The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (Hundred-Year-Old Man)

Allan Karlsson, a centenarian with a fondness for vodka, ends up in a nursing home after a long and eventful life. On his 100th birthday, when a big celebration is planned, he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on an unexpected journey involving a suitcase stuffed with cash, criminals, a hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant. Karlsson's adventure is shaped by his remarkable past. Starting in munitions as a boy, he has witnessed and played key roles in many of the twentieth century's most important events. His travels have brought him into contact with major historical figures including Stalin, Churchill, Truman, Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. The novel follows his escape from the nursing home and the various encounters that unfold along the way.