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The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared Paperback – September 11, 2012

by Jonas Jonasson (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 53,706 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
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A larger-than-life old man with a fondness for vodka goes on an unexpected adventure in this whimsical novel -- perfect for fans of Forrest Gump and A Man Called Ove.

The international publishing sensation -- more than six million copies sold worldwide!

A reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert) decides it's not too late to start over . . .

After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant (not to mention a death by elephant).

It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.

 
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Hundred-Year-Old Man Series
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Hachette Books
  5. Publication date
    September 11, 2012
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    5.38 x 1.13 x 8.13 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    1401324649
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1401324643
  10. See all details
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  1. Life worked in such a way that right was not necessarily right, but rather what the person in charge said was right.
    Highlighted by 1,131 Kindle readers
  2. When life has gone into overtime it’s easy to take liberties, he thought, and he made himself comfortable in the seat.
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Desperate to avoid his 100th birthday party, Allan Karlsson climbs out the window of his room at the nursing home and heads to the nearest bus station, intending to travel as far as his pocket money will take him. But a spur-of-the-moment decision to steal a suitcase from a fellow passenger sends Allan on a strange and unforeseen journey involving, among other things, some nasty criminals, a very large pile of cash, and an elephant named Sonya. It’s just another chapter in a life full of adventures for Allan, who has become entangled in the major events of the twentieth century, including the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project. As Allan’s colorful and complex history merges with his present-day escapades, readers will be treated to a new and charmingly funny version of world history and get to know a very youthful old man whose global influence knows no age limit. An international best-seller, this is an engaging tale of one man’s life lived to the fullest. --Carol Gladstein

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

"[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

"[A] witty caper. ***1/2"--People

"A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully."--The Sunday Times

"Eccentric, unusual and far-fetched in the best possible way."--The Bookseller

"Imaginative, laugh-out-loud . . . a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind."--The 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."--The Guardian

"The anti Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. . . Jonasson's lighthearted novel shows the softer side of Sweden. . . . hilarious."--Marie Claire

"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

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hachette Books; Original edition (September 11, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401324649
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401324643
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 1.13 x 8.13 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 53,706 ratings

About the author

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Jonas Jonasson

Jonas Jonasson

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Jonas Jonasson was a journalist for the Expressen newspaper for many years. He became a media consultant and later set up a company producing sports and events for Swedish television, before selling his company and moving abroad to work on his first novel. He is the author of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden and Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All. He lives on the Swedish island Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
53,706 global ratings
The 100 yr old man that climbed out the window
5 Stars
The 100 yr old man that climbed out the window
Charming novel. Translated from a Swedish book. It's about a 100 yr old man that escaped the assisted living and the fun begins. It's funny , adventurous and the characters are sweet.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jeaniemac
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh! Myyy!
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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Such vivid characters, wealth of historical situations, clearly researched with care, and an hysterically funny plot(s)!

My favorite lines were the query about the bus: "So, the bus was filled with Bibles?"

And, the reply: "No, with watermelons.*
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TheraP
4.0 out of 5 stars A light, humorous novel for pure enjoyment
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024
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The plot has twists and turns and you get the feeling that the author enjoyed simply riffing from one unbelievable plot twist to the next. The characters are as strange and funny as the plot is complicated and bizarre.

It’s not great literature. But it’s worth reading when you need a break from the slings and arrows that clog every life from time to time.

It’s pure imagination. There are no downsides. Enjoy it!
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pauline wilhite
5.0 out of 5 stars Adventures of a 100 year old
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024
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Loved the book, keeps your interest
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reviewer
3.0 out of 5 stars Impressive. Why are the nords so popular at the moment (film, television, now novels!)
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2013
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The one hundred-year-old man who is the protagonist of this novel is known as Allan and he has, we learn, done a lot more than merely climb out the window of his ‘Old Folks Home’ and disappear. Allan contends with his fear of dying in an institution, the disabling repercussions of old age as well as the consequence of stealing a lot of money from a criminal bikie gang.
Jonasson explores the domino effect of international politics and the way it led to the wars of the last century. A major theme of the book examines the way in which humans habitually forget the value of other human life, but cling dearly to their own individual existence.
Structurally, the book is well written. Jonasson uses chapters to separate the two chronologically ordered plots, one – his past life – spanning a century, the other – his life as a retiree on the run – covering no more than a fortnight. Yet both carry equal weight in the book.
To say that a novel is almost indigestibly plot-packed is not a criticism; I could have refrained from using the word almost. This is a fast-paced novel that covers a lot of fictional terrain, which is the where the strength of the book lies; it is action-packed and makes for an addictive single-sitting read.
This novel is also very funny. Jonnason’s comedy relies on understatement and satire, which is layered and reiterated for effect. The way he zooms through a large chunk of history and manages to slot his protagonist in at every stage is skillful. However, there comes a point at which all of these chance encounters with Allan become difficult to believe. Through the comedic nature of this novel, Jonasson makes his skillfully crafted Twentieth Century history lesson appear facetious; and that being the case, also pedantic.
This novel is written for those readers looking for an enjoyable read that doesn’t require too much thinking. Although we glimpse a few beautiful sentences here and there, the majority of the time the importance lies in what is being said, rather than how it is described; which makes the few glimpses of pleasurable prose stand out like gems.
For half the novel, in which Allan has escaped and is on the run from bikies, the book is set in Sweden. Unfortunately we are given such a small amount of description in which to visualise this landscape, that the only prompts alerting us to the local setting are the strange place names. It would appear as though Jonasson had not expected an international readership. The book could be greatly improved if more visual details were included so that the non-Swedish readership get a deeper glimpse of that country.
Jonaason’s characterisation and structure is tight and effective. His well-planned plots come together to make a very enjoyable story about modern history, old age, and not taking life too seriously.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, funny and wise
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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This is a special book, a parody that hits it on the head every time. It resembles forest Gump. Please enjoy.
2 people found this helpful
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Sally
4.0 out of 5 stars It’s entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
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This book is well written. The plot is pretty simplistic but somewhat twisty. Definitely not deep.
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Linda C. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2013
Verified Purchase
I found this novel one day while I was browsing at the bookstore. I like to look around the store, see what books look interesting and then download them to my Kindle. The Kindle has me so hooked that I rarely purchase a real book anymore. I've got enough reading material to keep me busy for a very long time all carefully stored on a device I can easily carry in one hand.

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is an absolute hoot! I'm gong to call it a cross between Forrest Gump and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's set in Sweden after all. Allan is the 100 year old man who would rather have a drink of vodka than attend his birthday party at the Old Folk's Home. So he climbs out the window and walks to the bus station.

The bus station is where his adventure begins. Or at least this part of his adventure. The story is a wonderful blend of the past and the present. What we come to know is that this 100 year old man has had a life well lived. He has only attended three years of schooling, yet he has become a highly sought after explosives expert. Throughout his life he has hob nobbed with world leaders and traveled the world. Life in the Old Folk's Home paled in comparison even at 100 years of age.

I stopped counting how many times I laughed out loud while reading this book. It's funny and charming with a historical twist. Murder and intrigue are combined with outright silliness and the author told the story with a unique yet dry sense of humor. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what happened next. There was an unexpected surprise around every corner.

I can only hope I live as long and have as many interesting stories to tell. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared will lighten up any day and bring a smile to your face. Life is worth living no matter what it hands you. The 100 year old man can vouch for that.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Nicole Normand
5.0 out of 5 stars Would recommend
Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2022
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TRIGGER ALERT: Talk of: Gang rape, abuse of women and children sexually, killing of innocent people for fun and sport, capturing young girls to use as sex slaves for the troops. On top of that there are details of what the Japanese did to the Korean, similar to what the Catholics did with our First Nations: "forced them to adopt Japanese names and in other respects done his best to eradicate the Korean language and culture".
-Apart from what I wrote in the trigger alert, I thought it was over-the-top funny with unbelievable adventures, interesting politics and history bits. Funny, sad, awful, but always entertaining.
-The back and forth into Allan Karlsson's life was well-written and I didn't find it confusing or boring in the least.
-Father Ferguson had no respect for other religions whatsoever and his brutal death was no surprise; he had it coming.
-Wow, the irony that a bigger country would get most of the money out of an agreement because, well, the other one only provided cheap labor and the oil in their soil. Most still think like this.
-I was confused at to why the scent of death couldn't have been from someone previously on the trolley or right after the duet left it.
-How many of you Googled "how to make alcohol from goats’ milk"? Well, if you didn't, it's actually possible and someone in Tasmania is doing it.
3 people found this helpful
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Gerard Mac
5.0 out of 5 stars Intreging, interesting and innovative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2024
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A ripping yarn of the history of the 20th century thought the eyes of one man told with lightness and humour .
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Sumaiya Khatoon
5.0 out of 5 stars 2/5 extremely boring backstory ruined it for me
Reviewed in India on March 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
-- I adored the present timeline. It felt like a road movie. The events that unfold in the story are highly unrealistic and hence you need to suspend your disbelief to truly embrace this whimsical ride. In fact the absurd plot is what made it so charming and fun.
Also, The overly simplistic writing style made it an easy read.

--The issue for me was the entire backstory part which unfortunately comprised of almost 50% of the story. I understand that the backstory is an integral part of character development, but it was just too mundane and slow paced. It was so boring that I skim-read the whole thing to get to the present timeline.
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Sumaiya Khatoon
5.0 out of 5 stars 2/5 extremely boring backstory ruined it for me
Reviewed in India on March 14, 2023
-- I adored the present timeline. It felt like a road movie. The events that unfold in the story are highly unrealistic and hence you need to suspend your disbelief to truly embrace this whimsical ride. In fact the absurd plot is what made it so charming and fun.
Also, The overly simplistic writing style made it an easy read.

--The issue for me was the entire backstory part which unfortunately comprised of almost 50% of the story. I understand that the backstory is an integral part of character development, but it was just too mundane and slow paced. It was so boring that I skim-read the whole thing to get to the present timeline.
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Andrew Mac
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweden's own Forrest Gump
Reviewed in Mexico on January 2, 2019
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Brilliantly written, I had a smile on my face throughout. It's like a funnier version of Forrest Gump- highly recommended
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Madeleine VERNET
5.0 out of 5 stars C'est un livre très drole
Reviewed in France on December 18, 2019
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Ce livre est génial et si vous avez la possibilité de le lire en anglais ou en français, faites le en anglais c'est encore plus drôle!!!
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