Jonasson’s bestselling phenomenon combines laugh-out-loud comedy with immensely touching moments as a contrary centenarian embarks on a picaresque adventure across town.
'Imaginative, laugh-out-loud... a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind' - The Daily Telegraph
Sitting quietly in his room in an old people's home, Allan Karlsson is waiting for a party he doesn't want to begin. His one-hundredth birthday party to be precise. The Mayor will be there. The press will be there. But, as it turns out, Allan will not . . .
Escaping (in his slippers) through his bedroom window, into the flowerbed, Allan makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving criminals, several murders, a suitcase full of cash, and incompetent police.
As his escapades unfold, Allan's earlier life is revealed. A life in which - remarkably - he played a key role behind the scenes in some of the momentous events of the twentieth century.
Translated by Roy Bradbury.
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
ISBN: 9780349141800
Number of pages: 400
Weight: 320 g
Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 36 mm
A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully - Sunday Times
Imaginative, laugh-out-loud . . . a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind - Telegraph
Scandi-crime's signature darkness is here dispelled by Allan Karlsson, the eponymous centenarian, who with unlikely sprightliness hops out of the window of his old people's home one afternoon. . . . Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny. . . . Like Allan, the plot is pleasingly nimble and the book's endearing charm offers a happy alternative to the more familiar Nordic noir - Guardian
The anti Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. . . . Jonasson's lighthearted novel shows the softer side of Sweden. . . . hilarious - Marie Claire
[A] silly and wonderful novel. [The scenes] will just keep readers amused almost non-stop, and that's a feat few writers achieve. A great cure for the blues, especially for anyone who might feel bad about growing older - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[A] laugh-out-loud debut. . . . Historical figures like Mao's third wife, Vice President Truman, and Stalin appear, to great comic effect. Other characters-most notably Albert Einstein's hapless half-brother - are cleverly spun into the raucous yarn, and all help drive this gentle lampoon of procedurals and thrillers - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Eccentric, unusual and far-fetched in the best possible way - Bookseller
This quirky novel is a sly, satirical look back at international relations in the 20th century through the eyes of an old man who has seen it all - Library Journal
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared is a cracker of a read - from cover to cover. Despite the far-fetched nature of the read, there are elements that could almost be believable. A... More
Enter the world of Allan Karlsson - the 100 year old explosives expert who, during his rather extraordinary century, has met some of the most influential of world leaders, stolen from a ferocious gang member whilst...
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Quirky, funny, a page turner, completely impossible but almost plausible and very clever. I loved this book.
Read it, it will cheer your day.
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