The Full Cupboard of Life

The Full Cupboard of Life
First edition
AuthorAlexander McCall Smith
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
GenreDetective, Mystery novel
PublisherPolygon Books (2003)
Abacus (2004)
Publication date
2003
Publication placeScotland
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback), Audio (Cassette & CD)
Pages202
ISBN978-0954407506 First UK edition
OCLC59259530
Preceded byThe Kalahari Typing School for Men (2002) 
Followed byIn the Company of Cheerful Ladies (2004) 

The Full Cupboard of Life is the fifth in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith, set in Gaborone, Botswana, and featuring the Motswana protagonist Precious Ramotswe as principal detective.

In this novel, Mma Ramotswe is asked to vet the four men offering marriage to one woman, who cannot tell which of them wants her money and which is in love with her. Mma Makutsi moves to new quarters, which her raise in pay and promotion allow. Mr JLB Matekoni gets roped into doing a parachute jump at a fundraiser for the orphan farm. He persuades his apprentice to do it instead of him; but there is a bigger reason to get Mr JLB Matekoni to that event. Mma Potokwane has arranged his wedding to Mma Ramotswe.

This novel has been reviewed as "delightful",[1] "charmingly gossamer",[2] "witty, elegant, gentle, compassionate and exotic.",[3] praised for "the warm humanity infused throughout"[4] and the whole series to date described as "literary confection of such gossamer deliciousness".[5] In short, it has been well received by reviewers in the US and in the UK. Further, it received the first Saga Award for Wit in 2003; Saga is a UK firm whose audience is people over 50 years old.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference PW2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kirkus2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Berlins2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Simon2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Malcolm2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).