The Girl Who Married a Lion

October 25, 2004
Straying from the safety net of a bestselling series (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
, etc.), Smith tells 40 traditional African folk tales with his by now signature humor, simplicity and reverence for African culture. With an introductory letter from No. 1 Lady Detective Mma Ramotswe as a preface, he sets the literary stage for a nostalgic stroll down his own personal memory lane. Born and raised in what is now Zimbabwe, Smith began collecting these stories as a child and combines them with several he gleaned from a friend who interviewed natives of Botswana. Many of the stories parallel classic Western tales, from Aesop to Mother Goose. The ubiquitous wolf-in-sheep's-clothing fable becomes a parable about a girl who unwittingly marries a lion. Other stories deal with familiar themes ranging from ingratitude (in "Head Tree," a man cured of a tree growing out of his head does not pay the charm woman her due) to vanity (in "Greater Than Lion," a hare outwits a conceited and boastful lion). However, many are uniquely African, such as the stories that explain why the elephant and hyena live far from people or how baboons became so lazy. These are pithy, engaging tales, as habit-forming as peanuts. Agent, Robin Strauss. (Dec. 7)

Forecast:
Many of these stories were originally published in a 1989 collection (
Children of Wax, from Canongate). This expanded volume arrives just in time for Christmas and should delight fans of
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and the first installment in Smith's new series,
The Sunday Philosophy Club.

Alexander McCall Smith, author of the hugely successful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, brought more than Mma Ramotswe back from Botswana. He returned to his native Scotland with an affection for African folktales, which he retells in this volume. McCall Smith is ably served by the five narrators who give this book voice. All accurately reproduce the singsong British-flavored accents common to English-speaking Africans, and all seem comfortable with the stuff of folktales, such as magic and talking animals. Although the narrators' names are mentioned at the beginning of the book, the stories, disappointingly, are read anonymously. Unless you already know a narrator's voice well, you won't be able to attach a particular voice to a name. Otherwise, this is a fine production and a good listen for anyone interested in folktales. It's also perfect family listening. R.E.K. 2006 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

June 1, 2005
Forty traditional African folktales read by various narrators make up this collection by the author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Raised in what is now Zimbabwe, Smith collected these stories, and his interpretations testify to the African tradition of the unity of humans and nature. Some themes are universal, some can also be recognized in Western culture, and some are unique to sub-Saharan Africa. They deal with perennial human emotions and predicaments that can be profound and humorous, but the hyenas, elephants, and baboons that populate the tales lend an exotic flavor. Recommended to enhance oral folklore collections and for Smith fans. -Sandy Glover, Camas P.L., WA

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