Sister Flora's first day of freedom -- Angels in Italy -- Dear ventriloquist -- The woman with the beautiful car -- He wanted to believe in tenderness.

Shorn of context, unknown people look out to us from old and anonymous photographs, and each image has magical appeal. Alexander McCall Smith, one of the world's best-loved writers, has reimagined the stories of these individuals in this charming, humorous, unexpected and poignant collection. The fifteen photographs captured here are all from days long gone - some are formal in setting with a sepia tone, some are hazy family snaps. Every one of these images is powerful and intriguing in its own way and in Alexander's hands, each reveals a story of love.