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Alexander McCall Smith
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The Pavilion in the Clouds Kindle Edition

by Alexander McCall Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,287 ratings
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“This is one of the most enjoyable of his many enjoyable novels” –The Scotsman

It is 1938 and the final days of the British Empire. In a bungalow high up in the green hills above the plains of Ceylon, under a vast blue sky, live the Ferguson family: Bella, a precocious eight-year-old; her father, Henry, owner of a tea plantation; and her mother, Virginia, a woman out of step in her community. The story centers around their home, affectionately called “The Pavilion in the Clouds,” set in the idyllic grounds carved out of the wilderness. But all is not as serene as it seems. Bella is suspicious of the intentions of her governess, Miss White. Her suspicion ignites her mother’s imagination, causing an unfortunate series of eventsthat reverberate throughout the years.
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  1. Print length
    226 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Anchor
  5. Publication date
    January 25, 2022
  6. File size
    2476 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most enjoyable of his many enjoyable novels."

-- "The Scotsman"

About the Author

David Rintoul, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a stage and television actor from Scotland. A former student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he has worked extensively with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has also appeared regularly on BBC television, starring as Mr. Darcy in the 1980 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and as Doctor Finlay in the television series of the same name.



Alexander McCall Smith is a New York Times bestselling author of several fiction series, including the internationally acclaimed No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He is professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09NLPQJK5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor (January 25, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 25, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2476 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,287 ratings

About the author

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Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith

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Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. Then, after the publication of his highly successful 'No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' series, which has sold over twenty million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers through the world. These include the Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in The Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series, and the Corduroy Mansions series, novels which started life as a delightful (but challenging to write) cross-media serial, written on the website of the Telegraph Media Group. This series won two major cross-media awards - Association of Online Publishers Digital Publishing Award 2009 for a Cross Media Project and the New Media Age award.

In addition to these series, Alexander writes stand-alone books. 2014 sees publication of three new novels which fall into this area: 'The Forever Girl'; 'Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party'; and 'Emma' – a reworking of the classic Jane Austen novel. This year there will also be a stunning book on Edinburgh, 'A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh'. Earlier stand alone novels include 'La’s Orchestra Saves the World' and 'Trains and Lovers: A Hearts Journey'.

Alexander is also the author of collections of short stories, academic works, and over thirty books for children. He has received numerous awards for his writing, including the British Book Awards Author of the Year Award in 2004 and a CBE for service to literature in 2007. He holds honorary doctorates from nine universities in Europe and North America. In March of 2011 he received an award from the President of Botswana for his services through literature to that country.

Alexander McCall Smith lives in Edinburgh. He is married to a doctor and has two daughters.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,287 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bookmobile Lady
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
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Surprise ending and a very fulfilling story from one of my favorite authors. I enjoy all of his books and this was no exception.
One person found this helpful
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Wyoming Bas Bleu
4.0 out of 5 stars fiction
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023
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This book is interesting but does skip
Around in the relationships of people, slips in bits of history, adds something about a gun and then disappears into the future. It wanders and that makes it not as well done.
3 people found this helpful
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phrynne
5.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing and very readable book.
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2021
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This is a stand alone book set mostly on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka or, as it was known then, Ceylon. As usual for this author the atmosphere and way of life of the country is described to perfection.

Bella is eight years old and lives with her British parents on the plantation. She is accustomed to a life of privilege and has a governess although she is expected soon to leave her parents and go back to Scotland to further her education. However some strange events happen to her mother leading her to suspect her husband of having an affair with the governess. Is it true or is something else happening altogether? The mystery is not solved until many years later when Bella meets up again with the governess in Scotland.

In typical McCall Smith fashion there is a lot of philosophising and debate about life and living. The characters, on the surface at least, are thoughtful and caring but there is sometimes a hint of something else behind their good advice. When you discover the truth behind the tale you can look back and say "Yes of course! I knew that."

This is a gentle, absorbing and very readable book. I enjoyed it very much.
27 people found this helpful
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Mark from Haifa
5.0 out of 5 stars Lonely girl growing up a tea plantation in prewar Ceylon
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
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A sensitive and imaginative story about an 8 year old girl from Scotland growing up on a tea plantation in prewar Ceylon. Her confidants are two dolls named after Chinese poets whose poems her mother read to her. Tension arises when she suspects her governess may be having an affair with her father.
3 people found this helpful
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Larry
5.0 out of 5 stars Another 5 star story for McCall Smith
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
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McCall Smith departs from one of his highly enjoyable series to enter into a new story set in the tense times in British prewar Ceylon. The days of placid life of Ceylon’s planter elite are ending and the characters seem to sense it. The family’s mini dramas are seen through the eyes of a couple’s 10 year old child still immersed in fantasies of childhood but with awakening awareness of the bigger world. She imagines a romantic relationship between her father and her governess and as a cleaver child might due draws in her mother as a way to cast off the governess. The final chapters end with reconciliation in a truly beautiful way, McCall Smith’s trademark . Far from being defeated the governess at last found a husband, a wealthy and successful businessman. She has forgiven her miscreant young student and wants to communicate her forgiveness at long last . Those who have been wronged are liberated first by forgiveness in the heart but only completely by sharing the forgiveness with the culpable party. Another work of beauty and lesson about the soaring heights all can achieve by feeding our better angel.
11 people found this helpful
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delo007
3.0 out of 5 stars A real change of pace for AMS
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2022
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This is a story of life and its unexpected twists and turns. It's set in colonized Ceylon and the relationships, conversations, and attitudes of the characters can be cringe worthy.

The writing is quite different from other books by McCall Smith. I almost stopped reading it but am glad I finished. It's an interesting story.
One person found this helpful
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Elizabeth
4.0 out of 5 stars A stand alone Alexander McCall Smith book about a family of English tea planters in pre-War Ceylon
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2022
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I eagerly gobble up all of alexander Mc Call Smith's books. I can't wait till a new one comes out. This is a stand-alone book, set in pre-War Ceylon, about a family of English tea planters and their daughter's governess. The first half is almost like a mystery - thriller even. The suspense builds up, but then the second half is a bit of a let down. Two of the characters are conveniently killed off during the war and the rest return home and live happily ever after. Ofcourse one doesn't really expect anything terribly unpleasant from t his author.
2 people found this helpful
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Seaside Gal
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, fast read, couldn’t put it down.
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2022
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I have read quite a few of the author’s books and have enjoyed them, but this one is my favorite. It verges on a mystery with a twist at the end. I also read a lot of history books and the author touches very accurately on the way things were at the time. This is a very fast read so don’t expect a full blown historic narrative, but it is an accurate depiction of pre WWII British colonialism. Very well written and engrossing book, I couldn’t put it down knowing there would most likely be an unexpected ending and I wasn’t disappointed. Very highly recommended.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Carolyn
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming story set in Ceylon in 1938
Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2022
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Alexander McCall Smith is the prolific author known for his charming, cozy stand-alone novels and several popular ongoing series. His stories usually contain much humour. They are often told from a woman's point of view, asserting that women differ from men in their thought processes. He inserts a gentle, non-judgmental philosophy into many of his books, usually based on human kindness and living one's life in the best way. He has written stand-alone novels like this one and has long-running series on the go. My favourite is 44 Scotland Street, and next is The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency set in Botswana. This one takes place in 1938 in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and takes a more serious approach.

There are themes of elitism, colonial life and dominance, deception, gossip, suspicion, lies, guilt, and forgiveness. There is an observation that only Europeans, especially the British, are capable of running parts of the empire. The men control the businesses. Women's goal in life is to marry, and they have little need for higher education. Their role is to give moral support to their husband and care for their children.

The story begins on a British (Scottish) tea plantation in the hills of Ceylon. The men are preoccupied with their businesses and feel they are firmly head of their households, with their wives in subservient roles. Not much is expected of the women, but to oversee the household servants,child-care, and to verbally support their husbands. The married women live an idle life, spending languid days sipping tea on their verandas and gossiping to relieve their boredom. Some play tennis as a diversion.

Henry runs a successful tea plantation and supports many native workers on small wages. Daughter Bella is a bright 8-year old who enjoys being read to by her mother, Virginia. Bella loves Chinese poetry. She has transformed her two dolls into the personages of her two favourite Chinese poets. She has a vivid imagination and fantasizes that they talk to her and believes they see what is happening around them. Most nearby children are regarded as below the family's social status, so she lacks playmates. She regards a neighbouring boy, Richard, as a friend, but he will soon be leaving for boarding school in Scotland.

Her parents are vaguely aware of the growing resentment over British arrogance and power and suspect the natives want them gone. They have heard of the growing threats of Hitler and Mussolini in Europe, but this is rarely on their minds. They still consider Scotland to be 'home.' Children are sent to Britain or other European homelands to be educated.

Bella's parents hire a well-educated British woman, Lavender White, as her governess. She has been living in Calcutta. The wives do not consider her worthy of their elitist society. They regard her as an unattractive spinster and feel that she looks down on them due to her superior education and knowledge. Virginia has started a book club and does not invite Miss White least she considers them unschooled. Bella is making excellent progress in her schoolwork under Miss White's tutorship.

Virginia becomes obsessed with the thought that the plain, washed-up spinster is desperate to take her husband, fueled by gossip about straying husbands. The book club meets in the Pavilion in the Clouds, a building giving a spectacular view of the sky and the valley below. It sits on the cliff's edge and is partially supported over the ledge. When the building collapses, Virginia is hurled into the trees below.
Bella has sensed her mother's unease with Miss White. She utters a small falsehood that makes her injured mother even more suspicious of Miss White. There is an incident of a cobra in Virginia's magazine basket. Miss White offers her a glass of warm water, which to Virginia's growing paranoia, seems like untreated tap water meant to sicken her. Is there a plot to kill her so that Henry and Miss White can be together?

Bella's friend, Richard, advises her of a scheme to get rid of Miss White, thus making her mother happier. Bella follows his plan and does a terrible deed that will haunt her for many years. This results in Miss White being unjustly fired and sent away. Bella must travel to her aunt's home in Scotland to attend school.

The year 1949 finds Bella completing her education at University in Scotland. She and Richard have become a couple. Much has changed in the world with all the death and destruction of WW2. The British Empire has crumbled, and its past colonies are gaining independence. Bella seeks out Miss White hoping for forgiveness for the past wrongdoings committed against her. She is surprised by the changes in her former governess. I enjoyed the lovely fate of Bella's two dolls.
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Christina haux
5.0 out of 5 stars Bestens
Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2024
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Ich liebe die Bücher von MacCall Smith. Sie sind weise, humorvoll, und gehen der menschlichen Natur mit Leichtigkeit auf den Grund.
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Mrs LDS
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2023
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Story just flowed.
Amazing details of the area the people and of course the emotions involved.
Love the twist
Love his work
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Chris Voce
5.0 out of 5 stars A different Lavender.
Reviewed in Australia on January 7, 2022
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My personal favourite McCall Smith novel is La’s Orchestra Saves the World.
This one has a similar premise and one of the major characters is also named Lavender.
A somewhat gentle tale, well told.
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a voice from yester year
4.0 out of 5 stars difficult to read and not refundable
Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2023
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McCall Smith a good writer but this book has depth which are difficult to follow.
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