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Abu Dhabi, UAEThursday 21 January 2021

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SAINT MALO, FRANCE - JUNE 12: English Author Alexander McCall Smith poses during "Etonnants Voyageurs" book festival on June 12, 2011 in Saint Malo, France. (Photo by Raphael GAILLARDE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Alexander McCall Smith's mysterious case of books
Previous Episodes
In this picture taken on November 8, 2018, Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh poses during an interview with AFP in Hong Kong. - Twenty-five years ago Irvine Welsh's debut novel "Trainspotting" burst out of the housing schemes and back alleys of post-industrial Scotland in a whirlwind of drugs, sex and violence that horrified and delighted critics alike. Scotland's most famous ex-heroin addict is still delivering the goods, and is as far as ever from settling for "carpet slippers and a cottage on the coast." (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

Irvine Welsh's literary highs

Books of my life
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mark Thomas/Shutterstock (10011336q) Opera Singer, Sir Bryn Terfel, arrives to perform on 'The Andrew Marr Show' at the BBC Studios. The Andrew Marr Television Show, London, UK - 02 Dec 2018

The story of Bryn Terfel

Books of my life
Mandatory Credit: Photo by DAVID HARTLEY/Shutterstock (10437477ad) Professor Mary Beard at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Cheltenham Literature Festival, UK - 06 Oct 2019

Mary Beard, the books that left her spellbound

Books of my life
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - [DATE]: Ian Rankin at Charlotte Square Gardens on August 16, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Robbie Jack - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Ian Rankin, the evil that inspired him

Books of my life
Author and entrepreneurArianna Huffington, who is a guest on the 'Books of My Life' podcast

Podcast: Arianna Huffington, the books that inspired the media powerhouse

Books of my life
From left: Mary Beard, Ian Rankin, Arianna Huffington and Alexander McCall Smith are among the guests who appear on The National's the 'Books of My Life' podcast series. 

Why I wanted to interview people about their favourite books

Books
EDITOR'S PICKS
All elective operations been cancelled in Dubai for a month on the instruction of the emirate’s health authority. Antonie Roberston / The National

Dubai hospitals told to cancel non-essential surgery for a month

Health
The Egyptian government made a statement to resume diplomatic relations with Qatar. Getty Images

Egypt and Qatar agree to restore diplomatic relations

MENA
An explosion ripped through a building in central Madrid. AFP

Madrid explosion: three dead after huge blast in Spanish capital

Europe
Martin Whitelow had to wait longer than an hour in a queue with social distancing breaches on arriving in the UK. Martin Whitelow

Queues, tests and quarantine: What it’s like to arrive in lockdown UK

Europe

‘Hope in hard times’ central message of Biden inauguration

Gavin Esler
Popular Podcasts
The International Air Transport Association and Etihad Airways are partnering to launch the IATA Travel Pass for the Abu Dhabi airline's passengers. Courtesy Etihad Airways.

Etihad and Emirates sales, UAE to shut private maid agencies, 3,491 new cases - The Daily Update

Podcasts
An Etihad Airways plane prepares to land at Abu Dhabi's airport. The carrier is one of the first airlines globally to launch the Iata Travel Pass. AP

Etihad board restructure, UAE salary guide - The Daily Update

Podcasts
Sexual harassment in Egypt was the inspiration for photographer Eman Helal’s essay ‘Just Stop’. Courtesy Eman Helal

Beyond the Headlines: how Egypt's #MeToo movement is changing the country

Beyond The Headlines
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , October 14 – 2020 :- Anto Antony going to give his COVID-19 nasal swab test at the COVID 19 testing station set up at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National) For News/Online. Story by Sarwat

UAE approves vaccine for youths aged 16 and above - The Daily Update

Podcasts
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