A Work of Beauty - Paperback

A Work of Beauty showcases Edinburgh as a city of stories – a place that has witnessed everything from great historical upheavals to the individual lives of a remarkable cast of characters. Every spire, cobblestone, bridge, close and avenue has a tale to tell.

In this book, Alexander McCall Smith curates his own, distinctive story of Edinburgh – combining his affectionate, incisive wit with a wealth of stunning imagery drawn from Scotland's national collection of architecture and archaeology. Through a series of photographs, maps, drawings and paintings – many never before published – he takes the reader on a unique tour.

This is a story of famous landmarks and lost buildings; the people who made them; the people who lived in them. A Work of Beauty is an intimate portrait of a city by one of Scotland's greatest storytellers.

By Alexander McCall Smith

‘Sandy McCall Smith amazes fellow scribblers with his freshness and sheer verve. Having lived in Edinburgh for twenty years, I loved A Work of Beauty, his wonderfully written evocation of the most beautiful city in the world.’ The Scotsman, Books of the Year

‘Alexander McCall Smith has penned a love letter to Scotland’s capital … A Work of Beauty lays bare the changing face of Auld Reekie, capturing forever the eternal beauty of its historic skyline and the qualities that have earned it the title “the Athens of the North”.’ Sunday Post

• Paperback