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Mr. McCall Smith was raised in Zimbabwe, so he may have more insight into how people in Africa live than we might think. Also, the book had a distict feminist tone, so I think he was certainly trying to see things from a woman's perspective. Kudos to him for that!

There are white Africans... I would consider the author one, and myself another. I think it is possible for the author to tell the story of a black Botswana woman without being condescending or "cute" because the feelings and observations about Botswana are not coming from an external reporter but from the experiences of someone who is African. It makes me sad that people think that it is not possible for white people to talk about black people in any other tone except patronizing or condescending, and I think this book exactly shows that it is possible to share an affection and appreciation of the good things about Africa whether you are black or white... in fact, I have gotten much more of this "black versus white" attitude since I have left Zimbabwe, than I ever did when I grew up there, and had black and white friends, and to us we were all Zimbabwean. So my suggestion is to try see this book as written by an African, rather than a "white man".

Absolutely, Kremena! I think the response is hyper political correctness--If he is a white man, he must be a racist chauvinist pig.

I respectfully disagree. I don't think that was the tone at all. People should not judge an author based on race. I wouldn't judge a black guy for writing about a white woman. Authors have the power and creativity to develop characters that are different from themselves because they are so good at observing and learning about people. I wouldn't be so quick to judge an author based on their gender or race.

I completly diagree with you and agree with Susan. He did have a look into African culture. Also, there is no need to judge a book by the ethnicity of the author just because he is white and he is writing about Motswana. I think, that if you just get passed all the sillines of who the author is and the title of the book as some males have said than you might be able to enjoy.

I agree. Even if he was raised in Africa. I felt his tone was very patronizing toward woman.

I am a South Asian woman sensitive to how non-South Asians write about South Asia and women. Before I read this, I was curious about the "white man" as Susan says. But I didn't get that at all. So I ask those who think this is patronising to women and Botswanas, if you didn't know this was written by a white man would you still pick on this as patronising?

Actually, I didn't know it was written by a white man until AFTER I read it, and I thought it was patronizing.

I can't attest to the perceived patronizing tone toward Botswanas (as I am not one), but as a woman, I did not find his tone at all patronizing. Think about it: this is a story about a single, childless woman living in a culture where value is placed on being married and on motherhood; this woman faces a number of challenges (emotional and financial) due to her single, childless status, yet she manages to not only take care of herself and her father, but to succeed on her own merits in a pursuit that she enjoys and that utilizes her talents, all while demonstrating shrewd business savvy, competence and confidence (but never comprimising her femininity). How is that patronizing? It's a story of perseverance and fulfilling one's potential and dreams. Personally, it is a character I identify with, and I find her inspiring.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a white author writing about a black character if it's as well done as this book. Compare this with The Help, which I did have problems with, and you'll see what I mean.

yea and how about that horrible white woman Kathryn Stockett writing The Help? She has no business doing such a thing.

Kelly England: Me Too!

I hope all know I was being sarcastic above. These books are great. The main character is a strong woman who rejects the traditional role and does her own thing. She is happy in her own skin and states that she does not need a man to complete herself. Yet she is no femi-nazi. She is a great role model. And I find it fascinating that a man wrote these tales. bravo.

I think these books are great - and what shows is Dr. Smith's love of Botswana. Not long ago I had the opportunity to meet a woman of color whose husband was working in Botswana for a time, and another black lady--a psychologist--who thought the books were superb. I think that the condescension is in the review, not the book.

I had the same concerns upon reading the first two books: While they're very pleasant reads, the naivety of the majority of characters is a little worrisome. Especially since the American lady introduced in book no. 2 presents her case about her missing son succinctly and without any of the dumbed-down-y-ness we find in Precious' speech....

[quote] I felt his tone was very patronizing toward woman. [/quote]

I'm not picking up on that tone at all.

If anything, his tone is condescending toward/about men. :p

I have read No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency multiple times, as well as the sequels, and have never picked up on a patronizing tone. To author a work of fiction is to place yourself in another's shoes, something which Alexander McCall Smith does with grace and respect. Reading this charming series has been a privilege and a pleasure.

Kira, did you even read the books? Your comments are ignorant and childish.

Your criticism is fair. The author seems to understand this criticism as well and addresses this in the preface of book. So if one reads the book with this information then the story is more enjoyable. After all it's just a story told through the eyes of a white visitor who fell in love with the country; and absolutely that does not make HIM a reliable purveyor of life in Botswana. With that said, I enjoyed getting to know a little more about the culture of Botswana.

I agree, Kira, it's written from the perspective of a black African woman, and he is a older white Sottish man. I realise that he was raised in Zimbabwe, but this is written from the perspective of the colonizer. I had really been enjoying the books, and then when I really thought about this fact, it made me uncomfortable and look at them in a different way.

I realize that this is an old conversation, but I wanted to say some things that other commenters haven't. First, I believe Mr. McCall Smith identifies as African as he spent most of his life there. He fell in love with Botswana when he taught law at the University of Botswana. Second, a person from Botswana calls themselves a Motswana. Their language modifies the beginning of words rather than the end, as in English. Third, the simplicity of the people of Botswana does not indicate a lack of intelligence. We might be tempted to judge them based on our ideas of western societal norms and values, but they have very different values of their own. A slower way of life is just as valid as our own hectic ones. I believe that AMS respects and admires Botswana and its people, and he writes about them with love.

I appreciate your review. I certainly never thought of people in Botswana as unintelligent, but, rather, as highly sensitive to their surroundings, their community, their understanding of human dynamics and nature. I loved the simplistic way that Mr. McCall Smith writes as his writing style communicates more sincerity and honesty than superfluous words. I would love to visit Botswana some day!

What one sees as simple, according to their view鈥攁nother may see as spiritually complex. The observations of these characters are often brilliant in their simplicity. Mma Ramotswe, particularly, is a philosopher at heart, a deeply spiritual, yet practical woman. The two main characters, women, both work.

Nothing patronizing about these novels. The mark of a good writer is to be able to enter into the characters he or she creates and make them believable, which Alexander McCall Smith is a master at, including with his books set in England. These characters face many challenges as the books progress, dealing with loss, death, disease, poverty, mental illness, orphans, and both the goodness and evilness of human beings

I wholeheartedly agree with Judy, message 28. I like your words, Judy, "what one sees as simple, according to their view---another may see as spiritualy complex." My view of these characters is that they are complex and author has "enormous" gift for conveying this to readers. It has been my finding that people either love or dislike this series. This is a lovely review!

What an incredibly closed-minded comment.

Colleen wrote: "I wholeheartedly agree with Judy, message 28. I like your words, Judy, "what one sees as simple, according to their view---another may see as spiritualy complex." My view of these characters is tha..."

I did find some red bush tea and have been drinking it, imagining I am sitting in the warm sun with Mma Ramotswe. She is a character who has overcome so much and come so far...from an abusive relationship, the loss of her child, losing her own mother so young, the death of her father, supporting her husband through his depression, to a loving marriage caring for two orphans...and she remains kind and resourceful with a deep and uncomplicated wisdom that always helps her find her way.

(As for the comment by "Fenris" -- I have no idea why he (she?) is talking about, so I shall kindly ignore it.)

Joanna wrote: "I can't attest to the perceived patronizing tone toward Botswanas (as I am not one), but as a woman, I did not find his tone at all patronizing. Think about it: this is a story about a single, chil..."
I love your sensitive and insightful comments, Joanna. Thank you. Interesting that some readers think he is being condescending to the women in the book, but never mention the men.

Judy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I wholeheartedly agree with Judy, message 28. I like your words, Judy, "what one sees as simple, according to their view---another may see as spiritualy complex." My view of these c..."


I was responding to Kira's review, in which she suggested that a white man cannot presume to know what it means to be African. I found her perspective to be closed-minded.

Fenris wrote: "Judy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I wholeheartedly agree with Judy, message 28. I like your words, Judy, "what one sees as simple, according to their view---another may see as spiritualy complex." My vi..."
Ah--thank you for the clarification, Fenris. I was confused. Now it makes sense! Kira clearly does not understand what it means to be a writer. Writers step outside of themselves all the time, to create characters, otherwise we'd have no books to read. That's what it means to be a writer...which is also the joy of writing.

For centuries women have been writing about men and men about women. After all, we have much more in common than we have different, and the author wasn't trying to write specifically about the black female (to use a gender) experience. I, too, initially wondering about a white man writing this book, but the author had his childhood in Zimbabwe and his life in Botswana where he co-founded and taught at the University of Botswana to draw on. I feel he portrayed Mma Ramotswe as a strong, independent woman and showed respect for his characters and setting. Some cultures do value simplicity and leisure more than Western culture does, so perhaps that's realistic. I know that was my son's experience in a non-western country. We always bring our own perspectives to art and literature, but often not to the extreme of this review.

Javin wrote: "I realize that this is an old conversation, but I wanted to say some things that other commenters haven't. First, I believe Mr. McCall Smith identifies as African as he spent most of his life there..."

I am a Motswana woman;I'm an ex-police sergeant who worked for a number of years in Gaborone; I analysed these books for my MA and currently revisiting them for my Critically-Creative Ph.D.; as a black woman from Botswana, these books were the most uncomfortable books I've ever read. I found them condescending, degrading with racist undertones - 'those who think they are about Botswana, then where is the narrative about the real Botswana culture? Research Ubuntu/botho - why is the Ubuntu narrative missing? This poem captures how I feel about these books as a Motswana woman:

I come from Botswana!
Being a British Person of colour鈥�
You must come from somewhere鈥�
I come from Botswana!
These four words used to fill me with such pride.
鈥ntil someone asked, 鈥榟ave you read鈥�?鈥�
To which I responded with a hesitant鈥�
No. I have not heard of the woman you speak of.
Where did you say she comes from?
I come from Botswana!
These four words.
I now must ponder carefully before I open my mouth.
While I attempt to read the enquirer鈥檚 mind.
Will they too pop the dreaded, 鈥榟ave you read鈥�?
These words now tainted with shame.
But still, out they tumble, of their own accord.
I come from Botswana!
This woman you speak of, is no kin of mine.
She is, but nightmares long entombed in deep pyramids of time
I note the enquirer鈥檚 disappointment.
For my body isn鈥檛 as round and as fat as expected
A figure like mine is quite wrong for Africa they鈥檝e been told
For privilege knows what鈥檚 right for the black women Botswana
I come from Botswana!
While I shrivel up in shame,
My white creator is applauded for waking up the dead
He鈥檚 not here of course, to hold my head high
For the master is busy penning my next indignity
I picture her, in my head, The Hottentot Venus 鈥�
I feel the horror she once felt under this gaze.
Framed on stage, frozen in time鈥�
Objectified; her womanhood defined by their gaze!
I come from Botswana!
I鈥檓 body-shamed in over thirty languages鈥�
sold in millions. And still鈥�
I respond to the 鈥榟ave you read鈥︹€� without protest
I too have read, the 鈥榟ave you read鈥�?鈥�
But in mine, pleasure is nowhere to be found鈥�
I鈥檓 deconstructed, reconstructed, and racially profiled
I come from Botswana!
I found myself under the category 鈥榤ay have small head鈥�
But told not to worry as I am now filled with memories.
An upgrade with memories that were never mine, to prize!
Now as I sit, sipping a heavily sugared cup of Five Roses鈥�
I ponder carefully, these stories鈥�
These stories about black people for white people?
And the tribulations of being written about?
But where do we draw the line鈥�?

A poem by a black woman from Botswana simply tired of being asked, 鈥榟ave you read鈥�?
By the way, Batswana prefer Five Roses to Bush Tea!

Betty, thank you for your insight and perspective. The poem is lovely. I absolutely do not regard these books as reality and realize they are a fantasy made up by a person outside the community. Every book we read is, and can only ever be, from the perspective of one person, with their own take on the subject they write about. I鈥檓 from a very large country that is quite diverse and has many ways of being a citizen. I get annoyed when writers get my hometown 鈥渨rong鈥� (Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn), but I realize it鈥檚 just fiction. AMS has brought a fictionalized version of Botswana to the world, which will hopefully encourage people to research the real Botswana. Neither places, nor books, are without problems and complications.

I read these books some years ago and enjoyed them. A nice break from "serious" reading. However returning to them now in 2020 when I have spent a great deal of time thinking about my own unconscious racism, I found myself very uncomfortable. I keep wondering how these appear to someone from Botswana. Certainly his tone is patronizing, altho loving as well. I am trying to ask myself if these books are different from Agatha Christie's purely innocent depiction of Miss Marple. I do not fault a man writing about a woman. He clearly respects her. But the overly simple and almost childish view of the Botswanian people is problematic. Perhaps the issue is partly that we read so little by African authors about African life (our loss and our fault) that we are apt to take an imaginary story like Smith's as if it were a realistic portrayal of the society and its people. I would really like to read some reviews of this series written by African American readers.

Javin wrote: "Betty, thank you for your insight and perspective. The poem is lovely. I absolutely do not regard these books as reality and realize they are a fantasy made up by a person outside the community. Ev..."

Diane wrote: "I read these books some years ago and enjoyed them. A nice break from "serious" reading. However returning to them now in 2020 when I have spent a great deal of time thinking about my own unconscio..."

Diane wrote: "I read these books some years ago and enjoyed them. A nice break from "serious" reading. However returning to them now in 2020 when I have spent a great deal of time thinking about my own unconscio..."

Diane, I have written a whole (MA) thesis on his first 7 books, and there's also an article written by a University of Botswana female professor expressing the same concerns - but unfortunately, we as Batswana, have no platform from which we can defend ourselves from these negative/racist representations. Personally, his books would not bother me if they weren't being sold as representative of life in Botswana; as Javin highlights above, the novels are fiction and they should be sold as such -as a fiction writer, he has the freedom to write from whatever perspective he chooses but he shouldn't present himself as an authority on Botswana. He is simply culturally out of his depth - his books completely erase Botswana culture (Botho/Ubuntu) and replace it with a colonial culture which is, in turn, passed off as Botswana culture. He completely gets the Setswana translations and spellings wrong. The characters are all based on colonial racial stereotypes about Black people and racism is of course, easy to hide behind the all 'blackface' cast.

SO it makes no difference to you scholars that Alexander McCall Smith is Zimbabwean? He was born in Bulawayo! I have read two of his novels so far and found them both to be exceptional. One was in the Ladies Detective series (the first volume) and the other was in his Scandinavian series. Have you all forgotten how to read FICTION? When did it come to pass that fictional novels had to stand up to some real-life criteria? There is nothing offensive about the people portrayed in The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I love Mma Ramotswe and how she took control of her OWN life. She is a powerful female character, one we sorely need in today's world.

"The characters are all based on colonial racial stereotypes about Black people and racism is of course, easy to hide behind the all 'blackface' cast." NO lol. Please stop this. Everyone is constantly offended by everything today. It's sickening now.

Betty, thanks so much for your insight. I had some misgivings about what I perceived as a condescending and racist representation of people from Botswana, but, as we can see in this comment thread, this kind of criticism or skepticism is often met with 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 fiction鈥� or 鈥渂ut the author lived there鈥�.

To those posters, living in a country doesn鈥檛 mean you experience the culture the same way as people raised in the culture. Colonists and colonizers experience a different reality, just like different cultural groups in the US have different lived experiences.
Saying it鈥檚 fiction ignores the many ways that fiction colors our perceptions and understanding of the world around us and lives we haven鈥檛 lived.

Betty wrote: as a black woman from Botswana, these books were the most uncomfortable books I've ever read.

I was watching some episodes from the TV series. At first I was enjoying them, then I thought the attitude seemed like "aren't these blackies cute" - eech! And I wondered if the creators of the TV series and the books were white people. They all were.

I can't say about the attitude in the books, haven't read them.

This is an interesting string of posts providing insight to ways in which readers connect with writers. We must be careful of our assumptions in that they are not accusatory whenever we evaluate the tone and perceptions an author conveys. I absolutely love these books. They are written with warmth and love for these characters. This is a story told with great love for Botswana and for his characters. This is how a writer mives through the imagined time, space, and events of his imagined story. Interestingly I have not enjoyed McCall's other books. I am an avid reader of ALL genres except science fiction and self-help.

Betty wrote: "Javin wrote: "I realize that this is an old conversation, but I wanted to say some things that other commenters haven't. First, I believe Mr. McCall Smith identifies as African as he spent most of ..."
Betty, Thankyou for posting this. I learnt a lot.

Rachel wrote: "Betty, thanks so much for your insight. I had some misgivings about what I perceived as a condescending and racist representation of people from Botswana, but, as we can see in this comment thread,..."
The author did not just "live" in Botswana, he was born and RAISED there! Have you bothered to read anything about him at all?

Rachel wrote: "Betty, thanks so much for your insight. I had some misgivings about what I perceived as a condescending and racist representation of people from Botswana, but, as we can see in this comment thread,..."

You need to really get over yourself. This entire series of comments is ridiculous and incredibly ignorant.

I agree, Kira. The dialog is made to sound as if they are all in primary school or slightly brain damaged, until an American enters and suddenly it sounds mature and educated. Very condescending.

BTW, I live in South Africa and black people do not sound this simple and uneducated at all, as if they never passed primary school. I often come across British people that seem to think they are superior to Africans though, like my neighbour. Smith seems to fall in this category.

Hi there, I鈥檝e been following this with interest because I recently upset a lot of (white) people on a literary forum suggesting The No. 1 Detective Agency was an example of a book that I, as a (white British) reader, found problematic because I didn鈥檛 trust the source to give me an authentic vision of Botswana. Oh my goodness! Who knew so many white British people loved these (old) books and would defend to the death A. M. S鈥檚 right to write them.

I鈥檇 originally mentioned the book on this literary forum because I read it and found it a bit - meh. I read a lot of crime fiction. This book would nowadays be called 鈥榗osy crime鈥� whereas I鈥檓 a reader of the grittier stuff. But it was charming enough to finish, not interesting enough to read on in the series. And it felt odd to read a white man鈥檚 interpretation of Botswana using black characters though I wasn鈥檛 quite sure why I felt that. Because of the history of colonialism, I guess. Because it seemed bold of him to feel he had the right to do it. But it was a work of fiction and it wasn鈥檛 negative, quite the opposite, it seemed, so - well, meh.

From the interviews I鈥檝e read I think MS loves Botswana (he wasn鈥檛 born there, incidentally, or grew up there, he lived there for a year or so, setting up the University. He grew up in Zimbabwe and went to University in Edinburgh, where he鈥檚 lived for a long time now) and his descriptions are lovingly rendered.

The reason I find these books problematic now, having read more about it (and massive thanks to Betty above for her perspective which set me off looking) is that they claim to be 鈥榓uthentic鈥� (through their marketing more than anything) and they stand alone in Western culture as an 鈥榓uthentic鈥� representation of Botswana. We Westerners heave a huge sigh of relief and go 鈥榓h, Africa, so lovely鈥� the way we do every time we see those Sunday evening programmes like Wild at Heart. And the only other time we really 鈥榮ee鈥� Africa is when there鈥檚 an appeal on. I don鈥檛 feel like I know real Africa all that well at all (been on a few holidays recently, which helps. I mean, enough to know it鈥檚 massive and contains a lot of different countries and people, it鈥檚 not just a big blob on the map anymore).

I got a lot of the above from reading this: though you need an academic account to read all of it (I鈥檓 studying with the Open University).

Since then I鈥檝e read MS say he likes to write utopian worlds. That鈥檚 what this book series is, a simplified utopian world where really bad, complicated stuff doesn鈥檛 happen. So, by all means enjoy the charming nature of the books. They鈥檙e a bit like Last Of The Summer Wine was for Yorkshire. But read some modern African authors too.

I fully agree. I' m not saying that the author is a racist but I find he description of the 'simple people' incredibly patronizing.

I have read a large portion of this series, and on occasion I have to remind myself that this was written by a man (black or white). I also remember days when I have stared at the author photo at the back and wondered how it could have been written by the man pictured there. Mme Ramotswe has always been an inspiration to me and I wish I could be as kind and graceful as she is... It's not only her that is lovingly drawn though. In a world where women have trouble potraying other women kindly, he has created true secondary characters that I wish I could have fruitcake and tea with. I thus found this review offensive. Mr. McCall Smith I hope you know that it has been a privilege reading these books.

goddess wrote: "I have read a large portion of this series, and on occasion I have to remind myself that this was written by a man (black or white). I also remember days when I have stared at the author photo at t..."

Beautiful words. I concur with everything you say. And, of course, a true writer enters completely into the character. The writer may have to do research at a practical level, but then becomes each character he or she writes about. That is the joy of writing.

Regarding McCall Smith's picture -- I see softness, humor, and wisdom there.

I think you just ruined for me

It deserves to be ruined, I fear.