At the bottom of a sharply descending street - in the topographical sense - in Edinburgh's Georgian New Town, new residents have moved in to number 44 Scotland Street, joining the already well-known and much-loved denizens of that remarkable building. They appear to be a bit of a mystery, but so, too, do other things. What exactly did Sister Maria-Fiore, the aphorism-coining socialite nun, find on the No. 23 bus? Could it be the remains of a hitherto unknown Neanderthal, homo Watsoniensis?

On the romantic front, long-suffering Stuart's hopes of kindling a new relationship are dashed, thanks to chino-wearing narcissist Bruce, effortlessly exercising his powers of charm. The Promised Land beckons for Bertie who is off to Glasgow for a school exchange that takes him doon the watter. Back in Edinburgh, the Duke of Johannesburg's desire to learn a new language, involving his Gaelic-speaking driver Padruig, has gone horribly wrong; to be immersed in a language, it seems, can be a captivating linguistic mistake. And the patrons of Big Lou's cafe are in for a gastronomic treat. In other words, everything in Edinburgh is absolutely normal.

About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the highly successful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has sold over twenty-five million copies. Since then he has devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world. These include the 44 Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in the Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series and the Corduroy Mansions novels.

Reviews

'The spell this volume casts is as strong as ever, I am already longing for volume 15 ... There is a ribbon of humour running throughout and the characters are varied, memorable and very well drawn but I think it is Alexander McCall Smith's voice, so full of warmth and kindness and love of Edinburgh and its people which gives these stories their unique flavour'

-- Patricia Cleveland-Peck * The Cultural Voyager *

'With its vividly surreal cast of outlandish characters - including 'aphorism coining socialite nun' Sister Maria, and 'chino-wearing narcissist'' Bruce - and McCall Smith's wonderfully wry delivery, A Promise of Ankles will not disappoint'

* Scottish Field *

'Once again, old friends are met, time moves steadily on and we all gain a little wisdom as the Promise of Ankles unfolds, gently, seamlessly and in a most elegantly enjoyable fashion, courtesy of the master of words Alexander McCall Smith. Perfect summer reading.'

* Blue Wolf Reviews *

'Sumptuous, fun, witty, cleverly constructed and highly entertaining. Just what the doctor ordered in these hard times'

* SixtyPlusSurfers *



Book Information
ISBN 9781846975561
Author Alexander McCall Smith
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 477g
Dimensions(mm) 222mm * 145mm * 28mm