The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs

Rating:
Summary: Academia Meets Life!
Review: In his most recent book, Alexander McCall Smith reveals some of the intrinsic characteristics of collegiate academic life. He highlights the pomposity, arrogance and constant quest for self-recognition that characterizes the avocation. With tremendous aplomb, McCall Smith relates the misadventures of Herr Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, a professor of "Romance Philology." His great work of academic achievement in his lifetime is a respected book called "Portuguese Irregular Verbs."

While his specialty and achievement are surely somewhat esoteric and of interest mostly to academicians, rather than regular people, the book presents multiple situations in which Dr. von Igelfeld presents his specialty to regular people. As per the title of the book; the good `Doktor' presents a lecture on "Sausage Dogs" or as we know them better, "Dachshunds," in an attempt to get American recognition. Interestingly, he thought he was to speak on "Portuguese Irregular Verbs" but with a little last minute adjustment, the Professor does in fact give a lecture on "Sausage Dogs."

In the book, it is the interrelation of this "Ivory Tower" mindset and the more mundane mindset of people outside this environment that McCall Smith concentrates on illustrating. He keenly shows the reader the almost `back-biting' environment internal to academic life, and then, more specifically and graphically, shows us the way in which one of these academics relates, or fails to relate, to normal people in a world outside of academia. As can be expected, this combination results in some extremely amusing outcomes.

Smith is in good form in this book, although it is not one of his best. Nonetheless, devotees of the Alexander McCall Smith multiple scenarios and other works, will find this book quite in line with the McCall Smith they have grown to know and love.


Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Book All McCall Smith Fans Will Enjoy
Review: This is a brilliant book - and for more than just academics! Have you ever tried to bluff your way through something and been caught out? This is THE book to read... While a fleeting knowledge of the weird behaviour of German academics will help, anyone who appreciates humour and the wry side of life will LOVE this book. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED IRAQ (Carroll and Graf, 2004)