Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind (Hardcover)

Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind By Alexander McCall Smith Cover Image

Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind (Hardcover)

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A delightful collection of stories and photographs from the best-selling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, imagining the lives and loves of everyday people in the twentieth century

Pictures capture moments in time, presenting the viewer with a window into another life. But a picture can go only so far. Who are the people in the image? What are their fears? What are their dreams?

The fourteen captivating tales in this collection are all inspired by photos from the Times of London archive. A young woman finds unexpected love while perusing Egyptian antiquities. A family is forever fractured when war comes to Penang, in colonial Malaysia. Iron Jelloid tablets help to reveal a young man’s inner strength. And twin sisters discover that it’s never too late to forge a new path—even when standing at the altar.
 
There are big stories behind these simple images. Though at first glance they may appear to represent small moments, these photographs in fact speak volumes, uncovering possibilities of love, friendship, and happiness. With his indomitable charm, Alexander McCall Smith takes us behind the lens to explore the hidden lives of those photographed; in so doing, he reveals the humanity in us all.
ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH is the author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels and of a number of other series and stand-alone books. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have been best sellers throughout the world. He lives in Scotland.
Product Details ISBN: 9780593315750
ISBN-10: 0593315758
Publisher: Pantheon
Publication Date: January 19th, 2021
Pages: 192
Language: English
Praise for Alexander McCall Smith


“Alexander McCall Smith is a master at using the economy of the short story to highlight the amplitude of the imagination.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A writer who charms many readers . . . McCall Smith’s characters are well drawn and alive.” —The Providence Journal

“McCall Smith writes with clarity, humor, and thoughtfulness.” —The Christian Science Monitor

“A vivid observer and an elegant writer.” —The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

“There’s not a more charming author on the face of the Earth.” —The Seattle Times

“An excellent old-fashioned storyteller.” —The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)