The Kind Company of Others – from poet and novelist
ISBN:
9781846977565
Publisher:
Polygon
Publication Date:
2 April 2026
‘The Kind Company of Others’ is the much anticipated third poetry collection from Alexander McCall Smith.
A poet’s skill lies in their ability to distil complex themes into a few paragraphs; to pick out the fundamental quality in people that make us unique; they can describe nature in a way that makes us see its majesty. The poet traverses contents and political divides; they help us understand where we have come from which in turn allows us to figure out where we are going. And no one does this better than Alexander McCall Smith. He has brought – through his novels – many wonderful characters to vivid life and entertained readers all over the globe. And in The Kind Company of Others, his third collection of poetry, he guides the reader by the hand and takes them through time and place exploring the majestic themes of nature and the complexities of relationships and what it is that makes us human with his trademark warmth and humour.
Reviews
‘Poetry is such a wonderful and, in my view, needed thing to consider. Poetry saves lives. And we need some of that right now… We’re very, very taken with [The Kind Company of Others]. And one very nice thing is that Alexander writes a little mini-introduction to each poem’ – Idler Book of the Month
The Idler
‘Proves once again that McCall Smith is Scottish literature’s most enduring polymath. The tone is like a chat over a dram with an old friend’
Scottish Field
‘In a world of wars, crises and general gloom, one of the world’s best-loved authors is firing up the feel-good. Hallelujah!’
Sunday Post
‘He is a treasure… He is beyond talented and truly part of the good in the universe’
Reader response to The Kind Company of Others
