When the Cranes Fly South

WINNER OF THE SWEDISH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024
WINNER of both ADLIBRIS BEST DEBUT and for BEST FICTION of the Year

'The kind of book you give to someone when you’re really trying to say “I’ve been thinking about you” but don’t know how.' Fredrik Backman, bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

'A book that will echo in your soul' Garth Stein

'As if Fredrik Backman’s Ove had a love child with Åsa Larsson’s Sivving' Malin Persson Giolito


Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left; his body is failing him and his quiet existence is only broken up by the daily visits from his home care team. His hands soon too weak to open the precious jar housing the scarf of his Alzheimer-stricken wife Frederika, which still bears her scent. Fortunately he still has his beloved dog Sixten for company, only now his son insists upon taking the dog away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions that make him look back at his life, his fatherhood and the way he expresses his love.

An international sensation, When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving debut about an ageing man’s fight to keep the power over his own life.

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Swedish readers say…

‘So incredibly emotional, poignant, touching, and sad. But also very warm’

‘A novel about ageing, family relationships, fatherhood, loss and being the one who is left alone… Beautiful’

‘A book that will stay with you for a long time’

‘It is impossible not to be moved by this book’

‘A short little book, a whole life’

‘Delicate, warm, painfully beautiful about the conditions of life and ageing’

‘Such a beautiful description of people and life and relationships’

‘Wow what a masterpiece, I am speechless and have a new all-time favourite book!’