Book
The private life of spies ; and The exquisite art of getting even / Alexander McCall Smith.
"From the beloved author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes a new short story collection: half spy stories, half tales of revenge, all highlight the kinder, funnier, and gentler side of espionage and retribution. In this dual collection of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith brings his trademark humor and warmth to inventive tales of spying and vengeance. In one story, a spy dropped deep into enemy territory manages to disguise himself--quite convincingly--as a nun. In another, an invitation to join the Vatican Secret Service sends a prospective operative down a rabbit hole of controversy and confusion. A third story finds an author, on the brink of public ruin, seeing the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day. A keen observer of humanity imbued with a sparkling imagination, Alexander McCall Smith illustrates throughout that transparency is paramount and forgiveness is restorative. With surprising insight and a healthy helping of humor, these stories remind us that, in the end, the high road is often the better one for all involved"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781039008175 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 289 pages ; 25 cm
- Publisher: Toronto, ON : Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2023.
- Copyright: ©2022
Content descriptions
| General Note: | "Stories of espionage and revenge"--Dust jacket. Originally published in hardcover in two volumes in Great Britain as The Exquisite Art of Getting Even by Polygon Books, an imprint of Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, in 2022, and The Private Life of Shadows by Abacus, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, London, in 2023. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | The Private Life of Spies -- Author's Note -- Nuns and Spies (England, 1943) -- Syphax and Omar (Algiers, 1924) -- Ferry Timetable (Scotland, 1984) -- Donald and Yevgeni (Shanghai, Moscow, Washington, 1934-1947) -- Filioque (Rome, 2022) -- The Exquisite Art of Getting Even -- Sweet Vengeance: An Introduction -- Vengeance Is Mine -- A Melbourne Story: An Introduction -- The Principles of Soap -- Cavalleria Rusticana: An Introduction -- Monty, Tiger, Rose, Etc. -- Dignity & Decency: An Introduction -- One, Two, Three. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Humorous fiction. Short stories. Spy fiction. |
Available copies
- 2 of 2 copies available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | FIC McCal | 31681010322568 | FICTION | Available | - |
| Stroud Branch | FIC McCal | 31681010322550 | FICTION | Available | - |
| LDR | 03323cam a2200361 i 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 377215 | ||
| 003 | TSUGA | ||
| 005 | 20230428144120.3 | ||
| 008 | 230428r20232022onc 000 j eng | ||
| 020 | . | ‡a9781039008175 (hardcover) ‡c$35.00 | |
| 035 | . | ‡a(CaOWLBI)pr06953081 | |
| 055 | 0. | ‡aPR6063.C326 ‡bP755 2023 | |
| 090 | . | ‡aFIC McCal | |
| 100 | 1 | . | ‡aMcCall Smith, Alexander, ‡d1948- ‡eauthor. |
| 245 | 1 | 4. | ‡aThe private life of spies ; ‡band The exquisite art of getting even / ‡cAlexander McCall Smith. |
| 246 | 3 | 0. | ‡aExquisite art of getting even |
| 264 | 1. | ‡aToronto, ON : ‡bAlfred A. Knopf Canada, ‡c2023. | |
| 264 | 4. | ‡c©2022 | |
| 300 | . | ‡a289 pages ; ‡c25 cm | |
| 336 | . | ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent | |
| 337 | . | ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia | |
| 338 | . | ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier | |
| 500 | . | ‡a"Stories of espionage and revenge"--Dust jacket. | |
| 500 | . | ‡aOriginally published in hardcover in two volumes in Great Britain as The Exquisite Art of Getting Even by Polygon Books, an imprint of Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, in 2022, and The Private Life of Shadows by Abacus, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, London, in 2023. | |
| 505 | 0 | 0. | ‡tThe Private Life of Spies -- ‡tAuthor's Note -- ‡tNuns and Spies ‡g(England, 1943) -- ‡tSyphax and Omar ‡g(Algiers, 1924) -- ‡tFerry Timetable ‡g(Scotland, 1984) -- ‡tDonald and Yevgeni ‡g(Shanghai, Moscow, Washington, 1934-1947) -- ‡tFilioque ‡g(Rome, 2022) -- ‡tThe Exquisite Art of Getting Even -- ‡tSweet Vengeance: An Introduction -- ‡tVengeance Is Mine -- ‡tA Melbourne Story: An Introduction -- ‡tThe Principles of Soap -- ‡tCavalleria Rusticana: An Introduction -- ‡tMonty, Tiger, Rose, Etc. -- ‡tDignity & Decency: An Introduction -- ‡tOne, Two, Three. |
| 520 | . | ‡a"From the beloved author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes a new short story collection: half spy stories, half tales of revenge, all highlight the kinder, funnier, and gentler side of espionage and retribution. In this dual collection of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith brings his trademark humor and warmth to inventive tales of spying and vengeance. In one story, a spy dropped deep into enemy territory manages to disguise himself--quite convincingly--as a nun. In another, an invitation to join the Vatican Secret Service sends a prospective operative down a rabbit hole of controversy and confusion. A third story finds an author, on the brink of public ruin, seeing the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day. A keen observer of humanity imbued with a sparkling imagination, Alexander McCall Smith illustrates throughout that transparency is paramount and forgiveness is restorative. With surprising insight and a healthy helping of humor, these stories remind us that, in the end, the high road is often the better one for all involved"-- ‡cProvided by publisher. | |
| 655 | 7. | ‡aHumorous fiction. ‡2lcgft | |
| 655 | 7. | ‡aShort stories. ‡2lcgft | |
| 655 | 7. | ‡aSpy fiction. ‡2lcgft | |
| 700 | 1 | . | ‡aMcCall Smith, Alexander, ‡d1948- ‡tShort stories. ‡kSelections. |
| 700 | 1 | 2. | ‡icontainer of (work): ‡aMcCall Smith, Alexander, 1948- ‡tExquisite art of getting even. |
| 700 | 1 | 2. | ‡icontainer of (work): ‡aMcCall Smith, Alexander, 1948- ‡tPrivate life of shadows. |
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