Human Kindness in a Volatile World

Speaker: Alexander McCall Smith

While the headlines often focus on what divides us, acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith has spent decades chronicling what connects us: friendship, community and the simple importance of being kind. From the dusty streets of Gaborone to the cobblestones of Edinburgh, his characters remind us that the smallest acts of kindness are often the most revolutionary.

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with one of the world's most beloved storytellers at this in- conversation event. We’ll explore Alexander’s prolific career spanning over 100 books, and discuss why, in a volatile age, nurturing human kindness and positivity is not just a literary choice, but a necessary way of life.

Don’t miss the opportunity to find out about the philosophy beneath the prose and hear from the author of the iconic No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as he celebrates the publication of two new books, The Kind Company of Others and The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion.

Book sales

You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.

Portrait image credit: Kirsty Anderson

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Host or Publisher York Festival of Ideas