THE Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith, whose lady detective novels have become a publishing sensation, is to donate the royalties of his latest book to a hospital in Africa that treats Aids victims.

The Edinburgh-based author, whose No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has sold more than 6m copies worldwide, will give all proceeds of the book to the Murambinda Hospital Trust in Zimbabwe.

Bookshops have already ordered 60,000 copies of The Girl Who Married a Lion, a collection of 40 African folk tales that McCall Smith has been gathering since his childhood in Zimbabwe, which was published by Canongate last month.

The book’s preface is “written” by his famous heroine Mma Ramotswe, and many of the tales, originating from the Ndebele people of Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, parallel classic western fables.

It is anticipated that up to £100,000 could be raised from the royalties, which will be spent on medicines and resources, salaries for doctors and nurses as well as outreach programmes for HIV patients and orphaned children.

“I heard about the trust towards the end of the year and thought the royalties could really help,” said McCall Smith. “They don’t have enough money for basics or for drugs and this could make a difference. The best thing about how my life has changed since the books began to sell so well is that I can lift a finger and it makes a great difference.”

Despite his newfound wealth, McCall Smith said that his lifestyle had not changed. His only extravagance is business-class air travel. He still drives a second-hand car.

The professor of medical ethics at Edinburgh University is taking a three-year sabbatical to concentrate on writing. He is working on two new novels and 14 of his children’s books written up to 20 years ago will be republished this year.

A BBC adaptation of the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series directed by Anthony Minghella, the director of The English Patient and Cold Mountain, is also anticipated.

In recent months McCall Smith has resigned from high-profile public positions, including membership of the medical ethics committee, and is instead concentrating on charity work. Last week he became patron of the Scottish Book Trust and will raise funds for the organisation’s new scheme to encourage young people in children’s homes to read.

The first chapter of a second book in the Isabel Dalhousie detective series, based in Edinburgh, will be included in a collection published by Bloomsbury on World Book Day to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami.

Last year he also became patron of Waverly Care, a charity helping African Aids victims in Scotland, and he donates to other Aids charities.

“The Aids epidemic is devastating. It is a dreadful burden for people and so sad that just as Africa might have been able to make economic progress that such a disease comes along and knocks everything back,” McCall Smith said. “It is a great pity that the West’s response in terms of assistance and providing drugs has been slower than one may have wished.

“I am delighted, though, to see debt relief pushed further up the agenda. That is absolutely vital to the development of Africa.”

The Murambinda hospital is based in Buhera, one of the poorest areas of Zimbabwe where malnutrition, malaria and Aids are common. Infant mortality rates are high. The only government district hospital in the area, it has three doctors and 36 nurses — last year it had nearly 7,000 admissions and saw more than 16,000 outpatients.

Mary Miller, a trustee of the Friends of Murambinda Hospital Trust, said: “It’s an extremely generous offer and will certainly help a lot. Obviously Africa is very close to his heart. Economic problems are central and, as the situation stands, funding of the services is less than adequate. This money will help to supply the pharmacy, pay extra staff and pay for treatment and drop-in centres for HIV and Aids patients.”

A spokeswoman for Canongate said: “Sales of The Girl Who Married a Lion have already hugely exceeded what was anticipated.

“As a collection of African folk tales I think it is really feeding into the interest raised by the Botswanan setting of the No 1 Ladies’ Detective series.

“This is fabulous news in terms of the royalties raised.”

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