In To The Land of Long Lost Friends, the latest book in the widely beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Precious Ramotswe takes on a case for a childhood acquaintance and finds that family relationships are always a tricky proposition—even for Botswana’s premier female detective. Don’t miss TO THE LAND OF LONG LOST FRIENDS. Now in […]

A very good reason to celebrate: 2018 is the twentieth anniversary of publication of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith—20 years of delightfully different books, page-after-page of humanity, kindness, humour and forgiveness, and in short, sheer joy. The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series started life as a short story written for friends but took hold […]

Readers attending Alexander’s events in Dubai and Australia have been taken with a poem he read, The Language of Pilots. This poem is now included in Emirates Literature Festival 10th Anniversary book, For the Love of Words but we are pleased to reproduce it here too. The language of pilots By Alexander McCall Smith   They speak with […]

A Glorious photo-essay from Belmond—Alexander McCall Smith on safari with readers in Botswana: Don’t miss the chance of a lifetime to travel in Botswana with Alexander McCall Smith. Secure your place around the fire with a glass of champagne in hand while you listen to Alexander McCall Smith tell the tales of his beloved Botswana. […]

To mark the 20th anniversary of publication of  The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and to thank Alexander for increasing world-wide interest in Botswana, the charity Rhino Conservation Botswana are asking fans of the books to help choose a female rhino to carry the Precious Ramotswe name and to be an ambassador for the charity’s work in conservation. They have selected […]

Words of Wisdom to share from the latest Isabel Dalhousie book, A Distant View of Everything.

Alexander McCall Smith — writer and creator of The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency — has received a major award, (9 May 2017). The President, The Board of Governors, and The Literary Arts Committee of  The National Arts Club of America presented The Medal of Honor for Achievement in Literature to Alexander McCall Smith at an Award Ceremony last […]

OFFER EXTENDED UNTIL END MARCH 2017 Special offer available now.  Belmond Safaris are once again offering an exclusive experience, a 6 night stay at the Belmond Botswana Lodges, Africa with Alexander McCall Smith. They are offering guests the chance to share in his memories and personal experiences of his beloved Botswana, as he regales tails around […]

Scotland Street is back ‘Scotland Street‘ returns today to the pages of The Scotsman newspaper in Scotland with the first episode in this, the twelfth series featuring all our much loved characters−Irene, Stewart, Little Bertie, Bruce, Domenica et al.  Enjoy their company as they return for more ‘goings on’  in the neighbourhood. Read an article about the […]

A new series of ’44 Scotland Street’ will appear in The Scotsman newspaper in Scotland from Friday 24 February, 2017. As soon as we hear that it is hitting the pages of that popular newspaper we know it won’t be long until we have a new treat to enjoy in book form and all our favourite characters will […]

A short story by Alexander to cheer up February days is now available on this site. Put on the kettle and follow this link to read it now.