#92: Alexander McCall Smith, novelist

<p>Rachel and Simon speak with prolific novelist <a href="https://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/">Alexander McCall Smith</a>. Alexander was a professor of Medical Law, before turning his hand to writing fiction. His first book, “The White Hippo”<em>, </em>a children’s title, was published in 1980. But it wasn’t until the appearance of the highly successful “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_No._1_Ladies%27_Detective_Agency">The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency</a>” series that Alexander became a household name. The series has now sold over twenty million copies in English alone. Alexander’s various series of books have been translated into forty-six languages. Others include the “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44_Scotland_Street">44 Scotland Street</a>” novels and the <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/IDN/isabel-dalhousie-series">Isabel Dalhousie</a> books. Recently, he launched the <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/NVL/detective-varg-series">Ulf Varg</a> series of ‘Scandi blanc’ novels set in Sweden. Alexander talked to us about his rapid writing pace, the moral questions of detective novels and the idea of cultural appropriation.</p> <p>You can find us online at <a href="https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/">alwaystakenotes.com</a>, on Twitter @takenotesalways, and on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alwaystakenotes">facebook.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Our crowdfunding page is <a href="https://www.patreon.com/alwaystakenotes">patreon.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Katy Lee, who also handles our social media. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.</p>