McCall Smith, Alexander (1948-…), a Scottish author, became internationally known for a series of detective stories set in the African country of Botswana. The series centers on Precious Ramotswe, who claims to be the first woman private detective in Botswana.
Precious Ramotswe solves her cases with a blend of intelligence, observation, and an understanding of human nature. Most of the crimes and other problems are minor. The novels are more concerned with character and humor than with mystery, suspense, or menace. The series has been praised for its warmth and humor and for its sympathetic portrayal of Botswana’s landscape and culture. McCall Smith began the series with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (1998). McCall Smith also wrote several children’s books that feature Precious Ramotswe as a child detective. That series began with The Great Cake Mystery (2012).
McCall Smith has created several other series. The “Portuguese Irregular Verbs” series features an odd and lovable professor of language named Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld. He made his debut in Portuguese Irregular Verbs (2003). Another series features Isabel Dalhousie, who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and solves mysteries as an amateur detective. McCall Smith introduced her in The Sunday Philosophy Club (2004). The “44 Scotland Street” series deals with the lives of several residents of an Edinburgh boarding house. The series began with 44 Scotland Street (2005). Similarly, the “Corduroy Mansions” series, set in an apartment block in London, England, follows the lives of a variety of characters and their canine companions. The series began with Corduroy Mansions (2010). The “Detective Varg” series is set in Malmö, Sweden. There, Ulf Varg of the Criminal Investigation Authority is assigned cases of a particularly sensitive nature. The series began with The Department of Sensitive Crimes (2019). McCall Smith’s other works include short stories and children’s books.
McCall Smith was born to Scottish parents on Aug. 24, 1948, in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). McCall Smith moved to Edinburgh at the age of 19 to study law. He received his law degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1971. In 1981, he helped found a law school at the University of Botswana and taught law there. He also taught medical law at the University of Edinburgh for several years and wrote a number of law books.
