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May 2026

A story for May: The Private Side of Friendship

Set in 80s Edinburgh, The Private Side of Friendship is the stunning new standalone novel from Alexander McCall Smith. On the verge of a reunion with friends she hasn’t seen since graduation, Julie recalls her halcyon student days of 1984 and the strange tumultuous time they lived through. The Private Side of FriendshipI’m staring into […]

An evening with Alexander McCall Smith at Toppings, Bath

Date: 9 October 2026
Venue: Elim Church - Bath, Charlotte St, Bath BA1 2ND
Time: 7.00pm

Join worldwide bestselling author, Sir Alexander McCall Smith as he returns to Bath for an evening of sheer delight.  The master storyteller will entertain you with tales from his many series of books – stories of friendship and kindness that span the globe from Botswana to Edinburgh. Alexander will also be celebrating the publication of the latest No. […]

Alexander McCall Smith at York Festival of Ideas

Date: 7 June 2026
Venue: PZA/103, Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Time: 6.30pm

While the headlines often focus on what divides us, acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith has spent decades chronicling what connects us: friendship, community and the simple importance of being kind. From the dusty streets of Gaborone to the cobblestones of Edinburgh, his characters remind us that the smallest acts of kindness are often the most […]