Alexander McCall Smith CBE was Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh before he became a full-time author.
He has written and contributed to more than 100 books, including specialist academic titles, short story collections, stand alone novels, and children’s books. His various series of books have been translated into over 46 languages and have been sold in more than 30 million copies across the world. These include The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, set in Botswana; the 44 Scotland Street and Isabel Dalhousie novels, set in Edinburgh; the Professor von Igelfeld series; and the Ulf Varg novels, set in Sweden.
The 44 Scotland Street series, first published in The Scotsman newspaper, is now the longest running serial novel in the world.
Alexander has also written a number of stand-alone novels and short story collections, including My Italian Bulldozer; Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party; Trains and Lovers; The Second Worst Restaurant in France; Tiny Tales; Chance Developments, and The Pavilion in the Clouds. He has also authored many non-fiction titles, such as A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh and What W.H. Auden Can Do For You.
In 2007 Alexander received a CBE for services to literature, and was honoured in 2011 by the President of Botswana for services through literature to the country. In 2017 he was the recipient, in New York, of the National Arts Club Annual Medal of Honour for achievement in literature.
Alexander is the co-founder of an amateur orchestra called ‘The Really Terrible Orchestra’, in which he plays the bassoon.
Events with Alexander McCall Smith:
