A “Precious” Tale of Africa

A couple of weeks ago, our Book Goddess blogged about how much she enjoys Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series.

I happen to be reading (or rather, listening to) the latest book in another of Mr. McCall Smith’s series, The Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency.

When the first book in the series was released in 1998, my grandmother happened upon it her local library.  She enjoyed it so much that she insisted I read it immediately.  My grandmother generally likes light-hearted mystery novels, which aren’t really my cup of tea, but I decided to appease her and give it a try.

Within the first few pages I was transported to Botswana, Africa and the world of Precious Ramotswe, the very first private detective in Gabarone.  Mr. McCall-Smith does such a wonderful job of describing Botswana that after a while it was easy to envision the dirt roads, scorching sun, and cattle munching on sweet grass.

The first book, The Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency, details Mma Ramotswe’s challenges in opening her business and getting clients in a culture that generally values the opinions of men more than those of women.  It also introduces us to Mma Ramotswe’s fiance, renowned mechanic Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and Mma Ramotswe’s secretary, the straight-forward, uncomprimising Grace Makutsi.   Each character is beautifully developed. 

A main focus of the series is the difficulties in getting clients, keeping the clients happy, and of course, actually solving the case.  Mma Ramotswe investigates everything from theft and infidelity to missing persons and murder.  She treats every case with equal importance and relies on her own common sense as well as words of wisdom The Principles of Private Detection by Clovis Anderson.  And of course, the series spends a lot of time talking about the characters and how they interact with each other.  Life in Gabarone may be a simpler than a life in New York City, but relationships and friendships will always be complicated.

What I most enjoy about The Ladies’ No. 1 Detective Agency series are the descriptions of Africa’s rolling desert prairies and the love most of the people have for their homeland.  Every single book in the series demonstrates the pride Mma Ramotswe has not only of being an African woman, but being from Botswana.  McCall Smith manages to seemlessly incorporate the history and culture of Botswana in his books as part of the stories he tells.  It’s safe to say that I know more about the history of Botswana than I know about any other country south of the Equator.

HBO liked the series so much that they developed it into a well-received television series starring Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe.  It was directed and produced by the late Anthony Minghella, who directed such blockbusters as “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Michael Clayton.”  The entire series was shot on-location.  While there are a few minor changes made to the story, the spirit of the tale is the same.

I’ve read every book in this series.  In fact, I make it a point to either purchase or check out the book as soon as it’s released.  I love every installment of the series.  While the books deal with serious issues, such as the AIDS epidemic, at the end of the book I always feel better than I did before I read it.  And sometimes, if I’m lucky, I have dreams of Africa.

The latest book in this series is Tea Time for the Traditionally Built.  It, as well as the other books in the series, is available from the West Palm Beach Public Library.  Most of them are available in audio as well.

 

**Britta**