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In an hour of gentle wisdom and good cheer, one of the world’s most prolific and popular authors Alexander McCall Smith explains his long-held fascination with the poet W H Auden, introduces his new stand-alone novel, The Forever Girl, and explores the recent activities of Precious Ramotswe in Botswana and Bertie in Edinburgh.  In his book, What W H Auden Can Do For You, a tribute to Auden, he reveals how his life has related to and been inspired by Auden’s poems since he first encountered them in the 1970s.

McCall Smith is best known for his bestselling books in The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. At this event, he will talk about his new novel, a story of unrequited love travelling the globe from the Caribbean, through Scotland, to Australia and finally Singapore. He will explore what Auden has done for him and give us a sneaky peak at the next book in The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, The Handsome Man’s Deluxe Café and the latest in the Scotland Street series, Bertie’s Guide to Life and Mothers.

McCall Smith has had a varied career. He was a professor of medical law before publication of the highly successful No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has sold more than 20 million copies. His work has been translated into 40 languages and appeared in bestseller lists across the world. He has also written more than 30 books for children and was awarded a CBE for services to literature.

Here he talks to FT arts editor Jan Dalley.