriously entertaining comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street, the Edinburgh townhouse. Six-year-old prodigy Bertie perseveres in his heroic struggle for truth and balanced good sense against his insufferable mother and her crony, the psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn, going as far as to make a short-lived bid for freedom on a trip to Paris with the Edinburgh youth orchestra. Domenica sets off on an anthropological odyssey with pirates in the Malacca Straits, while Pat attracts several handsome admirers, including a toothsome suitor named Wolf. And Big Lou, eternal source of coffee and good advice to her friends, has love, heartbreak and erstwhile boyfriend Eddie's misdemeanours on her own mind.
With his characteristic warmth, inventiveness and brilliant wit, Alexander McCall Smith gives us more of the gloriously entertaining comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street, the Edinburgh townhouse. Six-year-old prodigy Bertie perseveres in his heroic struggle for truth and balanced good sense against his insufferable mother and her crony, the psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn. Domenica sets off on an anthropological odyssey with pirates in the Malacca Straits, while Pat attracts several handsome admirers, including a toothsome suitor named Wolf. And Big Lou, eternal source of coffee and good advice to her friends, has love, heartbreak and erstwhile boyfriend Eddie's misdemeanours on her own mind.
A man with a tree growing out of his head? A woman with children made of wax? A bird that can be milked? With more stories from his original celebration of African folktales, The Girl Who Married A Lion, let Alexander McCall Smith once again take you to a land where the bizarre is everyday and magic is real.
In Espresso Tales, Alexander McCall Smith returns home to Edinburgh and the glorious cast of his own tales of the city, the residents of 44 Scotland Street, with a new set of challenges for each one of them. Bruce, the intolerably vain and perpetually deluded ex-surveyor, is about to embark on a new career as a wine merchant, while his long-suffering flatmate Pat MacGregor, set up by matchmaking Domenica Macdonald, finds herself invited to a nudist picnic in Moray Place in the pursuit of true love. Prodigious six-year-old Bertie Pollock wants a boy's life of fishing and rugby, not yoga and pink dungarees, and he plots rebellion against his bossy, crusading mother Irene and his psychotherapist Dr Fairbairn. But when Bertie's longed-for trip to Glasgow with his ineffectual father Stuart ends with Bertie taking money off legendary Glasgow hard man Lard O'Connor at cards, it looks as though Bertie should have been more careful what he wished for. And all the time it appears that both Irene Pollock and Dr Fairbairn are engaged in a struggle with dark secrets and unconscious urges of their own.
Fans of the The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency will revel in the tricky new challenges the traditionally built Mma Ramotswe faces with her unique combination of common sense and kindness. Those who are yet to discover McCall Smith's witty and delightful writing will find that Botswana provides an evocative background for all the great problems of the world: justice, respect, whistle-blowing, feminism, forgiveness, friendship - and, of course, how to deal with an angry ostrich. Oh, and does money buy you happiness? Yes, if you use it to buy Blue Shoes (but perhaps not if you are Mma Makutsi, assistant to, though less traditionally built than, Mma Ramotswe herself). Why can't all the world be like this?
Patty lives with her Aunt Bat on a banana plantation in Jamaica. Unfortunately, as it's such a small plantation, they're having trouble keeping up with the competition, and Aunt Bat is worried they'll have to sell up. Patty needs to think of an idea to turn things around, and fast! Inspiration comes to her as she's digging into a chocolate banana special at her local ice-cream parlour. All she needs to do is invent a machine - a banana machine. Will Patty's mechanical wizardry help the plantation out of its crisis? Or, like the bananas, are her ideas round the bend?
Gordon is frustrated that Ted, the school bully, gets away with pushing people around - including Gordon! So when he spots an advertisement for Mr World's muscle machine, he's immediately curious and decides to send off for one. 'Don't be impatient' says the instruction booklet that comes with the machine. 'Muscles don't grow in one day. Take it bit by bit and you'll be surprised at what happens!' And indeed he is.In fact, Gordon's surprise, as well as his muscles, just keeps on growing!
Jeffrey spends his Saturdays working in Mr Prendergast's junk shop. One day, while they are sorting things out, they uncover a mysterious machine. Jeffrey takes it home to see if he can make it work. It turns out to be a joke-producing machine, and an extremely funny one at that! Soon everyone in town wants one of its jokes. Everyone except Mr Jenkinson, that is, the miserable owner of the shop next door. Of course, what Mr Jenkinson really needs to do is get a sense of humour instead of trying to ruin everyone's fun. But who will get the last laugh?
In this second novel in the Sunday Philosophy Club, Isabel Dalhousie's niece, Cat (she of the unsuitable boyfriends) is invited to a wedding in Italy. This means that Isabel is left in charge of Cat's delicatessen - a task to which the redoutable moral philosopher proves more than equal. She is intrigued by the customers, of course, given her irrepressible tendency to take an interest in the business of others, and one man in particular attracts her attention. He is recovering from heart surgery - a heart transplant in fact - and when Isabel gets to know him a bit better he reveals an extraordinary aspect of being the recipient of another's heart. Isabel is drawn into an investigation of the facts behind the transplant, with disturbing results. Her enquiries take time, but not so much time as to prevent romantic entanglements, both for Isabel and her housekeeper, Grace. And as for chocolate - that proves to have some very interesting philosophical ramifications - at least in the mind of Isabel Dalhousie. Chocolate is a moral problem, it transpires - invoking questions of temptation and, of course, human weakness. We are all weak when it comes to chocolate, Isabel decides - should we just accept the fact and get on with it?
The story revolves around the comings and goings at No. 44 Scotland Street, a fictitious building in a real street in Edinburgh. Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor, stalwart of the Conservative Association, who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club. We have the pushy Stockbridge mother, and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son, who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian. Then there is Domenica Macdonald who is that type of Edinburgh lady who sees herself as a citizen of a broader intellectual world. In McCall Smith's hands such characters retain charm and novelty, simultaneously arousing both mirth and empathy. 44 Scotland Street is vintage McCall Smith, tackling issues of trust and honesty, snobbery and hypocrisy, love and loss, but all with great lightness of touch. Clever, elegant and funny, this is a novel that provides huge entertainment but which is underpinned by the moral dilemmas of everyday life and the characters' struggles to resolve them.
How can a girl possibly have married a lion? How can a man have a tree growing out of his head? And how can a woman have children made of wax? The stories in this collection make these questions seem simple, everyday ones - then deftly supplies simple, everyday answers. Surprising and humorous, these beautifully rendered tales demonstrate McCall Smith's renowned storytelling skills.
A girl marrying a lion? A beautiful woman who is really a leopard? A tree that can feed a family? Let bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith whisk you off to a place where magic is ordinary and bizarre things happen everyday, in this weird, wonderful and sometimes very funny celebration of African folk tales.
Despite threatening to wind-up this Botswana crime series as he develops an equally intriguing Scottish heroine, Isabel Dalhousie, Precious Ramotswe is still his most endearing character and I personally love the African lore and setting that surrounds her and her astute wisdom. This is the sixth in the series and the only one in 2005, but fans rejoice, I understand he has been persuaded to write another for next year. If you don’t know the series, then do start at the beginning with The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but as each tale is self-contained, you don’t have to. I would recommend him to everyone. He is different, utterly engaging, gentle and life affirming. Comparisons: none, but if you like Agatha Christie, Laurie Lee, Simon Brett.Similar this month: Gervase Phinn, Kate Long.
Alexander McCall Smith, best-selling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, has turned his hand to humour. The delightful result is a creation of comic genius. For in the unnaturally tall form of Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, we are invited to meet a memorable character whose sublime insouciance is a blend of the cultivated pomposity of Frasier Crane and of Inspecteur Clouseau's hapless gaucherie. Von Igelfeld inhabits the rarefied world of the Institute of Romance Philology at Regensburg, a world he shares with his equally tall and equally ridiculous colleagues, Professors Florianus Prinzel and Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer. Their unlikely adventures are described in three deliciously funny instalments: Portuguese Irregular Verbs, The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs and At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances.
Mma Ramotswe, who became engaged to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni at the end of the first book, is still engaged. She wonders when a day for the wedding will be named, but she is anxious to avoid putting too much pressure on her fiance. For indeed he has other things on his mind - notably a frightening request made of him by Mma Potokwani, pushy matron of the Orphan Farm. Mma Ramotswe herself has weighty matters on her mind. She has been approached by a wealthy lady - whose fortune comes from successful hair-braiding salons - and has been asked to check up on several suitors. Are these men just interested in her money? This may be difficult to find out, but Mma Ramotswe is, of course, a very intuitive lady . . .
Ex-CID. Ex-New York. Ex-cellent' reads the sign outside the Satisfaction Guarantee Detective Agency. Cephas Buthelezi certainly talks the talk, Precious discovers, but would he have the wherewithal to deal with her current case - a man who has been attacked by ostrich rustlers, and is eager to reassess his life? Meanwhile, there are difficulties at the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, where one of the apprentices has discovered the Lord, problems at home with the mysterious death of a hoopoe, and romantic complications when Mma Makutsi sets up a typing school for men . . .
THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY published in 1998, introduced the world to the one and only Precious Ramotswe, the engaging and sassy owner of Botswana's only detective agency. TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE took us further into this world, and now, continuing the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, finds her expanding her business to take in the world of car repair and a beauty pageant. Alexander McCall Smith's sense of humour and gentle charm have created a substantial cult following. MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS will win him yet more fans.
In these hilarious stories of perverse meetings, casual dates and romantic encounters, we are enthralled, saddened, inspired and surprised by the encounters we witness. McCall Smith, a master of the unexpected and a seamless storyteller, revels in offering us the quirky complications inherent in entanglements which human beings engineer for themselves - entanglements that can be shocking, edifying, compulsive, complicated and sometimes, completely disastrous. This is an exceptional collection of stories from an author whose rapidly growing audience delights in his extraordinary imagination and delicious insights into the endlessly fascinating peculiarities of the human condition.
THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY introduced the world to the one and only Precious Ramotswe - the engaging and sassy owner of Botswana's only detective agency. TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE, McCall Smith's second book, takes us further into this world as we follow Mama Ramotswe into more daring situations ... Among her cases this time are wayward wives, unscrupulous maids, and the challenge to resolve a mother's pain for her son who is long lost on the African plains. Indeed, Mma Ramotswe's own impending marriage to the most gentlemanly of men, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, the promotion of Mma's secretary to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective, and the arrival of new members to the Matekoni family, all brew up the most humorous and charmingly entertaining of tales. * TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE was selected as one of the GUARDIAN's top ten 'Fiction Paperbacks of the Year, 2000
A 2013 World Book Night selection. This charming, light-hearted, wise tale hit the literary world in 2001 and became a word-of-mouth bestseller. If you are new to the series you really should start here to get the full background. After that you can appreciate the others in any order you like but they do follow through as Precious Ramotswe’s love/office/family and friendships develop. They are uplifting, warm and strangely compelling, a must-read for all. Comparison: Colin Cotterill (The Coroner’s Lunch), Celestine Hitiura Vaite (Frangipani), Saumya Balsare (Cambridge Curry Club).
`That,' said Mr Borthwick, `was the best hamburger I've ever tasted!' Joe has just created the yummiest, juciest, most delicious hamburger ever - and his friend Mr Borthwick wants to sell it in his new hamburger shop. But there's a problem - Joe has completely forgotten the recipe and the shop is opening very soon. A pinch of this, a touch of that and a spoonful of something else...the race is on for Joe to remember!
Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. How to Handle Men Through the Application of Psychology sees Mma Ramotswe setting out to release her fianc Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, from a terrifying obligation. Meanwhile, a new case comes into the agency, and the ladies find themselves on a love quest... The House of Hope finds Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi visiting some 'bad girls' as part of their mission to find a husband for their client. But Mma Ramotswe has some marriage problems of her own: when her fianc seems no closer to setting a date for their wedding, she seeks the advice of a crafty friend. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. The Return of Note finds Mma Ramotswe in a compromising situation when her past catches up with her. But things are looking brighter for her assistant, Mma Makutsi, when she takes up ballroom dancing... The Ceremony sees Mma Ramotswe's agency work under control at last, so she has time to take care of her own problems. Can she release her fianc Mr J. L. B. Matekoni from his rash undertaking to do a charity parachute jump? And will the return of an old love jeopardise her plan to spring a romantic surprise on her husband-to-be? Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Two stand-alone BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas adapted by Alexander McCall Smith from his much-loved series Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over 15 million copies, and been translated into 42 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. There is No Such Thing as Free Food finds Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, preoccupied both professionally and personally by the subject of food. The Best Profession for a Blackmailer sees Mr Polopetsi, part-time mechanic and would-be assistant detective, taking on a case of his own; while Mma Makutsi finds out if blue shoes are the key to happiness. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Two stand-alone BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas adapted by Alexander McCall Smith from his much-loved series Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over 15 million copies, and been translated into 42 languages. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. A Very Rude Woman finds Precious Ramotswe facing change at The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, while Mr J.L.B. Matekoni meets the rudest person in all Botswana. Talking Shoes sees a new detective taking on a case for the Agency, while Mma Ramotswe, among others, has a problem with high blood pressure. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. The Maid sees Mma Ramotswe visiting the house of the mechanic she has agreed to marry, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. But there is a shock in store for her... Back at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, there is the mystery of the erratic doctor to look into, and a 'cold case' involving an American who went missing from a communal farm. Tears of the Giraffe finds Mma Ramotswe happy with her flourishing detective agency and gentlemanly fianc She thinks she has everything she could possibly want - but in fact she has rather more than she had bargained for! Meanwhile, the case of the American man who disappeared ten years ago has still to be solved, and Grace Makutsi is promoted from secretary to Assistant Detective. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Joseph Marcell as Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Two stand-alone BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas adapted by Alexander McCall Smith from his much-loved series Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. The Chief Justice of Beauty finds the ladies hired by a beauty contest judge to check up on the integrity of the finalists in a forthcoming competition, following the embarrassing arrest for shoplifting of a previous winner. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotsweis worried about her fianc Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. The Confession sees Mma Ramotswe consulting her best friend Mma Potokwane,the matron at the orphanage, to ask for help in dealing with Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. She also has a new client - Mr Molefelo, a man with a shameful past who wants Mma Ramotswe to find the two women he has wronged and ask them to forgive him. Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
Two stand-alone BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas adapted by Alexander McCall Smith from his much-loved series. Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. The Kalahari Typing School for Men opens with bad news for Mma Ramotswe - her agency has competition in the form of the Satisfaction Guaranteed Detective Agency, run by a man. Mma Makutsi has entrepreneurial ambitions too, and has conceived the idea of teaching an evening class where men could learn to type. The Admirer sees Mma Ramotswe commissioned by a physiotherapist to find out what her errant husband is up to. There are also problems at home: one of her foster children, Motheleli, is unhappy, and Mr J. L. B. Matekoni is still reluctant to talk about marriage. Mma Makutsi, however, has found a boyfriend... Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Joseph Marcell as Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.
