Alexander McCall Smith 
2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom 
The Portuguese Irregular Verbs trilogy omnibus

Welcome to the extraordinary world of Professor Dr. Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, an unnaturally tall and memorable character whose sublime insouciance is a blend of the cultivated pomposity of Frasier Crane and Inspector Clouseaus hapless gaucherie. The complete exploits of this unlikely adventurer are delightfully captured in The 212 Pillars of Wisdom.From the Trade Paperback edition.