“Every single day, I get letters - very moving, overwhelming letters - testifying how much my books have meant to people in times of crisis in their lives, when they were very ill, say. If I ever doubted that writing could play an important part in people's lives, I don't doubt that now.”

Scottish novelist and lawyer of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Alexander McCall Smith is best known for his series of gentle, philosophical novels set in Edinburgh and Africa, blending humor and wisdom. His works often explore themes of kindness, community, and the quiet joys of everyday life, earning him a devoted global readership.