The Borough Press
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2019
Copyright © Sofia Lundberg 2017
English Translation © Alice Menzies 2017
Jacket design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018
Jacket illustration © Shutterstock.com
Sofia Lundberg asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Alice Menzies asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this translation
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9780008277925
Ebook Edition © JANUARY 2019 ISBN: 9780008277949
Version: 2019-10-14
Praise for The Red Address Book:
‘Written with love, told with joy. Very easy to enjoy’
Fredrik Backman, New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
‘[A] Swedish romance steeped in memory and regret … The Red Address Book is just the sort of easy-reading tale that will inspire readers to pull up a comfy chair to the fire, grab a mug of cocoa and a box of tissues and get hygge with it’
New York Times Book Review
‘Wise and captivating, Lundberg’s novel offers clear-eyed insights into old age and the solace of memory’
People Magazine
‘With an ingenious hook and a glorious heroine, this book is a delicate balance of heartwarming and heartbreaking and a timely reminder to hold on to those you love in case they get away. Enchanting’
Veronica Henry
‘In this tender and heartfelt story, Sofia Lundberg offers a reminder that those we too easily dismiss, such as the elderly, have rich histories and lives that we can learn from … Completely engrossing from start to finish, The Red Address Book is a poignant tale of memory and how those things we carry in our heart work together to create our own life stories’
New York Journal of Books
‘In a reader’s lifetime, there are a few books that will be companions forever. For me, The Red Address Book is one of them. It will comfort you, and remind you of all the moments when you grabbed life with both hands. It is also an homage to the wisdom of women who have lived longer than most of us. One is never too old to learn that love is the only meaning of life – let’s listen to these women’
Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop
‘Doris’s life story is magnetic, and it’s her strong personality and pearls of wisdom … that drive the book … Fans of Fredrik Backman will find much to like here’
Publishers Weekly
‘A warm and tender story about life, memories, and the power of love and friendship. A novel with heart and humor!’
Katarina Bivald, author of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
‘The relationships [Doris] forms along the way, from the tortured gay artist who becomes a lifelong friend to the charismatic young man whose love drives Doris to battle enormous odds in an attempt to find him during WWII, are beautifully brought to life in this sweetly elegiac novel’
Booklist
‘Romantic … fabulous’
Lucy Dillon, author of Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts
‘The Red Address Book is a love letter to the human heart. Full of tenderness and empathy, Lundberg has created more than just a novel – she has created a window into the soul’
Alyson Richman, author of The Lost Wife and The Velvet Hours
‘A charming, fragile romance’
Kirkus Reviews
‘Readers who enjoyed Eleanor Brown’s The Light of Paris or Nina George’s The Little French Bistro will delight in seeing Doris’s life unfold in this charming, tender tale’
Library Journal
For Doris, heaven’s most beautiful angel You gave me air to breathe and wings to fly.
And for Oskar, my most precious treasure.
Contents
Copyright
Praise for The Red Address Book
Dedication