Precious Ramotswe: A Mysterious Profile

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

by Alexander McCall Smith

In this profile, the bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series recounts the creation of his popular Botswanan sleuth.

In 1998, Mma Precious Ramotswe made her debut in Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The Plain Dealer hailed the novel as “One of the best, most charming, honest, hilarious and life-affirming books to appear in years.” Decades and many books later, Precious has her own bestselling series, but readers may be wondering how exactly this beloved character came to be.

In this profile, the prolific McCall Smith offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at the development of his delightful detective. He recounts his childhood spent in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and working in Botswana in the 1980s. He reveals the inspiration for Precious and discusses the experience of creating the first book and getting it published. Those and other tales are sure to entertain fans of Precious old and new.

Genres: Africa, Memoir, Nonfiction, Mystery

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a short summary of how Alexander McCall Smith started writing the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He describes his birth and growing up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, living in Scotland and frequent trips to Africa. He visited Botswana and liked the country and the people there. He decided to write a book set in Botswana. Both my wife and I enjoy this series and recommend it.
This was an Amazon purchase.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read in this series which gets each author to reflect on a key character and discuss in depth both the character and some of the author’s inspiration for that person.

Precious Ramotswe is a delightful person of many virtues. She helps others solve the “not so big” problems in their lives. McCall Smith describes her in part as follows:
"Mma Ramotswe believes in forgiveness. “I am a forgiving lady,” she says in one of the books. Again, she is very wise. Forgiveness is a great virtue which unfortunately we may sometimes lose sight of when retribution holds center stage…She knows all about the weaknesses of men, but she does not condemn men for them. She understands how hard it is to be a man. She disapproves of boastful talk. She is modest. She is generous. She has a very soft heart for those who are heavily-burdened."

There is a lot more to this remarkable woman but I will leave it to you to decide whether to read some of the series or this introduction, first.

The author has spent a significant amount of time in southern Africa. This has informed his writing and given us a nuanced portrait of the people and the country of Botswana.

"People must not think that Africa is a disaster; that it is a broken continent. It is not."

Short and sweet - Fine stuff that doesn’t have to be great literature.

[Patti B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction, short account of McCall-Smith’s extensive life experiences in Africa, emphasizing the time he spent in Botswana, which is where his Number One Ladies Detective Agency novels take place, and of how he came up with the concept for Mma Ramotswe, the central character. For aficionados of the multi volume series.

[Jan Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet novella about our beloved Mma Ramotswe giving us background on how McCall-Smith was inspired to create her and of his life in Botswana. Sweet read! Too short!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Short Read

This was a really fun read. Fun hearing how his beloved book series came to be. It's a beautiful short book.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick insight into the development of one of Smith's most beloved characters, this booklet not only provides the background of Precious but gives you the background of the author's time in Africa.

[Kevin Vrieze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely biography of precious ramotswe and her friend Alexander mccall smith

Delightful short biography of mma. Ramotswe and how the author came to write about her. His biography has remarkable overlap. Very easy read. It makes her seem the more real even though one understands the fiction. It gives a richness to Botswana all who have the good fortune to come in contact with precious and her stories.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Alexander McCall Smith's "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books and love every one of them. I have said this a hundred times and I'll say it again. On our trip to South Africa, I did not get the opportunity to go to Botswana, but if I did, I'm absolutely positive I would've found the Detective Agency, the Double Comfort Furniture Store, the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the Orphan Farm, along with all the wonderful characters who inhabit them - all thanks to the incredible Mr. Smith who has created a fictional world that, for me, is absolutely real. Thank you for writing this short profile of the beloved Precious Ramotswe!

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an email about this little short book and had to have it immediately. I’ve been a fan of the Mma Ramotswe books for several years now, so I was interested in knowing a bit more about their origin story from McCall Smith’s own pen. I probably could have found some of this info elsewhere on the web, but it’s nice having a little story to read. I loved learning how he got the idea for the story, and how his love for Africa, and Botswana in particular, began. If you’re a fan of the books, I recommend this read. You’ll enjoy it.

[Mrs. Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mysterious Press has published a series of short essays by famous mystery writers, relating the “biography” of of the central character in their books. Precious Ramotse is Alexander McCall Smith’s, and all I can say is I wish it had been longer. It explained his knowledge of and deep admiration for Botswana and its citizens. It also revealed how much of McCall Smith is in Mma Ramotswe; despite being highly accomplished in the non-fictional part of his life, he is very modest. Every No. 1 Ladies Detective reader should read this.

[PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to know more..about him, about Precious, and about Botswana

Thank Mr Smith for this written a long time ago. Whether my whistle but I would love so much more. Just sayin'! I have read most of this man's books...want to know more about Edinburgh, Isabel, Varg, Scandinavia, Bertie...etc. Where did these inspirational characters come from? Who are they based on? Why these faces and places? More about His family...who were they who are they...etc etc etc. Whoa...just want more!

[Kathleen Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Precious Backstory

This charming short essay provides a history of McCall Smith’s love of Africa and introduction to Precious Ramotswe, the beloved proprietor of the Women’s Detective Agency, most American’s introduction to Botswana. Those of us who have been fortunate to teach or travel in Africa know that this is a special country, spared the tribulations of neighbors Zimbabwe and South Africa but the why comes through here.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what this little book was going to be - I'd thought it would be a Mma Ramotswe short story, but actually it's about AMS, and how he came to love Africa, and Botswana in particular, and then where Mma Ramotswe came from.
I'm really hoping AMS writes an autobiography at some point, as I found even just little snippet fascinating.

[Fran Burdsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful review of the series: Ladies Number 1 Detective Agency. In the words of Alexander McCall you hear his genuine love of Botswana, the countryside and its people. Each location, each character and each situation that are the hallmarks of these endearing books has been chosen from McCalls love and memory. With a twinkle in his eye, he brings it all together in an engaging story.

[Sharron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been to Botswana, heard Alexander McCall Smith speak, and I thoroughly enjoy this series. Given that, how could I fail to read the author’s explanation of how he created the character of Mma Ramotswe.

[R.Z. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a ripoff.

I generally love McCall Smith's books, but this one was a disappointment. It was not a story but just a description of his character, Precious Ramotswe and why he writes about her.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alittle boring. However, does provide alittle background to the character of Mma Ramotswe. A few parts are just an overview of the things you already know about her having read the series. Definitely worth a quick read!

[Terrie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short.

I love Alexander McCall Smith and his Ladies Detective books, but I didn’t know this would be such a short “book”. This is more like Cliff’s notes—just a very brief review. Not worth the cost.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author explains how M a Ramotswe came to be . An interesting look into his writing .

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading about the background of the #1 Ladies Detective series.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short memoir by McCall Smith on his time in Africa and the creation of Mme Ramotswe. Every bit as warm and kind as you expect from #1 Ladies.

[Ann E Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little look into a favorite character

I enjoy finding out about an author and their creation of a character. These profiles give me just enough of this.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

just a summary

Did not add anything new for readies of the series. A pleasant review of the character and some personal info on the author.

[Thomas M Holliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for Precious

I enjoyed reading some of the back story about Precious. And good to know how to pronounce Mma. Thank you

[Deni B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet glimpse into the background of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Precious Romotswe and I love Alexander McCall Smith. What could possibly result in a mediocre 3 star rating? There just wasn't ENOUGH of this book. Get it anyway. Read it anyway. You will receive some insights into McCall Smith's life and the origins of the ideas for Precious Ramotswe. You will certainly feel the author's love for Africa and for Botswana in particular. You may even want to buy tickets for your own trip to this wonderfully successful democracy. I'd hop the next plane if I could, and maybe never come home.

[Tricia Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Precious Ramotswe is a beloved character. The author shows us the process by which he arrived at the books. He tells us about his experiences in Africa and his meeting with people. Very short but it packs a punch.