Alexander’s short play for the Lyceum at Home project has received a tremendous response. Last week it played at the Eric Liddell Community centre for Day Care clients. The performance was covered on the MSN home page. The impact of the tour is already being felt. At the Eric Liddell Community, audiences included Day Care […]

(Knowing of course that he will see him very soon) Yesterday historian, broadcaster and festival director, Alistair Moffat MBE stepped down from his role at the head of Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. The occasion was marked by a glorious brunch for 90 people at Bowhill House in the Scottish Borders. Hosted by The […]

Alexander and the Importance of Reading to Children The Eastern Eye reported at the weekend from the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Sutton, South London. As part of that reporting, they carried the article below on Alexander’s event at the festival, where he talked about the importance of Reading to Children: “It’s really important that […]

It is has come round very quickly, but we are delighted to report that Alexander’s play for Lyceum at Home is being performed out in the community in Edinburgh this week (in people’s homes and places of work). And then, from 18-20 June, on stage at the Lyceum. In addition to Alexander’s work, monologues were […]

Alexander battled against the storms on Saturday to make it to the British Library. There he was delighted to take part in the Jaipur Festival, London. He was on stage for an in-conversation event with historian, critic and author William Dalrymple where they tackled the subject of the importance of being kind. Well-known wine writer, […]

Over the past two weeks, Alexander has been in the media, in the Sunday Times, The Observer, The Big Issue, the Courier and more. And on Thursday he is interviewed live on The Idler events, between 6 and 7pm. https://www.idler.co.uk/product/a-drink-with-the-idler-alexander-mccall-smith Take a look:

Alexander McCall Smith travels by road and rail for the first UK events of Spring. Alexander has not been sitting with his feet up. Far from it. It is the last week in April and already this year he has been to the Emirates festival in Dubai and to Botswana. But this was the first […]

In the Footsteps of Mma Ramotswe – Alexander McCall Smith has recently returned from another pilgrimage to Botswana, where he immersed himself in the vibrant culture and stunning landscapes that continue to inspire his beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. He spent time with the warm and fascinating people, and explored the picturesque places that […]

Days 8 – 11 Wildlife of Botswana Towards the end of their stay in Botswana. Alexander and readers from around the world, took some time on Nxamaseri Island – boating, fishing and birdwatching. Nxamaseri is not a big game viewing area. Instead it is all about enjoying the beautiful aquatic environment. The air is alive […]

Day 6 Botswana Elephant Havens An adventure in Botswana would not be complete without a visit to the Elephant Havens, a sanctuary on the edge of the Okavango Delta dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned elephants. This is a charity that Alexander is very happy to support. The activity of the team there is to […]

Days 3 & 4, SOS Children’s Home and Old Naledi In the morning, the group set out for the SOS Children’s Village in Tlokweng, the real-life inspiration for the orphan farm in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books. Here they met the dedicated staff, spent time with the children, enjoyed a taste of the matron’s […]

Alexander McCall Smith returns to Botswana Amongst those Alexander met up this past weekend in Botswana with was Professor Sheila Tlou, Board of Member for Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), Co-Chair of the Nursing Now Global Campaign and the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, and a Former Minister of Health and Wellness in Botswana from […]