Alexander McCall Smith - Take Four Books

What this episode covers

International bestseller Sir Alexander McCall Smith joines James Crawford to discuss The Private Side of Friendship, and shares the literary works that influenced it.After the acclaim of his his The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Sandy has written over a hundred books, selling tens of millions of copies in English alone – not to mention the 46 other languages in which his work has appeared. In his latest novel, he is taking readers to a city he knows very well, as six young Edinburgh students embark on a flatshare, and navigate new friendships, against the backdrop of the social unrest of the 1980s miners’ strikes.For his three influences Sandy chose: The More Loving One by W.H. Auden (1957), Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships by Robin Dunbar (2021), and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2011). Including an extract from the audiobook of Friends by Robin Dunbar, published by Hachette.Producer: Caitlin Sneddon Editor: Gillian WheelanThis is a BBC Audio Scotland production.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Take Four Books?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this Take Four Books episode published?

This episode was published on November 30, 2025.

What is this episode about?

International bestseller Sir Alexander McCall Smith joines James Crawford to discuss The Private Side of Friendship, and shares the literary works that influenced it.After the acclaim of his his The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Sandy has...

Can I download this Take Four Books episode?

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