The Forgotten Affairs Of Youth - Hardcover

McCall Smith, Alexander

3.9

5,345 ratings by Goodreads

9781408703397: The Forgotten Affairs Of Youth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1408703394 ISBN 13: 9781408703397

Publisher: Little, Brown, 2011

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

The continuing adventures from Isabel Dalhousie, Edinburgh philosopher and curious observer of the behaviour of her fellow man.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Praise for "The Forgotten Affairs of Youth
"
"No matter the philosophical twist [Isabel] puts on her actions, it comes back to doing the right thing. McCall Smith has produced an endearing, intelligent and kindly character, which leads a reader to imagining him as having similarly charming traits, both human and literary." --"Charleston Post and Courier"
"Because both Isabel and Jane are philosophers, discussions on the nature of truth also arise--especially when that elusive creature seems to be antithetical to love. In McCall Smith's trademark voice, these conflicts play out in civil conversation, delivered in a naturalistic style that conveys both these women's priorities. . . . Readers get to soak up the cozy atmosphere of this Scottish university town and McCall Smith's gentle good will. . . . Isabel once again proves herself civilized company for cold winter nights." --"The Boston Globe"
"This totally absorbing novel has as its primary focus the grip of the past, as Isabel helps a woman given up for adoption find her biological father. Isabel is everything you'd want in a philosopher, but she is also quirky and witty and made more human by the longing she still sometimes feels for a beautiful but bad love in her past. Far from being Utopian, "The Forgotten Affairs of Youth" is filled with both spires and spikes, like Edinburgh itself." --"Booklist" (starred review)
"You needn't be a series-long admirer of Isabel Dalhousie to be beguiled by this curious philosopher and casual sleuth . . . Isabel believes only the examined life is worth living, and fearlessly so . . . It makes [her] a heroine worth following, even through this quiet, more reflective foray." --"Publishers Weekly
""A look inside the hearts and minds of our friends in Edinburgh . . . A real treat."
"--The Cleveland Plain Dealer
""The well-trod streets and worn stone walls of an ancient, elegant city are in Isabel's very DNA. . . . Gentle, humorous, char

"Entertaining and enchanting reading about characters you think you know--and wish you did." --"Las Vegas Review Journal
"
"Dalhousie [is] back in true form. . . . An endearing, intelligent and kindly character." --"The Charleston Post & Courier"
"Readers get to soak up the cozy atmosphere of this Scottish university town and McCall Smith's gentle good will." --"The Boston Globe"
" "
"A real treat." --"The Plain Dealer"
" "
"Subtle, surprising, and incisive." --"Sacramento Book Review
"
"You don't read these books to find out 'who done it, ' you read them for the pleasure of spending a few hours following a sensitive, intellectual woman as she roams around Edinburgh speculating ingeniously about everything from moral responsibility to aesthetics and metaphysics." --"BlogCritics
"
"McCall Smith's latest novel featuring the wise but impish Edinburgh philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. . . . [And] countless small adventures and gentle observations." --"The Toronto Star"
"Totally absorbing. . . . Isabel is everything you'd want in a philosopher, but she is also quirky and witty." --"Booklist" (starred review)
"You needn't be a series-long admirer of Isabel Dalhousie to be beguiled by this curious philosopher and casual sleuth. . . . A heroine worth following." --"Publishers Weekly"
" "
"McCall Smith's talent for dialogue is matched only by his gift for characterization. It's hard to believe that he could make up a character as complex and unique as Isabel. She is by turns fearless, vulnerable, headstrong, and insecure, but always delightful." --"Chicago Tribune"
"Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." "--The New York Times Book Review"
" "
"In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie, he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish [one] installment greedily looking forward to more." "--Newsweek"
" "
"Isabel is a force to be reckoned with."--"USA Today"

Entertaining and enchanting reading about characters you think you know and wish you did. "Las Vegas Review Journal
"
Dalhousie [is] back in true form. . . . An endearing, intelligent and kindly character. "The Charleston Post & Courier"
Readers get to soak up the cozy atmosphere of this Scottish university town and McCall Smith s gentle good will. "The Boston Globe"
""
A real treat. "The Plain Dealer"
""
Subtle, surprising, and incisive. "Sacramento Book Review
"
"You don't read these books to find out 'who done it, ' you read them for the pleasure of spending a few hours following a sensitive, intellectual woman as she roams around Edinburgh speculating ingeniously about everything from moral responsibility to aesthetics and metaphysics." "BlogCritics
"
McCall Smith s latest novel featuring the wise but impish Edinburgh philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. . . . [And] countless small adventures and gentle observations. "The Toronto Star"
Totally absorbing. . . . Isabel is everything you d want in a philosopher, but she is also quirky and witty. "Booklist" (starred review)
You needn t be a series-long admirer of Isabel Dalhousie to be beguiled by this curious philosopher and casual sleuth. . . . A heroine worth following. "Publishers Weekly"
""
McCall Smith s talent for dialogue is matched only by his gift for characterization. It s hard to believe that he could make up a character as complex and unique as Isabel. She is by turns fearless, vulnerable, headstrong, and insecure, but always delightful. "Chicago Tribune"
Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman. " The New York Times Book Review"
""
In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie, he s done it again. . . . She s such good company, it s hard to believe she s fictional. You finish [one] installment greedily looking forward to more. " Newsweek"
""
Isabel is a force to be reckoned with. "USA Today""

Entertaining and enchanting reading about characters you think you know and wish you did. Las Vegas Review Journal

Dalhousie [is] back in true form. . . . An endearing, intelligent and kindly character. The Charleston Post & Courier
Readers get to soak up the cozy atmosphere of this Scottish university town and McCall Smith s gentle good will. The Boston Globe

A real treat. The Plain Dealer

Subtle, surprising, and incisive. Sacramento Book Review

"You don't read these books to find out 'who done it, ' you read them for the pleasure of spending a few hours following a sensitive, intellectual woman as she roams around Edinburgh speculating ingeniously about everything from moral responsibility to aesthetics and metaphysics." BlogCritics

McCall Smith s latest novel featuring the wise but impish Edinburgh philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. . . . [And] countless small adventures and gentle observations. The Toronto Star
Totally absorbing. . . . Isabel is everything you d want in a philosopher, but she is also quirky and witty. Booklist (starred review)
You needn t be a series-long admirer of Isabel Dalhousie to be beguiled by this curious philosopher and casual sleuth. . . . A heroine worth following. Publishers Weekly

McCall Smith s talent for dialogue is matched only by his gift for characterization. It s hard to believe that he could make up a character as complex and unique as Isabel. She is by turns fearless, vulnerable, headstrong, and insecure, but always delightful. Chicago Tribune
Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman. The New York Times Book Review

In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie, he s done it again. . . . She s such good company, it s hard to believe she s fictional. You finish [one] installment greedily looking forward to more. Newsweek

Isabel is a force to be reckoned with. USA Today