Author · updated 2026
Alexander McCall Smith Books in Order
Every Alexander McCall Smith book in publication order — 144 in total, spanning 1980–2021.
Publication Order of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Tears of the Giraffe | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Morality for Beautiful Girls | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | The Kalahari Typing School for Men | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | The Full Cupboard of Life | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | In the Company of Cheerful Ladies | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Blue Shoes and Happiness | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | The Good Husband of Zebra Drive | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | The Miracle at Speedy Motors | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | Tea Time for the Traditionally Built | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | The Double Comfort Safari Club | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 | The Handsome Man's De Luxe Caf辿 | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 | The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 | Precious and Grace | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 | The House of Unexpected Sisters | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 | The Colors of all the Cattle | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 | To the Land of Long Lost Friends | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 | How to Raise an Elephant | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Collections
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cleverness of Ladies | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Professor Dr von Igelfeld Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese Irregular Verbs | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Unusual Uses for Olive Oil | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Isabel Dalhousie Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunday Philosophy Club | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Friends, Lovers, Chocolate | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Right Attitude to Rain | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | The Careful Use of Compliments | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | The Lost Art of Gratitude | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | The Charming Quirks of Others | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | The Forgotten Affairs of Youth | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | The Novel Habits of Happiness | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | A Distant View of Everything | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | The Quiet Side of Passion | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | The Geometry of Holding Hands | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Isabel Dalhousie Short Stories/Novellas
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Perils of Morning Coffee | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | At the Reunion Buffet | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of 44 Scotland Street Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 Scotland Street | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Espresso Tales | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Love Over Scotland | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | The World According to Bertie | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | The Unbearable Lightness Of Scones | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | The Importance of Being Seven | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Bertie Plays the Blues | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Sunshine on Scotland Street | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | The Revolving Door of Life | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | The Bertie Project | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | A Time of Love and Tartan | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | The Peppermint Tea Chronicles | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | A Promise of Ankles | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Myths Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Corduroy Mansions Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corduroy Mansions | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | The Dog Who Came in from the Cold | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | A Conspiracy of Friends | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of The School Ship Tobermory Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School Ship Tobermory | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | The Sands of Shark Island | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Race to Kangaroo Cliff | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Paul Stuart Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Italian Bulldozer | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | The Second-Worst Restaurant in France | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Detective Varg Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Department of Sensitive Crimes | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | The Talented Mr. Varg | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Detective Varg Short Stories/Novellas
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Akimbo Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akimbo and the Lions | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Akimbo and the Crocodile Man | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Akimbo and the Elephants | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Akimbo and the Snakes | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Akimbo and the Baboons | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Harriet Bean Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Max & Maddy Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Great Cake Mystery | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Precious and the Monkeys | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Precious and the Zebra Necklace | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Young Corgi Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alix and the Tigers | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Suzy Magician | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Tin Dog | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uncle Gangster | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | La's Orchestra Saves the World | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Forever Girl | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Emma: A Modern Retelling | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | Hari & His Electric Feet | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Good Pilot, Peter Woodhouse | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Your Inner Hedgehog | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Children's Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Hippo | 1980 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Film Boy | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Joke Machine | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | The girl who changed the weather | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Marzipan Max | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | Calculator Annie | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Springy Jane | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Who Invented Peanut Butter? | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | My Chameleon Uncle | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | The Doughnut Ring | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | The Princess Trick | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | Paddy and the Ratcatcher | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | The Banana Machine | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | Billy Rubbish | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 | The Bubblegum Tree | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 | The Watermelon Boys | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 | The Popcorn Pirates | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 | Monkey Boy | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 | Teacher Trouble | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 | The Spaghetti Tangle | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 | The Muscle Machine | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 | Boing Boing | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 | Freddie Mole | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 | The Great Clown Conundrum | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Children of Wax: African Folk Tales | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | "Trouble at the North Pole" and Other Stories | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | The Baboons Who Went This Way and That: Folktales from Africa | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | The Book That Changed My Life | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Trains and Lovers | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Chance Developments | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | Pianos and Flowers | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | Marvellous Mix-ups | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What W. H. Auden Can Do for You | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith's Edinburgh | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Who Built Scotland | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Austen Project Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emma | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One City | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | A New Omnibus of Crime | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | The Best British Mysteries IV | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Ox-Tales | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Crimespotting | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | Imagined Lives | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | No Rest for the Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | Who Built Scotland | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
Every title by year All 144, oldest to newest
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Hippo | 1980 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | Alix and the Tigers | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Film Boy | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Uncle Gangster | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Children of Wax: African Folk Tales | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | Suzy Magician | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | The Tin Dog | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | The Joke Machine | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | The girl who changed the weather | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | Marzipan Max | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | Akimbo and the Lions | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | Calculator Annie | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 | Springy Jane | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 | Akimbo and the Crocodile Man | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 | The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 | Who Invented Peanut Butter? | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 | My Chameleon Uncle | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 | The Doughnut Ring | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 | The Princess Trick | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 | Paddy and the Ratcatcher | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 | The Banana Machine | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 | Billy Rubbish | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 25 | Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 26 | The Bubblegum Tree | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 27 | The Watermelon Boys | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 28 | "Trouble at the North Pole" and Other Stories | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 29 | Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 30 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 31 | Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 32 | The Popcorn Pirates | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 33 | Tears of the Giraffe | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 34 | Monkey Boy | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 35 | Teacher Trouble | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 36 | Morality for Beautiful Girls | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 37 | The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 38 | The Kalahari Typing School for Men | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 39 | The Full Cupboard of Life | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 40 | Portuguese Irregular Verbs | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 41 | The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 42 | At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 43 | In the Company of Cheerful Ladies | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 44 | The Sunday Philosophy Club | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 45 | The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 46 | Friends, Lovers, Chocolate | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 47 | 44 Scotland Street | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 48 | Espresso Tales | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 49 | Akimbo and the Elephants | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 50 | The Spaghetti Tangle | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 51 | One City | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 52 | A New Omnibus of Crime | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 53 | Blue Shoes and Happiness | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 54 | The Right Attitude to Rain | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 55 | Love Over Scotland | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 56 | Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 57 | Akimbo and the Snakes | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 58 | The Muscle Machine | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 59 | The Baboons Who Went This Way and That: Folktales from Africa | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 60 | The Book That Changed My Life | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 61 | The Good Husband of Zebra Drive | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 62 | The Careful Use of Compliments | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 63 | The World According to Bertie | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 64 | The Best British Mysteries IV | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 65 | The Miracle at Speedy Motors | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 66 | The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 67 | The Unbearable Lightness Of Scones | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 68 | Akimbo and the Baboons | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 69 | La's Orchestra Saves the World | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 70 | Tea Time for the Traditionally Built | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 71 | The Lost Art of Gratitude | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 72 | Corduroy Mansions | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 73 | The Dog Who Came in from the Cold | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 74 | The Great Cake Mystery | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 75 | Ox-Tales | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 76 | Crimespotting | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 77 | The Double Comfort Safari Club | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 78 | The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 79 | The Charming Quirks of Others | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 80 | The Importance of Being Seven | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 81 | A Conspiracy of Friends | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 82 | Precious and the Monkeys | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 83 | Imagined Lives | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 84 | Unusual Uses for Olive Oil | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 85 | The Forgotten Affairs of Youth | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 86 | The Perils of Morning Coffee | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 87 | Bertie Plays the Blues | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 88 | No Rest for the Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 89 | What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 90 | The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 91 | The Cleverness of Ladies | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 92 | The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 93 | Sunshine on Scotland Street | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 94 | Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 95 | Trains and Lovers | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 96 | Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 97 | The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 98 | Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 99 | Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 100 | What W. H. Auden Can Do for You | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 101 | The Handsome Man's De Luxe Caf辿 | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 102 | The Forever Girl | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 103 | Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 104 | Emma: A Modern Retelling | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 105 | A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith's Edinburgh | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 106 | Emma | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 107 | The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 108 | The Novel Habits of Happiness | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 109 | At the Reunion Buffet | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 110 | The Revolving Door of Life | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 111 | School Ship Tobermory | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 112 | Precious and the Zebra Necklace | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 113 | Precious and Grace | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 114 | Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 115 | The Sands of Shark Island | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 116 | Boing Boing | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 117 | Chance Developments | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 118 | The House of Unexpected Sisters | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 119 | A Distant View of Everything | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 120 | The Bertie Project | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 121 | A Time of Love and Tartan | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 122 | My Italian Bulldozer | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 123 | Hari & His Electric Feet | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 124 | Good Pilot, Peter Woodhouse | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 125 | Who Built Scotland | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 126 | Who Built Scotland | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 127 | The Colors of all the Cattle | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 128 | The Quiet Side of Passion | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 129 | Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 130 | Freddie Mole | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 131 | To the Land of Long Lost Friends | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 132 | The Peppermint Tea Chronicles | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 133 | The Race to Kangaroo Cliff | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 134 | The Second-Worst Restaurant in France | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 135 | The Department of Sensitive Crimes | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 136 | The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 137 | The Great Clown Conundrum | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 138 | Pianos and Flowers | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 139 | How to Raise an Elephant | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 140 | The Geometry of Holding Hands | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 141 | A Promise of Ankles | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 142 | The Talented Mr. Varg | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 143 | Marvellous Mix-ups | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 144 | Your Inner Hedgehog | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
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