7.2 /10 1 Votes7.2
Language English Dewey Decimal 823/.914 22 Originally published 2004 ISBN 1-904598-16-1 | 3.6/5 Goodreads OCLC 58973332 LC Class PR6063.C326 A613 2005b Country Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pages 368 pp (first edition, hardback) Similar Alexander McCall Smith books, 44 Scotland Street books, Scotland books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
44 scotland street variations on themes from the novel by alexander mccall smith peter graham
44 Scotland Street is an episodic novel by Alexander McCall Smith, the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The story was first published as a serial in The Scotsman, starting 26 January 2004, every weekday, for six months. The book retains the 100+ short chapters of the original. It was partially influenced by Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, a famous serial story. It is the first book in a series of the same name.
Contents
- 44 scotland street variations on themes from the novel by alexander mccall smith peter graham
- Alexander mccall smith an edinburgh walking tour
- Plot introduction
- Major recurring characters
- Minor characters
- Literary significance and reception
- References
Alexander mccall smith an edinburgh walking tour
Plot introduction
The novel tells the story of Pat, a student during her second gap year and a source of some worry to her parents, who is accepted as a new tenant at 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh's New Town (coordinates: 55.95962°N 3.19492°W / 55.95962; -3.19492), and her various roommates and neighbours. She falls in love with her narcissistic flatmate Bruce, meets the intriguing and opinionated anthropologist Domenica MacDonald and her friend Angus, and works at an art gallery for Matthew, who was given the gallery as a sinecure position by his wealthy father. While working at the gallery Pat points out to Matthew (who knows almost nothing about art) that one of their paintings looks as if it could be a work of Samuel Peploe. After the gallery is broken into Matthew asks Pat to store the painting at their flat until they can check whether it's a genuine Peploe, however, Bruce gives the painting to a raffle run by the South Edinburgh Conservative Association. Matthew and Pat eventually track it down to the novelist Ian Rankin who gives it back to them. The other major storyline is that of five-year-old Bertie, who is controlled by his pretentious and intellectual mother Irene - he has Grade Six on the saxophone, speaks fluent Italian, and is extremely knowledgeable about various subjects. After he is expelled from his nursery school, Irene sends him to psychotherapy with Dr Fairbairn, who constantly misinterprets Bertie's simple wish to be a normal five-year-old boy.
Major recurring characters
Minor characters
Literary significance and reception
Publishers Weekly said that 44 Scotland Street was "episodic, amusing and peopled with characters both endearing and benignly problematic." Library Journal said that "Smith's insightful and comic observations, makes for an amusing and absorbing look at Edinburgh society." Bookseller said that "the writing style is understated, and the humour subtle but at times devastating."