From New York Times bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, creator of the phenomenally popular No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels and winner of the inaugural Saga Award for Wit, comes the first wonderfully entertaining novel starring Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, distinguished philologist—and frequently inept human.
Von Igelfeld is the world’s leading scholar on Portuguese irregular verbs, having written a majestic, nearly 1,200-page book on the subject. As one review says, “There is nothing more to be said on this subject. Nothing.” But in other matters, von Igelfeld is not nearly so skilled. Whether haplessly playing tennis against an equally dreadful opponent, or committing his friends to sword-fighting duels without their knowledge, von Igelfeld is somewhat naive in the ways of the world. Yet that does not stop him from having a go at life, and the results are always humorous.
If you enjoy sharp yet subtle wit, you cannot afford to miss Portuguese Irregular Verbs.
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"This was a quick read and terribly funny, though if I knew a little more about Germany I think I'd like even better. The professors' mishaps are all too familiar. My favorite part of the book is getting to tell people that I read "Portuguese Irregular Verbs.""
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
“In the halls of academe, a setting fraught with ego-driven battles for power and prestige [Alexander McCall Smith] has rendered yet another one-of-a-kind character: the bumbling but brilliant Dr. Mortiz-Maria von Igelfeld…[a] deftly rendered trilogy [with] endearingly eccentric characters.”
— Chicago Sun-Times“Paul Hecht's deep baritone gives the necessary pseudo-scholarly tone to academicians measuring out their lives in Dravidian verb shifts, Urdu subjunctives, and Early Irish obscenities.”
— AudioFile" Hard to decide how I feel about this one. The quirky character makes me feel good inside but I didn't laugh much and the plot is nonexistent. "
— Amy, 2/19/2014" An unusual book...a little disconnected but funny in an offbeat sort of way. "
— Shelli, 2/17/2014" This book was fantastic. If you can listen to it on audio I recommend that. It is a very funny story and the tone condescending way in which the narrator reads the book makes it all the better. "
— Laura, 2/14/2014" As much as I love his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I could not get into this one. I started to listen to it on CD, but didn't end up finishing it. "
— Kristen-Marie, 2/8/2014" I decided to find out what this series titled book was like after enjoying Isabel Dalhousie and Mma Ramotswe and friends in those two series and another one as well. He is prolific and inventive, one of the best writers I've read. Portuguese Irregular Verbs is about a character type I have no experience with. I was challenged in following the action, especially where cultural elements determined responses, leaving me mystified. I thought it was funny but in a making fun of stubborn stupidity and meaninglessness kind of way. So I stopped reading it, in favor of a more positive celebration of intelligence. I think it was Alan Lightman's book about God creating the Universe. "
— Ken, 1/31/2014" Listened to, and much enjoyed, the audiobook in March 2009; got the print version from the library January 2013. It is rather hard to convince people that a slow-paced book about German academics could be so funny. "
— Libby, 1/28/2014" couldn't finish this book. Probably just wasn't in the right mood, but it was touted as humorous, but it just came off ponderous and odd. "
— Abbi, 1/22/2014" This is a different story, but there are a few side-splitting scenes that make it a good book. "
— Lorri, 1/15/2014" Just terrific. Those in academia will especially enjoy this. "
— Emese, 1/13/2014" Fun to read a new character (for me) by McCall Smith. A short, quick read that was just easy and enjoyable. "
— Audrey, 12/20/2013Alexander McCall Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, 44 Scotland Street novels, Corduroy Mansions series, the Perfect Passion Company novels, and more. He has also written stand-alone novels, books for children, and nonfiction works. In 2004 he was named the British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served with many national and international organizations concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana.
Paul Hecht’s long career in audiobooks spans dozens of titles and authors as varied as Ray Bradbury and Gore Vidal, Jack Finney and Thomas Mann. He has recorded such books as Bob Dole’s One Soldier’s Story and Alexander McCall Smith’s Portuguese Irregular Verbs and At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances. Hecht’s theater career in New York includes many Broadway and television credits. He has won nine AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook narrations.