Espresso Tales
Authors: Alexander McCall Smith
Contents
Chapter 1. Semiotics, Pubs, Decisions
Chapter 3. Narcissism and Social Progress
Chapter 4. On the Way Back to Scotland Street
Chapter 5. All Downhill from Here
Chapter 6. Domenica Gets into Top Gear
Chapter 8. An Exchange of Cruel Insults
Chapter 14. Pat and Bruce Work It Out
Chapter 16. Bertie Goes to School Eventually
Chapter 17. Down Among the Innocents
Chapter 19. Matthew's Situation
Chapter 21. Demographic Discussions
Chapter 23. An Astonishing Revelation Is Almost Made
Chapter 24. Bruce Meets a Friend
Chapter 25. Agreement Is Reached
Chapter 29. At the Film Theatre
Chapter 32. The Two Wicked Uncles: Possible Solutions
Chapter 33. Bertie Makes a Move
Chapter 34. Bertie Prepares to Cross Dundas Street
Chapter 37. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part 1âEarly Days
Chapter 38. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part 2âCourting Days
Chapter 39. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part 3âFurther Highlights
Chapter 40. Bertie's Plan Is Launched
Chapter 41. Irene's Plan for Bertie
Chapter 45. Dinner with Father
Chapter 46. The Language of Flowers
Chapter 49. Australian Memories
Chapter 50. A Trip to Glasgow in the Offing
Chapter 51. On the Glasgow Train, a Heart Is Opened
Chapter 52. Arriving in Glasgow
Chapter 54. A Game of Cards and a Cultural Trip
Chapter 56. Domenica Meets Pat
Chapter 57. The Natural Approach
Chapter 60. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part IVâLegal Matters
Chapter 61. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part VâJohnny Auchtermuchty
Chapter 62. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part VIâa Perthshire Weekend
Chapter 63. Bertie Receives an Invitation
Chapter 64. Bertie's Invitation Is Considered
Chapter 67. Bruce's Enterprise
Chapter 68. A Petrus Opportunity
Chapter 69. The Best Laid Plans o' Mice and Men
Chapter 71. Crushed Strawberry
Chapter 72. Ink and the Imagination
Chapter 74. The Wolf Man, Neds, Motherwell
Chapter 75. Cyril's Moment of Glory
Chapter 76. Bruce Has Uncharitable Thoughts about Crieff
Chapter 77. Bruce Gets What He Deserves
Chapter 80. Dogs and Cuban History
Chapter 82. A Great Sense of Purity
Chapter 83. In Moray Place Gardens
Chapter 84. The Memory of Pigs
Chapter 85. Encounter, Catharsis, Flight
Chapter 86. In the Café St Honoré
Chapter 87. Domenica Takes Food to Angus
Chapter 89. The Restoration of Fortunes
Chapter 90. Self-assertiveness Training for Civil Servants
Chapter 91. Stuart Paints Bertie's Room
Chapter 92. Discussions Take Place Between Irene and Stuart
Chapter 93. The Gettysburg Address
Chapter 95. The Wind Makes the Trains Sound Faint
Chapter 96. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part VIIâBridge at Blair Atholl
Chapter 97. The Ramsey Dunbarton Story: Part VIIIâI Play the Duke of Plaza-Toro
Chapter 98. Younger Women, Older Men
Chapter 103. All Goes Well for Bruce
Books by Alexander McCall Smith
Preface
This is volume two of a serial novel which I started to write in
The Scotsman
newspaper and which, at the time of publication of this book, I am still writing. The enjoyment which I have obtained from spinning this long-running tale of a house and its occupants in Edinburgh is, I hope, apparent on every page. It has never been a chore. Not for a moment.
At the end of the first volume,
44 Scotland Street
, I left matters unresolved for many of the characters. Now in
Espresso Tales
we see the continuation of many of the themes begun in volume one. Bertie, that immensely talented six-year-old, is still in therapy, and his plight seems to get worse and worse. Bruce, the unbearable narcissistic surveyor, is still as irritating as before, perhaps even more so. If there is any justice, he will get his come-uppance in this volume (but don't count on that). And Domenica, that sage occupant of the top floor of 44 Scotland Street, continues to comment on the world with her mordant wit.
During the writing of this book, which appeared in daily parts in
The Scotsman
, I received comments from many readers. Some wrote in with suggestions; others occasionally upbraided me for the views which some of the characters expressed. I inadvertently ruffled the feathers of an entire Scottish town at one point, and at another I received a very reproachful letter from a convinced vegan. These, I suppose, are the consequences of writing a novel under the scrutiny of the public eye.
This is, of course, not a work of scrupulous social realism. However, unlike in many other novels, all the places in this book exist, and a number of the characters are real people, who currently live in Edinburgh and who agreed to appear, as themselves, in this story. Other people have, for some reason, imagined that they appear in this story, thinly (or otherwise) disguised. Alas, this is not true. There is no real Bertie; and even if there are many like Domenica, or Angus, or any of the other characters, I had no particular person in mind when writing about them.
When the last episode of this book was published in the newspaper, we had a party in the offices of
The Scotsman
. Many readers attended, and some gave me their frank assessment of what had happened in the series. Others came up to me and said, “You can't stop now. There will have to be a third volume.” At the beginning of the evening I had decided that I would not write a third; by the end I had changed my mind. I am easily persuaded to continue to have fun. And why not?
This second volume is committed to press in gratitude to the readers of
The Scotsman
and in affection for this remarkable city and the people who make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world. Again I express my thanks to those who accompanied me on this particular literary journey: to David Robinson, books editor of
The Scotsman
, to Iain Martin, editor of
Scotland on Sunday
, John McGurk, editor of
The Scotsman
, and Neville Moir of Polygon, that most perceptive and sympathetic of editors. And my thanks are given, too, to Florence Christie, leader of the fans of Bertie, and my friend, Michael Lamont, who has been one of the few readers who showed any sympathy for Bruce. And finally, I would like to thank William Lyons, arts editor of
Scotland on Sunday
, who gave me advice on wine matters and who features in the story as himself. Not having tasted
Chateau Petrus
myself, I assume that what he says about it is correct.
Alexander McCall Smith
Edinburgh
