LoveReading Says
This beautifully told tale gently flows from Edinburgh to the Isle of Mull, sliding into second chances, love, and kindness, as it highlights the importance of integrity and compassion.
When Dr Neil Anderson finds life dealing him several unexpected blows, he retreats to a remote island to recover and rethink his career. Alexander McCall Smith’s writing has the ability to set thoughts in motion, his stories on first glance can appear to be light, yes there is a lightness of touch used, and yet there is a real strength to be found within. This story is morally grounded, and empathy swims through the pages which is why it has been chosen as a LoveReading Star Book. There is a reminder to be found here, of what is really important in life. Rewarding and oh-so satisfying, The Winds from Further West is a delight, and highly recommended.
Liz Robinson
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The Winds From Further West Synopsis
Almost everything starts in a small way. Often it is a very small and apparently insignificant event that ends up moulding the whole shape of our lives.
And so it was for Dr Neil Anderson who had barely been in his new post at the University of Edinburgh for three months when he meets Kirsty. After no time at all, they move in together to a beautiful Georgian flat in the south side of the city and start their life together. Everything seems to be working out well for Neil.
But after a throw-away comment lands him in a difficult situation, his principles are put to the test. He ultimately has no choice but to rethink his career and his life. He leaves his job, Kirsty and Edinburgh far behind for the seclusion and remote beauty of the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland.
No sooner has he started to piece the bits of his shattered life together when a ship comes into Tobermory harbour whose cargo – two wolf cubs – changes the course of his life yet again. These cubs divide opinion on the island and introduce Neil to Katie, a vet on the island, and soon love once again blossoms.
About This Edition
About Alexander McCall Smith
Sir Alexander McCall Smith, often referred to as Sandy, is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His various series of books have been translated into over forty-six languages and have sold more than thirty million copies across the world. These include The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the 44 Scotland Street novels, the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the von Igelfeld series. He also writes stand-alone novels, poetry, children’s fiction, and libretti for short operas. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature, academia and charity in the New Year Honours List 2024.
For many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the UK and abroad before turning his hand to writing fiction. He has written and contributed to more than 100 books including specialist academic titles, short story collections, and a number of immensely popular children’s books. His first book, The White Hippo—a children’s book, was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1980. Alexander lives in Edinburgh.
Alexander has received numerous awards for his writing and holds twelve honorary doctorates from universities in Europe and North America. In 2007 he received a CBE for services to literature and in 2011 was honoured by the President of Botswana for services through literature to the country. In 2015 he received the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction and in 2017, The National Arts Club (of America) Medal of Honor for Achievement in Literature. In 2020, he will receive the honorary fellowship of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival. The breadth of his body of work vividly evokes places and characters who are infused with humanity, decency, wit and humour – The National Arts Club citation
Click here to read an exclusive interview with Alexander McCall Smith by Mary Hogarth.
A Lovereading guide to the works of Alexander McCall Smith...
The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was first published in 1998 and then, suddenly, it took off in America to the extent that no less than11 reprints were required in 2003.
Since then, so prolific has been his output, and so has his popularity soared, that there was a time when the sheer multitude of McCall Smith's books led to confusion as to which book fitted into each of the various series under which he writes. One has hardly been able to keep up with the sheer abundance of books published - we reckon at least thirty in less than a decade.
Now, thankfully, things have settled down and the legions of McCall Smiths avid fans can compartmentalise his new books into the four main series under which they sit - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, The Isabel Dalhousie Novels, The 44 Scotland Street Series and The Corduroy Mansions Series with a few more on top!
There are constant features across the whole panoply of McCall Smith's output. Wry and witty observations about the day-to-day lives of normal people. An innocence and delight in the human condition. And, always, a twinkle on the eye shared by writer and reader. He is a happy writer and that makes for happy readers.
He is best known for the following 4 series of novels (they are shown below in the order they were published) :-
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The Full Cupboard of Life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Blue Shoes and Happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, The Double Comfort Safari Club, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe, The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Precious and Grace.
Isabel Dalhousie series: The Sunday Philosophy Club,Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, The Comfort of Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, The Novel Habits of Happiness.
44 Scotland Street series: 44 Scotland Street, Espresso Tales, Love Over Scotland, The World According to Bertie, The Unbearable Lightness of Scones, The Importance of Being Seven, Bertie Plays the Blues, Sunshine on Scotland Street, Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers, The Revolving Door of Life, The Bertie Project, A Time of Love and Tartan.
Corduroy Mansions Series: Corduroy Mansions, The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, A Conspiracy of Friends.
Author Photo © Graham Clark
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