Alexander McCall Smith is the author of over one hundred books on a wide array of subjects, including the award-winning The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the world's longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street. His books have been translated into forty-six languages. Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and holds honorary doctorates from thirteen universities.
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 * Perfect escapism for difficult times. The novel is often laugh-out-loud funny as McCall Smith makes witty asides. Just as often he is profound enough to stop you in your tracks and make you think about subjects such as the essence of love, justice, morality, poetry or moderation... Escapism maybe, but with a heart * Sunday Times, South Africa * 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 * Cultural Voyager *