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

Released from the Swedish psychiatric hospital after four years, Allan returns to his family’s home in Yxhult to find it in disarray. He demolishes it, using dynamite, for which he’s arrested but released because the law doesn’t prohibit blowing up one’s own house. Allan rides his bicycle north and takes a job at a cannon factory, as he’s an “ignition specialist” (68). There, he meets Estabán, a Spaniard. The two eventually return to Spain, where civil war is brewing. Jonasson writes, “For a moment Estabán forgot that his friend was incorrigibly apolitical and tried to drag Allan in the direction of the revolution. But Allan stuck to his habit of not getting involved” (71). Before long, Estabán is killed by a mortar round. Allan offers his services as an explosive expert to the Republicans (socialists) “in exchange for three square meals a day and enough wine to get drunk on when circumstances allowed” (73). Toward the end of the war, as the fascists grow close to victory over the socialists, Allan saves the life of a fascist general, who embraces him as a hero, instantly causing Allan to change sides. The general, Francisco Franco, the eventual Spanish dictator, wants Allan to join his government.