The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

by Jonas Jonasson

THE GLOBAL BESTSELLER


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.

Reviewed by redjoy53 on

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This was an unexpected good read. Someone had recommended it and it sounded quite silly -- which isn't my usual kind of read. It went through a good deal of history with enough factual information to make it plausible and was quite funny. I chuckled to myself several times. I suggest you give it a try -- you may be surprised.

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  • Started reading
  • 28 March, 2013: Finished reading
  • 28 March, 2013: Reviewed