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Alexander McCall Smith

Author of The No. 1 Ladiesʼ Detective Agency

279+ Works 113,072 Members 3,391 Reviews 260 Favorited

About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith was born on August 24, 1948 in Zimbabwe. He was a professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh, but he left in 2005 to focus on his writing. He has written over 60 books, including specialist academic titles including Forensic Aspects of Sleep and The Criminal Law show more of Botswana, short story collections including Portuguese Irregular Verbs, and children's books including The Perfect Hamburger. He is best known for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He also writes the Corduroy Mansions, Isabel Dalhousie and 44 Scotland Street series. He has received numerous awards, including The Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award and the 2004 United Kingdom's Author of the Year Award. His book, The Full Cupboard of Life, received the Saga Award for Wit in the United Kingdom. In 2007, he received a CBE for his services in literature. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: A Mccall Smith, McCall Smith A., A MC CALL SMITH, A. MacCall Smith, Alxendr McCel Smlth, Alxandr McCall Smth, mccallsmithalexande, Alexan Mccall-Smith, lexanderMcCallSmith, Alexander Mcc Smith, Alexander McCa Smith, Aleksandar Mekol Smit, Alexander Mcall Smith, Alexander McCall Smth, Alexander McAll Smith, Alexander McCal Smith, Alexande McCall Smith, Alexnader MCCall Smith, Alaxander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander Macall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith, Smith Mccall Alexander, Alexander McCall Smith, Alexandre McCall Smith, Alexander McColl Smith, Allexander McCall Smith, Aklexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Samith, Alexander MacCall Smith, Alexander Smith; McCall, Alexandeer McCall Smith, Alexander MacCall Smith, by Alexander McCall Smith, Älexander McCall Smith, Smith McCall Smith, Alexander, אלכסנדר מק´קול סמית, אלכסנדר מק'קול סמית, Александр Маккол Смит, Александр Маккол-Смит, Александр Макколл-Смит, Алегзандър Маккол Смит, By (author) Professor Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall McCall Alexander;Smith Smith, アレグザンダー・マコール スミス, Alexander McCall Smith NARRATED BY Davina Porter, アレグザンダー・マコール・スミス, Alexander McCall Smith; (Narrator) Robert Ian Mack, Alexander McCall Smith; Alexander McCall Smith; Mi

Image credit: Alexander McCall Smith, Hobart 25 August 2008

Series

Works by Alexander McCall Smith

The No. 1 Ladiesʼ Detective Agency (1998) 14,157 copies
Tears of the Giraffe (2000) 7,041 copies
Morality for Beautiful Girls (2001) 6,078 copies
The Kalahari Typing School for Men (2002) 5,685 copies
The Full Cupboard of Life (2003) 4,831 copies
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (2004) 4,488 copies
Blue Shoes and Happiness (2006) 4,061 copies
The Sunday Philosophy Club (2004) 4,021 copies
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (2007) 3,540 copies
44 Scotland Street (2005) 3,415 copies
The Miracle at Speedy Motors (2008) 3,009 copies
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (2009) 2,543 copies
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate (2005) 2,534 copies
The Double Comfort Safari Club (2010) 2,003 copies
Espresso Tales (2005) 1,944 copies
The Right Attitude to Rain (2006) 1,895 copies
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (2011) 1,578 copies
Love Over Scotland (2006) 1,512 copies
The Careful Use of Compliments (2007) 1,502 copies
Portuguese Irregular Verbs (2003) 1,454 copies
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection (2012) 1,357 copies
The World According to Bertie (2007) 1,291 copies
The Comfort of Saturdays (2008) 1,156 copies
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones (2008) 1,133 copies
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon (2013) 1,081 copies
Corduroy Mansions (2009) 1,067 copies
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs (2003) 1,030 copies
La's Orchestra Saves the World (2008) 1,020 copies
The Lost Art of Gratitude (2009) 913 copies
The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café (2014) 896 copies
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances (2003) 895 copies
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (2015) 851 copies
Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (2006) 846 copies
Emma (2014) 831 copies
The Charming Quirks of Others (2010) 805 copies
The Dog Who Came in from the Cold (2010) 749 copies
Precious and Grace (2016) 712 copies
The Importance of Being Seven (2010) 637 copies
The House of Unexpected Sisters (2018) 620 copies
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth (2011) 582 copies
Heavenly Date & Other Flirtations (1995) 568 copies
The Department of Sensitive Crimes (2019) 566 copies
The Girl Who Married a Lion (2004) 557 copies
Trains and Lovers (2012) 542 copies
The 2½ Pillars of Wisdom (2003) 537 copies
Bertie Plays the Blues (2011) 527 copies
The Colours of All the Cattle (2018) 525 copies
The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds (2012) 520 copies
My Italian Bulldozer (2016) 510 copies
Precious and the Monkeys (2010) 488 copies
A Conspiracy of Friends (2011) 439 copies
Sunshine on Scotland Street (2012) 422 copies
To the Land of Long Lost Friends (2019) 419 copies
The Novel Habits of Happiness (2015) 401 copies
How to Raise an Elephant (2020) 367 copies
Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers (2013) 354 copies
The Forever Girl (2014) 339 copies
The Revolving Door of Life (2015) 337 copies
Unusual Uses for Olive Oil (2011) 317 copies
A Distant View of Everything (2017) 311 copies
Akimbo and the Lions (1992) 295 copies
The Joy and Light Bus Company (2021) 283 copies
The Bertie Project (2017) 273 copies
A Time of Love and Tartan (2017) 259 copies
The Second-Worst Restaurant in France (2019) 246 copies
The Quiet Side of Passion (2018) 245 copies
Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill (2013) 241 copies
Akimbo and the Elephants (1990) 238 copies
A Song of Comfortable Chairs (2022) 227 copies
The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse (2017) 223 copies
The Peppermint Tea Chronicles (2019) 221 copies
Chance Developments: Stories (2015) 210 copies
The Geometry of Holding Hands (2020) 192 copies
The Talented Mr. Varg (2020) 179 copies
The Perils of Morning Coffee (2011) 175 copies
A Promise of Ankles (2020) 161 copies
Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion (2013) 157 copies
Akimbo and the Snakes (2006) 148 copies
Akimbo and the Crocodile Man (1993) 145 copies
What W. H. Auden Can Do for You (2013) 138 copies
From a Far and Lovely Country (2023) 130 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Tears of the Giraffe / Morality for Beautiful Girls / The Kalahari Typing School… (2003) 129 copies
Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party (2014) 128 copies
The Sweet Remnants of Summer (2022) 128 copies
The Man with the Silver Saab (2021) 125 copies
Love in the Time of Bertie (2021) 119 copies
The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean (1990) 119 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Tears of the Giraffe / Morality for Beautiful Girls / The Kalahari Typing School… (2005) 117 copies
Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind (2019) 110 copies
The Baboons Who Went This Way and That: Folktales From Africa (2006) 108 copies
The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories (1982) 108 copies
The Cleverness of Ladies (2012) 100 copies
One City (2005) — Contributor — 98 copies
Tiny Tales: Stories of Romance, Ambition, Kindness, and Happiness (2020) 96 copies
The Enigma of Garlic (2022) 96 copies
Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery (1997) 94 copies
Akimbo and the Baboons (2008) 92 copies
Your Inner Hedgehog (Professor Dr von Igelfeld Series) (2021) 89 copies
At the Reunion Buffet (2015) 80 copies
Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats (1991) 78 copies
The Bursting Balloons Mystery (1997) 74 copies
School Ship Tobermory (2015) 69 copies
The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists (2019) 69 copies
The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean (1993) 63 copies
Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine (2016) 62 copies
The Private Life of Spies and The Exquisite Art of Getting Even: Stories of Espionage and Revenge (2023) 54 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Books 1-7 (2006) 51 copies
The Pavilion in the Clouds (2021) 49 copies
The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf (2023) 46 copies
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (Enhanced Edition) (2011) 46 copies
Precious and the Zebra Necklace (2015) 44 copies
The Bubblegum Tree (1892) 43 copies
Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer (2016) 42 copies
The Spaghetti Tangle (1991) 41 copies
The Sands of Shark Island (School Ship Tobermory) (2016) 38 copies
In a Time of Distance: and Other Poems (2020) 37 copies
The Popcorn Pirates (1999) 36 copies
Teacher Trouble (1728) 35 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Maid and Tears of the Giraffe 35 copies
Children of Wax: African Folk Tales (1989) 34 copies
Tears of the Giraffe (Abridged Audio) (2003) 31 copies
Morality for Beautiful Girls / Tears of The Giraffe / In the Company of Cheerful Ladies 29 copies
Who Built Scotland: A History of the Nation in Twenty-Five Buildings (2017) — Author — 26 copies
A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith's Edinburgh (1600) 25 copies
The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Abridged Audio adaptation featuring Adjua Andoh) (2003) 24 copies
Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2008 (2007) 23 copies
Altering the Blueprint: The Ethics of Genetics [A University-Level Course] (2004) 22 copies
The Race to Kangaroo Cliff (School Ship Tobermory) (2018) 21 copies
The Kalahari Typing School for Men: Level 4 Penguin Reader (1899) 21 copies
Calculator Annie (1992) 20 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Tears of the Giraffe / Morality for Beautiful Girls (2002) 20 copies
The Doughnut Ring (2000) 20 copies
Tears of the Giraffe: Level 4 Penguin Reader (2012) 19 copies
The Akimbo Adventures (2015) 18 copies
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee (2023) 17 copies
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Books 1-8 (2007) 17 copies
The Perfect Passion Company (2024) 17 copies
Cook For Me (2023) 16 copies
The Joke Machine (2006) 16 copies
The Banana Machine (1996) 15 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Books 1-11 (2002) 15 copies
The Full Cupboard of Life / In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (2008) 14 copies
The Muscle Machine (1995) 13 copies
Explosive Adventures (2015) 13 copies
The Slice of No. 1 Celebration Storybook: Fifteen Years with Mma Ramotswe (2013) 13 copies
Confessions of a Serial Novelist (2007) 13 copies
The ice-cream bicycle (1992) 12 copies
The Exquisite Art of Getting Even: Tales of Revenge (2022) 11 copies
Varg in Love (2012) 11 copies
[unidentified works] 11 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Level 3 Penguin Reader (2008) 11 copies
The Private Life of Spies (2023) 10 copies
A gathering : a personal anthology of Scottish poems (2018) 10 copies
Boing Boing (2016) 10 copies
Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery (2018) 10 copies
Precious Ramotswe: A Mysterious Profile (2022) 9 copies
Blue Shoes and Happiness [and] The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (2008) 9 copies
Paddy and the Ratcatcher (1994) 9 copies
Better than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers (Lonely Planet Travel Literature) (2017) 9 copies
Billy Rubbish (1996) 8 copies
Creating Humans: Ethical Questions Where Reproduction and Science Collide (2004) 8 copies
No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series (1. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. 2. Tears of the Giraffe, 3.… (2020) 8 copies
Who Invented Peanut Butter? (1993) 7 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 6 [sound recording] (2008) 7 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Tears of the Giraffe (2013) 7 copies
The Myths (A Short History of Myth / The Penelopiad / Weight / Dream Angus / Helmet of Horror / Lion's Honey) (2006) — Contributor — 6 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 2 [sound recording] (2007) 6 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 1 [sound recording] (2007) 6 copies
The Case of the Vanishing Granny (The Big Top Mysteries #1) (2019) 5 copies
BP Portrait Award 2008 (2008) 5 copies
The Secret of the Dark Waterfall: A School Ship Tobermory Adventure (Book 4) (2019) 5 copies
44 Scotland Street / Espresso Tales / Love Over Scotland (2010) 5 copies
Good Dog Lion (2014) 5 copies
Suzy Magician (1990) 4 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Books 1-9 (2001) 4 copies
A Laborer in the Vineyard of Love (2023) 4 copies
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook Vol. 4: Eight BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations (2019) 4 copies
Alexander McCall Smith’s Marvellous Mix-ups (2016) 4 copies
No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Collection (20 Books) (2020) 4 copies
Botswana: In the Footsteps of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency with Alexander McCall Smith (2009) 4 copies
The girl who married a lion (abridged) (2012) 4 copies
The Perils of Morning Coffee & At the Reunion Buffet (2015) 4 copies
The Akimbo Adventures: 1 4 copies
Milk bird : an African folktale (2001) 4 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Box Set (books 2-4) (2018) 3 copies
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 1 3 copies
The Great Clown Conundrum (The Big-Top Mysteries) (2019) 3 copies
44 Scotland Street: Series 1-3: Full-cast radio adaptations of the much-loved novels (2017) 3 copies
The Sunday Philosophy Club / Friends, Lovers, Chocolate / The Right Attitude to Rain / The Careful Use of Compliments /… (2009) 3 copies
Emma [excerpts] (2014) 3 copies
Hari and his Electric Feet (Conkers) (2018) 3 copies
Marzipan Max (1991) 3 copies
Noah Wild and the floating zoo (2021) 2 copies
The Sunday Philosophy Club/Friends, Lovers, Chocolate/The Right Attitude to Rain (2015) 2 copies
No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations (2017) 2 copies
Jura: Taste Island Life, Volume 1 (2007) 2 copies
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook Vol.3: Seven BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations (2018) 2 copies
Reading 360: Pocket Books Level 10 (New reading 360: pocket books) (1990) 2 copies
The Harriet Bean 3-Book Omnibus: The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean; Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats; The… (2013) 2 copies
Scots criminal law (1997) 2 copies
Isabel Dalhousie series 2 copies
Jeffrey's joke machine (1990) 2 copies
Trams, and Other Big Questions 2 copies
Travel Tales (2013) 2 copies
The tin dog (1990) 2 copies
The Watermelon Boys (1996) 2 copies
44 Scotland Street 5 Book Collection (44 Scotland Street / Espresso Tales / Love Over Scotland / The World According to… (2005) 2 copies
Doctors, Detectives, Common Sense (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #6.7) 2 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 8 [sound recording] (2008) 2 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 7 [sound recording] (2008) 2 copies
The Misunderstanding of Glencoe (2010) 2 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 3 [sound recording] (2007) 2 copies
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 5 [sound recording] (2008) 2 copies
My Italian Holiday 2 copies
The Great Hippopotamus Hotel: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (25) 1 copy
Sunday Philosophy Club Signed Copy (2004) 1 copy
Sphinx: from Pianos and Flowers (A Vintage Short) (2022) 1 copy
Čaj za tradicionalno gradjene 1 copy
U drustvu vedrih dama (2007) 1 copy
Kadonneiden ystävien maille 1 copy
Marvellous Mix-ups 1 copy
Bertie and the Theology of Christmas 1 copy
Careful use of compliments, The 1 copy
Zurafanin Gozyaslari 1 copy
Ilon ja valon bussiyhtiö (2023) 1 copy
Little Theatre (1982) 1 copy
The No. 1 Lady Detective's New Year Resolutions (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #17.6) 1 copy
Precious et Grace (17) (2017) 1 copy
Introduction to "Mr Smpath - The Printer of Malgudi, etc" 1 copy
44 Scotland Street Series 5 Books Collection Set By Alexander Mccall Smith (The Bertie Project, The Revolving Door Of… (2019) 1 copy
The Conditions of Unconditional Love: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (15) (Isabel Dalhousie Series) 1 copy
[The Kalahari Typing School for Men (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 4)] [By: McCall Smith, Alexander]… 1 copy
2 Books! Books #4 & #5 ~1) The Kalahari Typing School for Men 2) The Full Cupboard of Life 1 copy
3 Books! 1) The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency 2) Tears of the Giraffe 3) Morality for Beautiful Girls, (2001) 1 copy
Plädoyer für garstige Kinderbücher : Alexander McCall Smith und der "Struwwelpeter" 1 copy
Alexander McCall Smith The No1 Ladies Detective Agency Collection - 6 Books (2015) 1 copy
2 Books! 1) Morality for Beautiful Girls 2) The Kalahari Typing School for Men (2001) 1 copy
Babianerna som gick skilda vg̃ar (2007) 1 copy
Three Tall Novels 1 copy
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books 5-8 1 copy
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (2009) 1 copy
Good Morning Killer 1 copy
Animal Intelligence 1 copy
A Goose For Christmas 1 copy
The Return of Note 1 copy
Wonderful Date from the Collection Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations 1 copy
The Ceremony 1 copy
Lot of 3 Alexander McCall Smith Ladies Detective Agency 1 copy
5 Books! #6-10 ~In the Company of Cheerful Ladies,~Blue Shoes and Happiness,~The Good Husband of Zebra Drive,~The… (2009) 1 copy
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Box Set (Books 2-4): Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The… 1 copy
The Girl Who Changed the Weather (1992) 1 copy
A orquestra de La salva o mundo (Seleções - La's Orchestra saves the World) 1 copy
The Ice Cream Bicycle & Rosa's Sin (1994) 1 copy
The Problem of Men (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #6.6) 1 copy
Bertie's Christmas Journey (44 Scotland Street, #7.5) 1 copy
Bertie's Christmas (44 Scotland Street #6.5) 1 copy
The Full Cipboard of Life 1 copy
Het Beste Boek 269: Graan / Het Meisje Dat Geluk Had / Met Alle Geweld / Het Orkest Sat de Wereld Redt — Author — 1 copy
East Coast Stories 1 copy
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 4 [sound recording] (2007) 1 copy
rafe suze (2005) 1 copy
Still Life 1 copy
The Best of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency 1 copy
Monkey Boy (2000) 1 copy
3 Books: Professor Dr. von Igelfeld Entertainment Series Set - Portuguese Irregular Verbs, The Finer Points of Sausage… (1960) 1 copy
Margaritanin Yüregi (2015) 1 copy
44 Scotland Street 8 Book Collection (2019) 1 copy
All About Drink and Drug Abuse (1990) 1 copy
He Loved to Go for Drives with his Father 1 copy
The Kalahari Typing School For Men (Abridged edition) (2004) 1 copy
44 Scotland Street Collection (2007) 1 copy
Akimbo and the Lions; Akimbo and the Elephants (ARC) (2005) 1 copy
Trees that Made the Sound of the Sea, The 1 copy
Tears of the Giraffe / Morality for Beautiful Girls 1 copy
Alix and the Tigers (1988) 1 copy
Film Boy (Read alouds) (1988) 1 copy
Alexander Mccall Smith 5 Title Box Set (2008) 1 copy
A Woman from Botswana 1 copy
Dobar muž iz Zebrine ulice 1 copy
Work Explorer

Associated Works

Pride and Prejudice (1813) — Foreword, some editions — 80,957 copies
Excellent Women (1952) — Introduction, some editions — 2,752 copies
The Tiger in the Smoke (1952) — Introduction, some editions — 1,418 copies
High Rising (1933) — Introduction, some editions — 680 copies
Wild Strawberries (1934) — Introduction, some editions — 531 copies
Symposium (1990) — Introduction, some editions — 501 copies
No Rest for the Dead: A Serial Novel (2011) — Contributor — 408 copies
Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm (1940) — Introduction, some editions — 305 copies
Swami and Friends / The Bachelor of Arts / The Dark Room / The English Teacher (1935) — Introduction — 220 copies
The Lineup: The World's Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives (2009) — Contributor — 211 copies
The Female Detective (1864) — Foreword, some editions — 183 copies
Mrs Tim Carries On (1941) — Introduction, some editions — 151 copies
Mr. Sampath: The Printer of Malgudi / The Financial Expert / Waiting for the Mahatma (1948) — Introduction — 143 copies
Spring Magic (1941) — Introduction, some editions — 130 copies
Mrs. Tim Flies Home (1952) — Introduction, some editions — 129 copies
Mrs. Tim Gets a Job (1947) — Introduction, some editions — 128 copies
Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes (1879) — Introduction, some editions — 121 copies
Smouldering Fire (1935) — some editions — 105 copies
A New Omnibus of Crime (1771) — Contributor — 97 copies
The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society: Breast Cancer Care Short Story Collection (2009) — Contributor — 93 copies
Midsummer Nights (1702) — Contributor — 74 copies
OxCrimes (2014) — Contributor — 73 copies
An Innocent Abroad: Life-Changing Trips from 35 Great Writers (2014) — Contributor — 71 copies
The No. 1 Ladies's Detective Agency: The Complete First Season (2009) — Original novel — 71 copies
What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur (2011) — Contributor — 70 copies
Ox-Tales: Air (2009) — Contributor — 70 copies
Under a Monsoon Cloud (1986) — Preface, some editions — 70 copies
The Great Tapestry of Scotland: The Making of a Masterpiece (1707) — Foreword — 63 copies
100 Journeys for the Spirit: Sacred, Inspiring, Mysterious, Enlightening (2010) — Contributor — 56 copies
Dead Man's Hand: Crime Fiction at the Poker Table (2007) — Contributor — 52 copies
Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People (2011) — Contributor — 46 copies
New Beginnings: New Writing from Bestselling Authors Sold in Aid of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Earthquake Charities (2005) — Contributor — 45 copies
The Sunday Night Book Club (2006) — Contributor — 43 copies
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 7 (2010) — Contributor — 38 copies
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 8 (2011) — Contributor — 28 copies
The Best British Mysteries 4 (2006) — Contributor — 25 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2010 v01 #307 (2010) — Author — 14 copies
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 11 (2014) — Contributor — 13 copies
Love Can Be: A Literary Collection about Our Animals (2018) — Contributor — 7 copies
Scottish Printed Books, 1508–2008 (2008) — Foreword — 7 copies
RDSELP v170 Lost & Found | La's Orchestra Saves the World (2010) — Author — 7 copies
Tales from African Dreamtime (2009) — Introduction — 5 copies
Livros Condensados: O Miradouro | O Jardineiro Francês | A Última Aula | A Orquestra de La Salva o Mundo (2010) — Author — 5 copies
Australian Reader's Digest Select Editions: Assegai • La's Orchestra Saves the World • Envy the Night • The… (2009) — Author — 4 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions: Assegai • La's Orchestra Saves the World • Envy the Night • For the Love of… (2009) — Author — 3 copies
Livros Condensados: Algum Risco | A Alquimia do Amor | Premeditado | Agência nº 1 de Mulheres-Detectives (2006) 2 copies
Australian Reader's Digest Select Editions: The Murder Artist / Start From Here / At Risk / The No.1 Ladies' Detective… (2005) 2 copies
Det Bästas Bokval (2005) vol 240 : Nattväktarna; Nätterna vid havet; Kodex; Damernas detektivbyrå — Author — 1 copy
Livros Condensados: Nada a perder | A Orquestra de La salva o mundo | A pirâmide | A garota que caçava a lua — Author — 1 copy
The Art of Life: An Anthology of Literature about Life and Work (1997) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

19th century (1,426) Africa (4,853) Alexander McCall Smith (651) audiobook (716) Austen (766) Botswana (4,375) British (1,207) British literature (1,096) classic (3,259) classics (3,247) crime (1,262) crime fiction (558) detective (2,032) ebook (1,039) Edinburgh (1,191) England (1,565) English (558) English literature (955) favorites (485) fiction (20,987) historical fiction (495) humor (2,371) Isabel Dalhousie (496) Jane Austen (1,074) Kindle (683) literature (1,872) love (548) mystery (9,007) No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (1,092) novel (2,520) own (864) Precious Ramotswe (508) read (2,179) Regency (519) romance (2,775) Scotland (1,999) series (1,624) to-read (4,734) unread (550) women (687)

Common Knowledge

Legal name
McCall Smith, R. Alexander
Birthdate
1948-08-24
Gender
male
Nationality
UK
Birthplace
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia)
Places of residence
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Botswana
Swaziland
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Education
University of Edinburgh (LL.B|PhD)
Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo
Occupations
author
novelist
writer
professor (Medical Law)
Organizations
The Really Terrible Orchestra
Royal Society of Edinburgh (Fellow ∙ 2001)
Awards and honors
Order of the British Empire (Commander, 2006)
British Book Award (Author of the Year, 2004)
Edinburgh University's School of Law, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, 2007
Agent
Caroline Walsh (David Higham Associates)
Short biography
ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH has a double existence. He is a Professor of Medical Law, but also an author who has now written over fifty books on a wide range of subjects. These range from specialist titles such as 'Forensic Aspects of Sleep', (the only book on the subject) to 'The Criminal Law of Botswana' (also the only book on the subject) and from the widely translated 'The Perfect Hamburger' (a children's novel) to 'Portuguese Irregular Verbs' (a collection of stories about eccentric German professors). His collection of African stories, 'Children of Wax', received critical acclaim and has been the subject of an award-winning film.

Members

Discussions

March Read - NO SPOILERS - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in The Green Dragon (March 2013)
March Read - Spoilers - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in The Green Dragon (March 2013)
#1 Ladies Detective Agency in All Books Africa (May 2009)

Reviews

The Right Attitude to Rain (An Isabel Dalhousie… by Alexander McCall Smith
Just a way to pass the time. I like his Ladies Detective stories better.
 
Flagged
dvoratreis | 53 other reviews | May 22, 2024 |
What W.H. Auden Can Do for You (Writers on Writers… by Alexander McCall Smith
Think I would have to be a lot more familiar with Auden's work to appreciate this book.
 
Flagged
Abcdarian | 5 other reviews | May 18, 2024 |
 
Flagged
Abcdarian | 26 other reviews | May 18, 2024 |
Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith
Liked this book very much, mostly because it reads as an Alexander McCall Smith book with all his gentle philosophies.
 
Flagged
Abcdarian | 54 other reviews | May 18, 2024 |
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Survey of Mysteries and Crime Fiction (1)
Top Five Books of 2018 (1)
AlphaKIT: Brown (1)
Novels featuring language professionals (1)
Myth (Reuse and Retelling) (1)
SHOULD Read Books! (1)
Literature About Women and Girls (1)
Next in Series (1)
Elephants in Books (1)
One Book, Many Authors (1)
Favourite Books (1)
New Books Fall/Winter 2022 (1)
A Child's Book Tour of South Africa ::: Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe (1)
Books With Our Favorite First Lines (1)
Cozy Mysteries Book Club (1)
Pierce County READS (1)
Books with Colourful Titles (1)
Biggest Disappointments (1)
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100 Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in a Lifetime (1)
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Latin America (1)
Unread books (1)
Latin America (1)
LibraryThingers' 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (1)
Books tagged favorites (1)
Top Five Books of 2013 (1)
Books Read in 2006 (1)
Books Set In Africa (1)
Sonlight Books (1)
Best public-transport fiction (1)
BBC Radio 4 Bookclub (1)
Books With Numbers in the Title (1)
Best Female Detectives and "Cozy Mysteries" (1)
Stories Inspired by Other Fiction (1)
Sub-Saharan Africa (1)
Art-inspired fiction (1)
A Rainbow of Books: Colors in the Title (1)
Best Private Eye stories (1)
Academia in Fiction (1)
Saint Bernard dogs -- children's/young adult fiction (1)
Detective Stories (14)
Stories set in The British Isles (5)
A Novel Cure (3)
Africa (3)
Books Read in 2013 (3)
Books Read in 2023 (3)
Female Protagonist (4)
Books Read in 2014 (4)
Books read in 2015 (5)
Most Popular Books Tagged Scotland (5)
Books Read in 2020 (5)
Amusing Book Titles (3)
Books Read in 2015 (5)
Books Read in 2017 (6)
Books Read in 2012 (Numbered) (6)
Books Read in 2012 (8)
Books Read in 2016 (8)
Most Popular Books Tagged Africa (8)
Books Read in 2019 (10)
Crime and Mysteries to Read (11)
Carole's List (12)
Books Read in 2021 (3)
Chronological 2017 (3)
Books About Older People (1)
Books Read in 2011 (2)
Cozy Mystery List (1)
Top Five Books of 2014 (1)
Kidnapping -- children's/young adult fiction (1)
Books About Candy (1)
Best African Books (1)
Best Campus Novels (1)
BBC World Book Club (1)
My E-Book Collection - Opinions Welcome (1)
Comfort Reads (1)
Books whose title names an object usually found in the kitchen (2)
Urban Fiction (2)
Chronological 2015 (2)
Books With the Most Memorable Titles (2)
Best books I read in 2013 (2)
Best 21st Century Books (So Far) (2)
Books Set in Scotland (2)
End of Your Life Book Club (2)
Books Read in 2022 (2)
Books Read in 2018 (2)
Makes Me Want to Eat (or Drink) (2)
2000s (the decade, not the century) (1)

Awards

By AwardBy Work
Audie Award
Triple Crown Awards
Indies Choice Book Award
Children's Favorites Awards
The Best Children's Books of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Rough Guide to Crime Fiction
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction
The List 100 Best Scottish Books
Christian Science Monitor Best Book
New York Public Library Best Books: For Kids
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die Page-A-Day Calendar
Martin Beck Award
World Book Night selection
Whitcoulls Top 100 Books
New York Times bestseller
500 Must Read Books
Around the world in 80 books
100 лучших книг по версии журнала "Marie Claire"
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (Swedish)
Today Show Book Club selection
9 Must-Read Books about Scotland
Alaska Battle of the Books Book
Penzler Pick
Saga Award for Wit
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize

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Associated Authors

R. K. Narayan
Otto Penzler
Maxim Jakubowski
Andrew F. Gulli
Reader's Digest
Jeanette Winterson
James Robertson Translator, Author
Tony Hillerman
Ian Rankin Contributor
Irvine Welsh Contributor
Breast Cancer Care
Peter Florence
Donald W. George
Book Wish Foundation
Jill Scott
Mark Ellingham
Susan Mansfield
Pico Iyer
Tarnya Cooper
Tsunami Relief Fund
Wendy Holden
Alistair Moffat Author
James Crawford Author
Adjua Andoh Actor/Narrator
Louisa McCune
Antony Kamm
Viktor Pelevin
David Grossman
Margaret Atwood
Magdalene Sacranie
Lesley Smith
Christine LaRocco
Iain McIntosh Illustrator, Cover artist
Adjoa Andoh Narrator
Peter Bailey Illustrator
J. K. Rowling Introduction
Ian Bilbey Illustrator
Jon Riley
David Dean Illustrator
William G. Tapply Author
Kerry Reichs Author
Ruben Van Dijk Author
Élisabeth Kern Translator
Martine Skopan Translator
Lisette Lecat Narrator
Peder Carlsson Translator
Ineke van Bronswijk Translator
Davina Porter Narrator
Jaakko Kankaanpää Translator
Claire Benedict Narrator
Claudio Carcano Translator
Simon Prebble Narrator
Stefania Bertola Translator
Toril Hanssen Translator
LeUyen Pham Illustrator
Hilary Neville Narrator
François Rosso Translator
Saul Reichlin Narrator
Andrew Sachs Narrator, Reader
Nadège de Peganow Translator
David Rintoul Narrator, Reader
Nadine Mutz Übersetzer
Denyse Beaulieu Translator
Jocelyne Barsse Translator
Susan Lyons Narrator
Kelly Blair Cover designer
Mma Ramotswe Introduction
Carole Hanna Translator
Karlyn Stephen Narrator
Paterson Joseph Narrator
Taina Helkamo Translator
Kate Hindley Illustrator
Nick Ward Illustrator

Statistics

Works
279
Also by
50
Members
113,072
Popularity
#75
Rating
4.0
Reviews
3,391
ISBNs
3,253
Languages
37
Favorited
260

Charts & Graphs

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