The Swedish phenomenal NUMBER 1 Bestseller, winner of Swedish Book of the Year, with rights sold in 35 territories. A moving debut about an ageing man's fight to keep the power over his own life for fans of A MAN CALLED OVE and REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES
The beautiful, bittersweet novel and international bestseller about ageing, fathers and sons, and what it means to be human, perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove, Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
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 powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. A book that will echo in your soul' Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
'The novel is irresistible. So tender and moving.' Malin Persson Giolito, bestselling author of Quicksand and Beyond Reasonable Doubt
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Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son.
Fortunately, he still has his memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.
Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken 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 and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice.
An instant number one bestseller in Sweden and winner of the Swedish Book of the Year, When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving and emotional novel about one man's desire to preserve his autonomy, about the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.
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Readers love When the Cranes Fly South-
'Wow, what a masterpiece, I am speechless and have a new all-time favourite book!'
'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'
'Delicate, warm, painfully beautiful about the conditions of life and ageing'
'Such a beautiful description of people and life and relationships'
About the Author
The idea for Lisa Ridzen's heartrending debut When the Cranes Fly South came to her through the discovery of notes her Grandfather's care team had left the family as he neared the end of his life. She was also inspired by her research into masculinity in the rural communities of the Swedish far north, where she herself was raised and now lives in a small village outside stersund.Lisa began penning the novel whilst attending L ngholmen Writer's Academy. When the Cranes Fly South was a number one bestseller in Sweden, won the overall Swedish Book of the Year, and the Adlibris prize both for Debut and Fiction of the Year - the first time in the awards' history that an author won in two categories. Rights have sold in 34 languages around the world.
Industry Reviews
A tender tale about ageing, our own and others, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s really a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye. 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, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
This novel is irresistible. So tender and moving. It’s as if Fredrik Backman’s Ove had a love child with Åsa Larsson’s Sivving – and the result is the most wonderful thing imaginable. Read it.
- Malin Persson Giolito, internationally bestselling author of Quicksand and Beyond all reasonable doubt
A powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. This is a book that will echo in your soul.
- Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain
This novel is irresistible. So tender and moving. It’s as if Fredrik Backman’s Ove had a love child with Åsa Larsson’s Sivving – and the result is the most wonderful thing imaginable.
- Malin Persson Giolito, internationally bestselling author of Quicksand and Beyond all reasonable doubt
A tender tale about ageing, our own and others, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s really a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye. 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, No.1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
