1. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBy
Alexander McCall Smith

2. Alexander McCall Smith
British but born in Zimbabwe
Went to school in Zimbabwe and Scotland
Wrote many stories about children and adults
Currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with wife and two daughters

3. Background and Themes Touches on larger problems in modern Africa.
Children being killed for muti (witchdoctor’s medicine)
The terrible disease AIDS
Human Nature and Mma Ramotswe instinctive understanding of it is an important theme.
Truth and lies – important theme

4. Themes and Motifs Continued
Relationship between blacks and whites in the novel
Discovery in Botswana of three of the world’s richest diamond mines as economic stroke of luck for the nation
Author’s integration of the ideas of feminism and chauvinism into the narrative
History, individual and general affects the characters of the text.

5. Setting and Society Novel takes place in the capital city of Gaborone.
Mma Ramotswe’s place within society
Effect of physical topography and geography of Africa on story

6. History of Botswana
Central South African country smaller than Texas, but larger than California
Hinges on gaining independence in 1966 from the United Kingdom
Independence due in large part to development of extensive diamond reserves.

7. Structure and Plot Use of third person narration
Switches to first person narration in Chapter 2 and has Obed Ramotswe narrate