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Alexander McCall Smith was born in Zimbabwe (called Southern Rhodesia at the time) and was educated there and in Scotland. He became a law professor in Scotland, and it was in this role that he first returned to Africa to work in Botswana, where he helped to set up a new law school at the University of Botswana. He is currently Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, but has been a visiting professor at a number of other universities elsewhere, including ones in Italy and the United States (where he has twice been visiting professor at SMU Law School in Dallas, Texas). In addition to his university work, he is the vice-chairman of the Human Genetics Commission of the UK, the chairman of the British Medical Journal Ethics Committee, and a member of the International Bioethics Commission of UNESCO. Over the past twenty years, Smith has written more than fifty books, including specialist academic titles, short story collections, and a number of immensely popular children's books. In 1998, McCall Smith's detective novel, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, was published and received two Booker Judge's Special Recommendations. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series now numbers a total of four books (he is working on the fifth) and has been optioned for feature film. The series has been enthusiastically received throughout the world, and foreign language editions will be appearing in numerous countries. Three of the books in the series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency; Tears of the Giraffe; and Morality for Beautiful Girls, have recently been published by Anchor Books. The fourth, The Kalahari Typing School for Men was published by Pantheon in April 2003. McCall Smith has recently finished the first book in a new series featuring a lady detective, Isabel Dalhousie (Scottish father, American mother) the first title of which, Crushed Strawberry, will be published in London next year. Today Alexander McCall Smith lives in Edinburgh with his wife Elizabeth (an Edinburgh doctor), their two daughters Lucy and Emily, and their cat Gordon. His hobbies include playing wind instruments, and he is the co-founder of an amateur orchestra called "The Really Terrible Orchestra" in which he plays the bassoon and his wife plays the flute. His official site is www.no1ladiesdetectiveagency.com.
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
A beguiling mystery and lyrical novel of Africa -- the fourth in a series that the L.A. Times calls "thoroughly engaging and entertaining." Now that The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (the only detective agency for ladies and others in Botswana) is established, its founder, Precious Ramotswe, can look upon her life with pride: she's reached her late thirties ("the finest age to be"), has a house, two children, a good fiancé -- Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni -- and many satisfied customers. But life is never without its problems. It turns out that her adopted son is responsible for the dead hoopoe bird in the garden; her assistant, Mma Makutsi, wants a husband and needs help with her idea to open the Kalahari Typing School for Men; yet Mma Ramotswe's sexist rival has no trouble opening his Satisfaction Guaranteed Detective Agency across town. Will Precious Ramotswe's delightfully cunning and profoundly moral methods save the day? Follow the continuing story of Botswana's first lady detective in the irresistible The Kalahari Typing School for Men.
Alexander McCall Smith's Summer Reading List
The Philosopher's Dog
by Raymond Gaita
This is a philosophical investigation of the implications of being a creature, whether animal or human, approached through the author's experiences of the animals in his life. I also hope for guidance on the profound question: with so many good, loyal dogs to love, why do we humans waste our affection on cats, who surely are less worthy of it?)
The Ethics of Memory
by Avishai Margalit
When should we forget? When should we remember?
In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz
by Michela Wrong
An account of the career of President Mobutu and what he did to that long-suffering country, the Congo.
Family Matters
by Rohinton Mistry
A proper novel, about real people.
A Suitable Boy
by Vikram Seth
I have carried this around in my suitcase for numerous summers and I never get round to reading it. This year will be different, possibly.
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Summer Reading Lists
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