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Precious Ramotswe, that cheerful Botswanan private investigator of 'traditional build', is well-known to millions across the world through the best-selling No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Those who have been following her exploits in five previously published novels will soon be able to... read more

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land?”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land?
    Highlighted by 43 Kindle customers
  • for that is what redeems us, that is what makes our pain and sorrow bearable—this giving of love to others, this sharing of the heart.
    Highlighted by 36 Kindle customers
  • The two women had known one another for many years, and had moved into that most comfortable of territories, that of an old friendship that could be picked up and put down at will without damage.
    Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers
  • The only explanation was that people who did that sort of thing had no understanding of what others felt; they simply did not understand. If you knew what it was like to be another person, then how could you possibly do something which would cause pain?
    Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers
  • There was no need for formality or caution, and the faults of each were known to the other.
    Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers
  • most men imagined that things like tea and food would simply appear if they waited long enough.
    Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers
  • A whole generation of people, not only in Africa, but everywhere else, had not been taught to feel for others because the parents simply had not bothered to teach them this.
    Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers
  • Contents   Cover Page  
    Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
  • It was a strange feeling, she had always thought; feeling the breathing of another, a reminder of how we all share the same air, and of how fragile we are. At least there was enough air in the world for everybody to breathe; at least people did not fight with one another over that. And it would be difficult, would it not, for the rich people to take all the air away from the poor people, even if they could take so many other things? Black people, white people: same air.
    Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
  • It was all very well being a modern society, but the advent of prosperity and the growth of the towns was a poisoned cup from which one should drink with the greatest caution. One might have all the things which the modern world offered, but what was the use of these if they destroyed all that which gave you strength and courage and pride in yourself and your country?
    Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
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First Sentence edit see section history

Mma Ramotswe was sitting alone in her favourite cafe, on the edge of the shopping centre at the Gaborone end of the Tlokweng Road.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 6 of 16 in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. (standard series)

Preceded by The Full Cupboard of Life, and followed by Blue Shoes and Happiness.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Alexander McCall Smith (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Polygon
Country: Scotland
Publication Date: 2004
ISBN: 1904598064
Page Count: 231

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PR6063.C326 I5 2004
  • Dewey: 813

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