Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers - (44 Scotland Street) by Alexander McCall Smith (Paperback)

About the Book

"Originally published in hardcover in Great Britain by Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd., Edinburgh, in 2013."

Book Synopsis

Alexander McCall Smith's wildly popular 44 Scotland Street series chronicles life in a corner of Edinburgh brimming with wit and humor.

Newlywed painter and sometime somnambulist Angus Lordie might be sleepwalking his way into trouble with Animal Welfare when he lets his dog Cyril drink a bit too much lager at the local bar. The longsuffering Bertie, on the cusp of his seventh birthday party, has taken to dreaming about his eighteenth, a time when he will be able to avoid the indignity of unwanted girl attendees and the looming threat of a gender-neutral doll from his domineering mother Irene. Matthew and Elspeth struggle to care for their triplets, contending with Danish au pairs and dubious dukes to boot, while the narcissistic Bruce faces his greatest challenge yet in the form of an over-eager waxologist. As ever, when Alexander McCall Smith visits 44 Scotland Street, fun is sure to follow.

Review Quotes

"Poignant. . . . Readers can start here and feel the warmth of McCall Smith's wit, deft characterization, and overarching theme of kindness. However, if you read the series from the outset, you'll be treated to an astonishing view of changes in characters' lives, very much like a time-lapse video in book form."
--Booklist (starred review)

"Sense and humor fuse absolutely." --The Scotsman

"McCall Smith is an engaging and a witty guide to the goings on (and comings off) at fictional 44 Scotland Street." --The Daily Express (London)

About the Author

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH is the author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, the 44 Scotland Street series, and the Corduroy Mansions series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served with many national and international organizations concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit his website at www.alexandermccallsmith.com.