Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Bookclub

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Led by James Naughtie, readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

BBC Radio 4 FM

Bookclub: Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith

03/01/2010

BBC Radio 4 - Bookclub, Alexander McCall Smith

James Naughtie talks to Alexander McCall Smith about his novel 44 Scotland Street.

Alexander McCall Smith talks about his novel 44 Scotland Street with James Naughtie and readers.

World-wide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith meets readers to discuss the first in his series of humorous novels set in Edinburgh - 44 Scotland Street. The presenter is James Naughtie.

The book tells the story of the interlocking lives of the inhabitants of adjoining flats in a house in the Georgian New Town of Edinburgh - their comic adventures, their foibles and accidents, their chance criss-crossings day-to-day.

McCall Smith talks about the challenges of writing one thousand words a day, and how readers would advise him on where to take the story next, and what they thought he should do with characters they didn't like. He also explains how a few real people - novelist Ian Rankin, art gallery owner Guy Peploe - turned up in the stories.

January's Bookclub choice: Unreliable Memoirs (Vol 1) by Clive James  

Producer: Dymphna Flynn.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Bookclub

Alexander McCall Smith

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4