My wife Elizabeth and I started The Really Terrible Orchestra for people like us who are pretty hopeless musicians who would like to play in an orchestra. It has been a great success. We give performances; we've become the most famous bad orchestra in the world. Alexander McCall Smith badelizabethfamous share on social
My parents were very supportive and always encouraged us. My father was a gentle, nice man. My mother was quite a colorful character and a keen reader who encouraged me to write. Alexander McCall Smith charactercolorfulencourage Change image and share on social
One of the most destructive things that's happening in modern society is that we are losing our sense of the bonds that bind people together - which can lead to nightmares of social collapse. Alexander McCall Smith bindbondcollapse Change image and share on social
It seems to me that we're in danger of losing sight of certain basic civic values in society by allowing the growth of a whole generation of people who really have no sense of attachment to society. Alexander McCall Smith allowattachmentbasic Change image and share on social
There is this intimacy still in Botswana. It's a country of just under two million people, and there's this sense of connectedness, in that people tend to be related to one another. Alexander McCall Smith botswanaconnectednesscountry Change image and share on social
Many of my books are written from a female perspective. I rather enjoy the take that women have on the world, and certainly I enjoy the conversations that women have. Alexander McCall Smith bookconversationenjoy Change image and share on social
My Botswana books are positive, and I've never really sought to deny that. They are positive. They present a very positive picture of the country. And I think that that is perfectly defensible given that there is so much written about Africa which is entirely negative. Alexander McCall Smith africabookbotswana share on social
The point of opera is that people are moved by the emotions and music. Alexander McCall Smith emotionmovemusic Change image and share on social
I've certainly always had a very high regard for Botswana and so I paint a very good picture of the country and I've never pretended to be painting an entirely realistic picture. Alexander McCall Smith botswanacountrygood Change image and share on social
Serial novels have an unexpected effect; they hook the writer as well as the reader. Alexander McCall Smith effecthooknovel Change image and share on social
