Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind

by Alexander McCall Smith

4 of 5 stars 1 rating • 1 review • 1 shelved
Book cover for Pianos and Flowers

Bookhype may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.

A delightful collection of stories and photographs from the best-selling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, imagining the lives and loves of everyday people in the twentieth century

Pictures capture moments in time, presenting the viewer with a window into another life. But a picture can go only so far. Who are the people in the image? What are their fears? What are their dreams?

The fourteen captivating tales in this collection are all inspired by photos from the Times of London archive. A young woman finds unexpected love while perusing Egyptian antiquities. A family is forever fractured when war comes to Penang, in colonial Malaysia. Iron Jelloid tablets help to reveal a young man’s inner strength. And twin sisters discover that it’s never too late to forge a new path—even when standing at the altar.
 
There are big stories behind these simple images. Though at first glance they may appear to represent small moments, these photographs in fact speak volumes, uncovering possibilities of love, friendship, and happiness. With his indomitable charm, Alexander McCall Smith takes us behind the lens to explore the hidden lives of those photographed; in so doing, he reveals the humanity in us all.
  • ISBN10 0593315758
  • ISBN13 9780593315750
  • Publish Date 19 January 2021 (first published 10 October 2019)
  • Publish Status Remaindered
  • Publish Country US
  • Publisher Random House USA Inc
  • Imprint Pantheon