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

  • By: Jonas Jonasson
  • Narrated by: Peter Kenny
  • Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (6,333 ratings)

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

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

By: Jonas Jonasson
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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Editor reviews

Jonas Jonasson’s charming novel The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared tells the story of Allan Karlsson, who has just turned 100 and is desperate to escape his own birthday party. On the run from the old people’s home in his slippers, Allan soon is swept into an adventure involving a suitcase stuffed with money, murder victims, villains and police. As the narrative unfolds, we discover more of Allan’s Forrest Gump-like background, having worked on the Manhattan Project, befriended heads of state and had a hand in many of the momentous events of the twentieth century. This delightful audiobook is narrated by Peter Kenny and available for download from Audible.

Summary

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 100th birthday party. Escaping through his bedroom window, into the flowerbed, Allan makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving criminals, several deaths, a suitcase full of cash, and incompetent but very human police. As his escapades unfold, Allan's earlier life is revealed, and we discover that he played a key role behind the scenes in some of the momentous events of the 20th century.

This ‘imaginative, laugh-out-loud bestseller’ (Daily Telegraph) has sold more than two million printed copies.
©2009 Jonas Jonasson (P)2012 Strathmore Publishing Ltd
Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction
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Critic reviews

“Like Forrest Gump, Allan is an innocent with the knack of being in the right place at the right time. He has had a hand in everything from the Russian revolution to Reagan's Star Wars. 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)
"a mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing ¬disgracefully, [full of] infectious humour and crackpot energy. The author has ... an acute ear for dialogue and a brilliant eye for the absurd." ( Sunday Times)
“Peter Kenny...reads with the straightness [the book's] dry humour requires ... I guarantee there will be a smile on your face when you hear it.” (Christina Hardyment, The Times)

What listeners say about The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

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Profile Image for Jack of all

A proper story with great narration

Forest Gump but a lot lighter and funnier. This was brilliantly written and with a narrator that really brought the story to life. No surprise that it's had so many positive reviews.

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Profile Image for Dr A M Hammond

Swedish Forest Gump style adventure

A playfull, funny and sweet adventure. Like a modern Forest Gump, but Swedish, and sometimes a little too farfetched.

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Profile Image for Jacqui

This book gave me joy!

I have not laughed so much when reading/listening to a book. I could not stop. Incredible wit, beautifully woven story line. Unpredictable and fantastical. And I must add incredibly well narrated. If I could give this 10 stars I would! Thank you Jonas and Peter for this sliver of pure joy!

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Profile Image for Helen Williams

loved it

Great story which made me laugh out loud at times. The narrator was perfect for the story

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Profile Image for Tereza

Fantastic narration and great humour

What else can one ask for? Laugh out loud moments and history narrated through the story of a man. It certainly looks into politics from a different perspective.

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Profile Image for Mrs R Mackay

Great story, captivating listen.

I would definitely recommend this audiobook. Get lost in the centenarians epic journey. Wizzing through time, seamlessly covering many events on this old man's journey.

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Profile Image for Mumblecrust

Very funny and well told story

Absolutely brilliant. Not much makes me laugh out loud but this certainly did. Wonderful thank you v

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Profile Image for Zoe

A hit novel, enhanced further by great performance

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version, but the way it is delivered by Peter Kenny is simply brilliant! He gets the tone just right & instead of making the simplicity of the prose seem patronising, turns it into an almost ironic, Winnie the Pooh-like brilliance. Better than the film too

What did you like best about this story?

The way that such a smorgasbord of characters interact & work together in such a strange set of circumstances. This seems to be a particular forte of Jonas Jonasson.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

There is one part in the story where an elephant saves everyone from something very bad in a very amusing way. I won't say more, but this scene is particularly vivid, amongst many many enjoyable scenes.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Swedish Forrest Gump but less crude.

Any additional comments?

Worth the hype.

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Profile Image for A shopper

Thoroughly enjoyable

It took sometime to get into the book but I am glad I did not give up. Thoroughly enjoyable

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Profile Image for Ed Dawes

entertaining farce

entertaining farce exceptionally well narrated.. like a farcical comediic version of forrest gump. an enjoyable listen.

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