Corduroy Mansions: "And here's this lovely building, your Corduroy Mansions. Crumpled - if a building can be crumpled. Utterly friendly and human. A building that says, 'Come in, love.' That's what it says: it calls us 'love', like a tea lady. A building that one would like to sit down and have tea with. That sort of building."
Hardcover flap: Originally published on the website Telegraph.co.uk, Corduroy Mansions won an enthusiastic readership during its 100-episode run and subsequently published in book form back in 2009.
'Corduroy Mansions' is the affectionate nickname given to a genteelly crumbling mansion block in London's vibrant Pimlico. This is the home patch of - amongst others - a lovelorn literary agent, possibly the first ever nasty Liberal Democrat MP and Freddie de la Hay, an urbane, simpatico terrier trained to be vegetarian and respectful of feline rights.
Elsewhere, the eccentric Terence Moongrove is on a voyage of self-discovery which has taken him to Cheltenham to experiment with sacred dance and where he develops a liking for fast cars.
Loafers, wine merchants, vitamin evangelists and the occasional analyst pass each other on the stairs of this delightful des res. With his trademark wit, charm and lightness of touch, Alexander McCall Smith introduces a colourful cast of characters, full of the life, laughter and humanity so beloved in his writing.
Video watching: The esteemed author introduces the quirky characters and talks about the attraction of the setting in Corduroy Mansions:
More information can be found here and here.
My take: Yet another amazing series by McCall Smith! Has the hallmark of the author - philosophical and funny at the same time. Love them. Highly recommended.
Rating: 5/5
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