News

A Day in September – on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Date Published: 13th September 2022

‘A Day in September’ is a poem, written by Alexander McCall Smith, to mark the the occasion of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This poem was carried on the front page of the Sunday Times, London, on 11 September You can listen to Alexander read his poem at the link below: A Day in […]

The World is Full of Suffering

Date Published: 10th March 2022

The World is full of suffering: I am writing this on Sunday evening, after a day of sun here in Edinburgh. Spring is knocking on the door – just – although the air is still a bit cold. This afternoon at three o’clock, I wrote the final sentence of the new No 1 Ladies’ Detective […]

World Book Day 2022

Date Published: 3rd March 2022

In celebration of World Book Day and recognition of those suffering in Eastern Europe, Alexander shares this new poem: In troubled times A poem for World Book Day, 2022 Somewhere as I write these lines Armies clash, the speechless innocent flee, The rumbling armour and the fire, And skies, once clear and optimistic, Darken with […]

Alexander McCall Smith on the Penguin Podcast

Date Published: 22nd July 2021

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency author can turn out five novels a year – but there’s one piece of kit he needs, he tells the Penguin Podcast. Few authors are as prolific as Alexander McCall Smith. The creator of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, he has written dozens of novels across eight series, along with children’s […]

Alexander McCall Smith poems to inspire new musical tributes to Edinburgh’s seven hills

Date Published: 12th July 2021

Best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith is joining forces with St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh to spearhead a major two-year music, literary and education project inspired by the city’s seven hills. Seven young composers will be creating new musical works inspired by words McCall Smith has penned in tribute to the much-loved landmarks and beauty […]

Alexander McCall Smith Receives Strand Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award

Date Published: 21st June 2021

The Strand Magazine prints previously unpublished works by literary masters such as John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Joseph Heller, Mark Twain, Tennessee Williams, and H.G.Wells as well as new works of fiction by today’s bestselling authors such as Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Connelly, Joseph Finder and Jeffery Deaver. This year’s Strand Magazine Lifetime Achievement Awards go to […]

A Little Elephant Doing Rather Well (Thanks to You!)

Date Published: 19th May 2021

Last year, we reported on a tiny little elephant rescued by Elephant Havens. They gave the young calf the name ‘Sandy’ and started a dialogue with our own Alexander (‘Sandy’ for short) and with many of you, his readers. Alexander was moved by their wonderful work which found its way into the novel, How to […]

World-famous City author Alexander McCall Smith gets set for Edinburgh Award

Date Published: 25th March 2021

Alexander McCall Smith CBE has been getting ready to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2020. Impressions of the internationally-admired author’s hands have been cast in clay, pictured, by Leigh Bradley of the Colin Braid Stone Workshop, ready to be carved into stone. The handprints will be gilded and laid outside the City Chambers next to the prints […]

Spring Comes, Even This Year – World Poetry Day

Date Published: 19th March 2021

This weekend we mark the Spring Equinox and International Day of Happiness on Saturday (20 March), and World Poetry Day on Sunday (21 March). It has been a tough year since these dates last came round with humanity united by the challenges of a global pandemic and the urgent need for rapid scientific advance that might bring release from […]

My Irreplaceable Other: A Valentine’s Day Poem by Alexander McCall Smith

Date Published: 12th February 2021

Alexander awoke recently with this poem almost fully formed in his mind, as if it came to him in his sleep. He shares it with you today as people across the world celebrate love.

Protecting Baby Elephants in Botswana

Date Published: 26th November 2020

Alexander was delighted to receive word from one of his favourite charities this week, Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation. Elephant Havens protects and cares for orphaned baby African Elephants in Botswana. They have chosen to name one of their new arrivals ‘Sandy’, after Alexander, and sent through this adorable photo of wee Sandy with his handler Onks. […]

Ten Years to Tell the Story of a Nation

Date Published:

Ten years to celebrate Scotland. Ten years to bring a dream to fruition. Ten years to reach the new starting point for something incredibly special… This very week, ten years ago, Alexander McCall Smith attended the opening of an exhibition in the city’s Dovecot Studios. The focus of the exhibition was the Prestonpans Tapestry, a […]