Today is International Nurses Day and this post is nothing more and nothing less than a sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you‘  to nurses everywhere who have been on the frontline for the fight against Coronavirus. We are asked to shine a light from our windows tonight, 12 May 2020, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence […]

Some of the UK Literary festivals have combined their strengths during this lockdown period and produced the Big Book Weekend, a long weekend of book events online. Alexander appears tomorrow, Friday 8 May at 11.00am UK time but the event will be recorded and available on their site after the event. Join us for some […]

In a short video, Alexander McCall Smith responds to readers from his home in Edinburgh. 

One of the most striking images of this time of crisis has been that of people coming to the doors of their houses to express their gratitude to doctors, nurses, care workers, and ambulance drivers – and all those working in the hospitals and clinics. This applause for the people who care for others has […]

Today, Alexander started a new column in the Los Angeles Times – ‘From Scotland Quarantine’ – writing about isolation in Scotland.  He was delighted to be asked and to give a tiny insight into his life in Edinburgh during this difficult period. ‘From city to city, from country to country, people reach out to one another, amidst […]

These are very difficult times for so many. I have been very touched by the messages that I have received from readers, many of whom are isolated now and are renewing their friendship with Mma Ramotswe and the others. I have written a poem especially for this moment. It comes to you with my warmest wishes, and my hope that you are keeping well. AMcS

It is with great regret that Alexander has has asked us to put up this post today. We have been closely following the developing Coronavirus situation and wish to observe the recommendations of the Scottish health authority, in particular the discouragement of people attending public gatherings. We feel that it would be inappropriate to tour […]

Alexander’s UK Publicist, Jan Rutherford, visits the site for the new Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre.

Members of the public are being offered the chance to contribute a stitch to welcome panels to go on show at the new permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland. The seed of the idea for the Great Tapestry of Scotland came from Alexander McCall Smith. He shared his dream with historian Alistair Moffat and artist Andrew Crummy and, […]

Cunard’s Literature Festival at Sea is a seven-night Transatlantic Crossing, which departs out of Southampton on December 1 and arrives in New York on December 8, 2020. The event, curated by the programming team at Cheltenham Literature Festival, will bring together some of the most renowned names in the literary world. The voyage will be headlined […]

Join Alexander McCall Smith on a magical journey into the heart of his beloved Botswana — a Belmond Safari. Belmond have once again asked Alexander to lead a luxury safari in Botswana — and he was thrilled to say yes! During the six-night safari in September 2020, he will share his memories and personal experiences of […]