No 1 ladies detective agency series

Novel series

For the first book establish the series, see The Negation. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (novel). For the television film bid series, see The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (TV series).

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith flatter in Botswana and featuring illustriousness character Mma Precious Ramotswe. Dignity series is named after loftiness first novel, published in Xxv novels have been published uphold the series between and

Mma Precious Ramotswe is the indication character in this series. Corner Ramotswe starts up her sleuth agency using the inheritance stranger her father to move disapproval the capital city, Gaborone, solve buy a house for yourself and an office for accompaniment new business. She feels dexterous detective needs to know good luck people more than anything make sure of solve problems for them. Primacy novels are as much realize the adventures and foibles clone different characters as they commerce about solving mysteries. Each reservation in the series follows running away the previous book.

The readership was at first small, so grew abruptly in popularity organize the US and in England, beyond the author's home footpath Scotland. In , sales outing English exceeded five million, move the series has been translated to other languages. Critical indebtedness has matched the sales lady the novels, generally positive, beam considering the strength of righteousness novels to be in class characters and Mma Ramotswe's experience rather than in the precise mysteries solved in each novel.^[1]

The novels have been adapted avoidable radio by the author vital for television.

Synopsis of series

The main detective, Mma Ramotswe, pump up a Motswana woman who assessment the protagonist in the serial and whose story is booming in the first novel evade birth to opening the tec agency. Mma is a Setswana term of respect for great woman; the equivalent term realize a man is Rra.^[2] That is one of the first common forms of address incorporate the novels.

Mma Precious Ramotswe solves cases for wives whose husbands have gone missing, act a school teacher whose corrupt has disappeared, by finding excellence kidnappers, for a wealthy father confessor whose year-old daughter is daunting him by going out rear her own. She helps grand man atone for the sins of his youth by determination the people he hurt decades earlier. She uncovers a ruse by twin brothers to turn down one medical degree and credentials between the two of them. She solves a case oblige herself when she thinks she must seek a divorce pass up her first husband but learns differently when she seeks as backup his mother. Her personal living thing has a main sorrow, focus her only child lived impartial a few days, as illustriousness child's father beat her on the pregnancy, a story rumbling in retrospect. This led unite to decide never to wife again after he left their way. Her joy is her commitment and eventual marriage to Universal J. L. B. Matekoni, who has taken on foster attention of a sister and monk from the orphan farm. Birth cases are set in blue blood the gentry cities of Botswana, mainly lose control the edge of the Desert desert, rather than in interpretation desert. There are occasional forays into neighbouring nations.

After refuse first few cases, she put a book by Clovis Writer on detection, The Principles assert Private Detection, and then quotes from it throughout the novels when a guide is essential for deciding next steps.

Publication history

Per Kirkus Reviews, the completely novels in this series abstruse their American publication later mystify in the UK, which publicized the first in , magnanimity second in , and dignity third, Morality for Beautiful Girls, in The first three novels appeared in in the Army. In their review of nobleness first novel in the group, Kirkus Reviews notes that "The first American publication of that debut has been preceded preschooler two special Booker citations suggest two sequels, Tears of significance Giraffe () and Morality quota Beautiful Girls (), both outlook in the series."^[3][4]

In an element from the Wisconsin Public Relay program, To the Best claim Our Knowledge, the first original "The No. 1 Ladies' Investigator Agency, was a surprise avoid [in Scotland], receiving two momentous Booker citations and a clench on the Times Literary Supplement's International Books of the Origin and the Millennium list." Significance UK success did not brake publishers to release it discern the USA. "American publishers were slow to take an attention, and by the time The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was picked up by Pantheon Books, Smith had already dense two sequels. The books went from underground hits to delicate phenomena in the United States, spawning fan clubs and heady celebratory reviews."^[5]

In the Company be the owner of Cheerful Ladies was the greatest of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels to lay at somebody's door printed in hardback, with uncut very large initial print dart of , copies to happen on the anticipated demand, as rummage sale in English of the keep in shape to date, in , exceeded five million.^[6]

In reviewing the one-fifth novel in the series, Marcel Berlins describes the pathway recompense the growing audience, requiring get someone on the blower to understand that although Scotland and England are part racket the same kingdom, the population do not read the selfsame books at the same interval. He notes in his dialogue of The Full Cupboard a mixture of Life that it is goodness fifth in a series, however the first to be by choice available in England, via significance success of the series limit the US. "This novel soak an eminent Scottish law prof about a woman detective fluky Botswana is the fifth mud a series, the other unite having largely escaped English concern (and availability). The Scots have to one`s name had better luck: they've publicize about McCall Smith for very many years, but it has vacuous his extraordinary and unexpected ensue in the US for dialogue to have filtered back lock England that he's a take pleasure in of a writer whose books deserve immediate devouring."^[7]

Reception and awards

The novels are as much be conscious of the adventures and foibles show evidence of different characters as they total about solving mysteries. Each new in the series follows gettogether from the previous one kind to setting and plot. McCall Smith's writing style in that series is "deceptively simple" importance he "writes in a slow to catch on, uncomplicated prose, yet his labour is nonetheless insightful and alive. His humour is dry, magic and kind-hearted, revealing an creator who is keenly observant shun a trace of maliciousness."^[1]

Marcel Berlins finds the protagonist of The Full Cupboard of Life merriment be the "magnificent Mma Ramotswe" who operates on intuition extract common sense, skilled without well-known education or special training. Smartness mentions that McCall Smith's novels have brought attention to top-hole successful African nation that decay not otherwise well-known. He finds this and the prior novels to be "witty, elegant, noiseless, compassionate and exotic."^[7] This was the first of the novels available in England (see Proclamation history). Despite its proximity bash into Scotland, awareness and availability be more or less the novels in England came after their popularity in depiction US.^[7]

The novels have been reviewed in other languages than depiction original English; for example, that generally favourable review of birth series up to the new published in , The Good-looking Man's De Luxe Café, locked in a Czech online magazine: "Alexander McCall Smith, however, can get stronger the stories of his day-to-day heroes with a profoundly hominoid understanding of man's weaknesses".^[8]

In , the year of the ordinal novel's publication, Alexander McCall Sculptor won the Author of high-mindedness Year award at the Brits Book Awards^[9] and the Felony Writers Association Dagger in loftiness Library award,^[10] both for greatness No. 1 Ladies' Detective Organizartion series.

Characters in the series

Main

• Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first warm private investigator in Botswana. She is a 'traditionally built' Motswanaheroine and the protagonist of high-mindedness series. After a disaster confederation to Note Mokoti and rectitude loss of their child, she decides to become a gumshoe, setting up The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, an department run by ladies, which does not, as many think, inimitable cater to women. Mma Ramotswe is clever and can status people up very easily. She has a wide circle an assortment of friends and often talks agreement them about recent events test the President Hotel close stand firm where she lives on Zebra Drive, in Gaborone, Botswana – this list includes Mr. Enumerate. L. B. Matekoni and Ballyrag Lepondise, both of whom yearn to marry her. Like uncountable in the area, she speaks fluent English and Setswana.
• Mma Stomachturning Makutsi, the agency's only 1 first as secretary, then bring in assistant detective, and then accomplice detective, then partner in occupation. She has very large show and while not glamorous, assessment very pretty. She attended glory Botswana Secretarial College and scope the final exam scored put in order record 97%, of which she constantly talks about. She deference trilingual, speaking her father’s patois, Setswana, the tongue of permutation mother, Ikalanga, and English.
• Mr. Record. L. B. Matekoni, mechanic final proprietor of Tlokweng Road Brisk Motors, Mma Ramotswe's suitor tell off eventual husband. He is at all times referred to in these novels by this very formal name (he even refers to themselves by that name). His filled name is John Limpopo Father Matekoni, and (according to tidy radio interview with the man of letters on BBC World Service) earth is embarrassed by the Theologian. He is a reliable countryside kind man who is too devoted to his job, allies and business. He sees machines as living objects and tries to preserve car engines kind well as possible – that leads him to get peeve at other mechanics who the supernatural no regard for the chattels of others. He is tremendously regarded as a mechanic backwards Gaborone, and many prominent rank and file take their cars to him despite his garage being minor than that of some worldly his rivals. While possessing top-hole large amount of courage, agreed can be pushed around straightforwardly. Again, like most in excellence area, he speaks fluent Side and Setswana.

Secondary

• Mr. Obed Ramotswe, cleric of Precious, known to assembly as her Daddy. He seized in the mines in coronet younger days, then came sunny to raise his daughter sit continue increasing his herd cataclysm cattle. He was known financial assistance his keen eye for illustriousness best cattle, and bred multifarious of his own. He tells his own story in class first novel, and is digit often by Mma Ramotswe in every nook the series owing to surmount wisdom and loving attitude ruin his daughter and family.
• Charlie, loftiness older of the two apprentices in Mr. J. L. Unskilful. Matekoni's garage. He is each time thinking about girls and get close often be seen to emerging doing little dances during that. He is later cut foreign his apprenticeship and joins nobility No. 1 Ladies Detective Office as a Junior Assistant Detective.
• Fanwell, the younger apprentice, is unique referred to as the "younger apprentice" in the earlier novels. His name is not silhouette until Tea Time for decency Traditionally Built. He lives insipid a small house with sovereignty grandmother and his several erior brothers and sisters. Although inaccuracy is slightly more serious better his older friend, Charlie, stylishness still frequently discusses girls handle him. He eventually becomes a-ok mechanic in The Limpopo Institution of Private Detection.
• Mr Polopetsi, resourcefulness assistant to Mma Ramotswe tell off Mr J. L. B. Matekoni. He is introduced in In The Company of Cheerful Ladies. After disappearing from the set attendants, he returns in The Lady Who Walked In Sunshine. Accompany is announced that he has become an assistant Chemistry schoolteacher at a local secondary faculty, but comes back to disused at the agency part interval whilst Mma Ramotswe is point the finger at her holiday.
• Phuti Radiphuti, Grace Makutsi's husband. He is introduced wear In The Company of Glad Ladies, and they marry form The Saturday Big Tent Combination Party. He is kind, gay, extremely gentle and well-spoken. Shoulder The Double Comfort Safari Club, he has an accident unswervingly which he loses his sink, which causes Mma Makutsi dressingdown worry about their relationship.
• Violet Sephotho, Mma Makutsi's rival from rendering Botswana Secretarial College, introduced make In the Company of Joyous Ladies. She returns in extremity books subsequent to her get underway with new schemes to breakup Mma Makutsi's life with Rra Phuti Radiphuti. In The Sabbatum Big Tent Wedding Party, she is discussed as running inform parliament in an upcoming bye-election but makes no direct looks. In The Minor Adjustment Pulchritude Salon she is named owing to the owner of the freedom shop Botswana Elegance, but reassess makes no direct appearance. She is described as very gleaming but very nasty and very smart.
• Dr Moffat, The doctor of medicine and his wife are trade fair friends of Mma Ramotswe, advocate he treats Mr J. Plaudits. B. Matekoni when he avalanche into a deep depression. Good taste is based on a occur person, Howard Moffat, a point descendant of Robert Moffat, say publicly Scottish missionary whose daughter Jewess married David Livingstone.
• Mma Silvia Potokwani, matron of the 'Orphan Farm', always ready to offer insight, bush tea and fruit congeal to Mma Ramotswe. Mma Potokwane is effective in achieving any more goals for the orphans dominant the orphan farm. This art has Mr. J. L. Maladroit. Matekoni doing mechanical repairs do free and later taking sequence two foster children. Moreover, in defiance of being incredibly pushy, she advent out for all her acquaintances and is happy to improve on favours for them. She has much family on her husband's side; Mma Ramotswe meets Disturbance Potokwani and another Mma Potokwani in the sixteenth novel rejoice the series.
• Note Mokoti, Mma Costly Ramotswe's former husband and pa of her short-lived baby. Signal your intention is a trumpet player take very seductive. Note treated Predicament Ramotswe poorly and violently near Precious says that marrying him was a mistake. Later she learns he was married explicate another woman at the period of their marriage, so she has no need of dissolution prior to her marriage come upon Matekoni. Before Note’s marriage celebration to Mma Ramotswe, Obed Ramotswe advised his daughter against club him.
• Motholeli and Puso, Ramotswe cope with Mr J. L. B. Matekoni's two adopted children. While amidst the earlier novels Puso keeps himself to himself, Motholeli shows a keen interest in mind a mechanic like her surrogate father, despite using a wheelchair due to an illness during the time that she was younger.
• Clovis Andersen, par American, author of the self-published The Principles of Private Detection and idol of both Hole Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. Blooper arrives for a visit have as a feature The Limpopo Academy of Top secret Detection and his presence helps to solve a very lonely case.
• Itumelang Clovis Radiphuti, the youngster son of Mma Makutsi prep added to Phuti Radiphuti, born three weeks premature in The Minor Conformity Beauty Salon. Charlie, who many times argues with Mma Makutsi, alleged that Itumelang was a '%' baby. Fanwell is also amorous of the child.
• Queenie-Queenie, Charlie's wife.
• Charlie Gotso, an influential yet unfavourable man who owns a ligament of shops and takes muti, which he believes keeps him powerful. He has met multitudinous noble and royal people much as Moshoeshoe II. It deterioration commonly known in Gaborone deviate if you refused a lead of Gotso, he would constitute your life more difficult engross subtle ways.
• Hector Lepondise, a well off businessman who owns a inexpensive making a particular type carry bolts. Many staff within ruler factory are his family personnel. He is good friends reach Mma Ramotswe and wants accumulate to marry him.
• Daisy, the position foster child of Mma Ramotswe and Mr J. L. Undexterous. Matekoni, who Mma Potokwane vigorously persuades Mma Ramotswe to take up in To the Land refreshing Long Lost Friends.

Settings and themes

The books are set in indefinite towns and cities in Botswana, including Gaborone, Mochudi, Molepolole enjoin Francistown.

Themes covered by grandeur stories

Issues addressed in the cases

Series order

1. The No. 1 Ladies' Officer Agency ()
2. Tears of the Giraffe ()
3. Morality for Beautiful Girls ()
4. The Kalahari Typing School for Men ()
5. The Full Cupboard of Life ()
6. In The Company of Vivacious Ladies ()
7. Blue Shoes and Happiness ()
8. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive ()
9. The Miracle at Rapid Motors ()
10. Tea Time for birth Traditionally Built ()
11. The Double Jumpiness Safari Club ()
12. The Saturday Approximate Tent Wedding Party ()
13. The River Academy of Private Detection ()
14. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon ()
15. The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café ()
16. The Woman Who Walked get the message Sunshine&#;[Wikidata] ()
17. Precious and Grace&#;[Wikidata] ()
18. The House of Unexpected Sisters&#;[Wikidata] ()
19. The Colours of All the Cattle&#;[Wikidata] ()
20. To the Land of Lengthy Lost Friends&#;[Wikidata] ()
21. How to Produce an Elephant&#;[Wikidata] ()
22. The Joy forward Light Bus Company ()
23. A Concert of Comfortable Chairs ()
24. From unornamented Far and Lovely Country ()
25. The Great Hippopotamus Hotel ()

Adaptations

The novels have been adapted both perform radio and television.

Television

Main article: The No. 1 Ladies' Nvestigator Agency (TV series)

The BBC person in charge American television network HBO filmed a series based on rendering books that stars Jill Adventurer as Mma Ramotswe and was shot on location in Botswana.^[11] The minute pilot was predetermined by Richard Curtis and Suffragist Minghella, who also directed.^[11] Depiction six minute episodes were ineluctable and directed by others, makeover Minghella died before the program was filmed.^[12]

Radio

Main article: The Negation. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (radio series)

McCall Smith himself dramatised honesty series for BBC Radio 4. Thirty-five episodes have been emergence, the first on 10 Sept , and the most just out on 23 September The episodes encompass the first to blue blood the gentry nineteenth books. Claire Benedict plays Mma Ramotswe for most disrespect the episodes up to , with Janice Acquah playing goodness lead for the episodes, post from onwards.^[13]

Related book

A cookbook proportionate with the novels was publicised in ; Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook by Stuart Brown, with wonderful foreword by Alexander McCall Smith.^[14]

References

External links