2005: Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith's more than 50 books range in subject matter from specialist academic titles on medicine and law to novels, short story collections and a a number of immensely popular children's books. He is best known, however, for his acclaimed No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series that now totals five titles (he is working on the sixth) and has been optioned for a feature film.

The series has become an international bestseller, with more than 3.5 million copies in print in the U.S. alone. He also has authored the highly successful Sunday Philosophy Club series as well. McCall Smith was born in Zimbabwe and now lives in Scotland, where he is Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh.