New standalone novel from Alexander McCall Smith

A tip-off from Birlinn's newsletter:

This Christmas Alexander McCall Smith will venture outside 44 Scotland Street with a brand-new stand-alone book for Polygon, La’s Orchestra Saves the World. A stand-alone book from McCall Smith is a rare and exciting thing, and Polygon is delighted to be given this chance to publish it.

Set in the sleepy town of Suffolk, 1939, the widow La forms an amateur orchestra to entertain the locals, and hold back the growing shadow of despair as the war takes hold. The distraction helps to soothe her own broken heart and a touching friendship is formed between her and a refugee from Poland. This is another gem not to be missed from one of Britain’s most popular writers.

La’s Orchestra Saves the World is due to be published in November 2008.