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

By Jonas Jonasson

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of-the-window-and-disappeared-56ef2d73/

Allan Karlsson would rather leave his nursing home than attend his hundredth birthday party. He climbs out the window in his slippers, takes a suitcase that happens to contain a fortune, and attracts a following of criminals, police, and new friends.

## What makes it funny?

Allan has a talent for getting mixed up in events much larger than himself. His escape becomes a criminal chase, while accounts of his earlier life put an apolitical explosives expert alongside the people shaping twentieth-century history.

### The comedy at work

Jonasson stretches a wandering man’s life into a tall tale. The chapters switch between Allan’s getaway and his past, making international politics another arena for unlikely meetings and muddled plans.

### Try this if…

Readers who enjoy far-fetched adventures, historical name-dropping, and friendships formed in trouble have plenty to follow here.

### Good to know

The friendly company shares the story with crime, several murders, and a hero who likes his vodka.

## What to expect

- Genre: Adventure · Historical
- On the shelf: Picaresque
- Kind of humor: Absurdism · Satire
- The atmosphere: Warmhearted
- Format: Novel
- Length: 400 pages (ebook)
- Audiobook: 11 hr

## A few distinguishing details

- A centenarian escapes his own birthday party
- A criminal chase interwoven with an improbable life in history

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, Hachette UK](https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jonas-jonasson/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of-the-window-and-disappeared/9780349141800)
- Book information: [The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared audiobook by Jonas Jonasson, Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/gb/audiobook/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of/id553369378)
- Book information: [The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared ebook, Apple Books](https://books.apple.com/be/book/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of/id1012129623)
- Review: [Independent review](https://www.diablogazette.com/2016/02/bookends-the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-the-window-and-disappeared-by-jonas-jonasson)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jonas-jonasson/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of-the-window-and-disappeared/9780349141800)
- Book information: [Edition information](https://books.apple.com/gb/audiobook/the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of/id553369378)