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Abu Dhabi, UAEWednesday 14 April 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
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EDITOR'S PICKS
Jyoti Sharma, 13, from Abu Dhabi, won the Cobis art competition with her drawing 'We are all One'. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Abu Dhabi pupil scoops top prize in international art competition

Education
The UAE moved from 16th to 15th place on the Henley Passport Index over the past few months, and up 50 spots in a decade. Unsplash

The world's most and least powerful passports in 2021: UAE moves up list

Travel
Dr Yasmin Razak speaks to patients who have received a Covid-19 shot at London Central Mosque, where she is running a pop-up vaccination clinic. Mark Chilvers for The National

London’s Central Mosque breaks down Covid vaccine barriers in Ramadan

Europe
Narges's mother Soraya was killed in the maternity ward attack in Kabul on May 12, 2020. Stefanie Glinski for The National

'Why have you abandoned us?': the Afghan families left to grieve alone after horror attacks

Asia

Explosion at Iran plant gives Biden time

The National Editorial
Popular Podcasts
Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties and noon.com will be the chairman of Zand. Satish Kumar / The National

Sheikh Khalifa pardons, Dubai restaurants, UAE's first digital bank, 1,810 new cases - The Daily Update

Podcasts
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Reporter: N/A. Stock. General view of Downtown, Dubai and Business Bay. Friday, April 9th, 2021. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai rent freeze, UAE passports, 2,022 new cases - The Daily Update

Podcasts
Emirates has announced it will extend its booking policy by an extra one year. Courtesy Emirates Airlines

UAE Ramadan hours, Emirates charity flight, first woman astronaut, 1,931 new cases - The Daily Update

Podcasts
FILE PHOTO: A vial of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is seen at a vaccination center, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Ronquieres, Belgium April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Beyond the Headlines: Is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe?

Beyond The Headlines