A centenarian in the footsteps of Forrest Gump - if Gump were an explosives expert and overly fond of vodka - decides that it's never too late to make a fresh start...

In the quiet of his room at the nursing home, Allan Karlsson awaits a party he wishes would never start. It is the party for his hundredth birthday. The mayor and the city councilors will be present. Journalists from the local media will also be present. Allan, however, decides to be absent. So, he puts on his slippers and escapes through the window. Having made his grand exit, he will embark on an incredible adventure that will bring him face to face with various criminals, a suitcase full of cash, several incompetent policemen, and an elephant. For anyone else, this adventure would be unique. But not for Allan, who has a stunning past, having shared meals - and much more - with Stalin, Churchill, Mao, Franco, Truman, and De Gaulle, playing a key role in some of the top moments of the 20th century.

A hilariously funny and deeply human novel about the humble grandeur of everyday life and the beauty of living with passion even when the world tries to convince you that everything is hopelessly ugly.