My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises
2017 Nominated

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises

Translated from the original Swedish by Henning Koch
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure, My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises will charm and delight anyone who has ever had a grandmother.

Everyone remembers the smell of their grandmother’s house. Everyone remembers the stories their grandmother told them.

But does everyone remember their grandmother flirting with policemen? Driving illegally? Breaking into a zoo in the middle of the night? Firing a paintball gun from a balcony in her dressing gown?

Seven-year-old Elsa does.

Some might call Elsa’s granny ‘eccentric’, or even ‘crazy’. Elsa calls her a superhero. And granny’s stories, of knights and princesses and dragons and castles, are her superpower. Because, as Elsa is starting to learn, heroes and villains don’t always exist in imaginary kingdoms; they could live just down the hallway.

As Christmas draws near, even the best superhero grandmothers may have one or two things they’d like to apologise for. And, in the process, Elsa can have some breath-taking adventures of her own…

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Fredrik
Backman

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish blogger, columnist and author. His debut novel A Man Called Ove was a number 1 bestseller across Scandinavia, has sold over one million copies worldwide, was a Richard and Judy summer read in the UK and an instant New York Times paperback bestseller, and has been made into an acclaimed film. Fredrik’s subsequent novels, My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies and Britt-Marie was Here, also went straight to number 1 in Sweden on publication.

Fredrik Backman is a Swedish blogger, columnist and author. His debut novel A Man Called Ove was a number 1 bestseller across Scandinavia, has sold over one million copies worldwide, was a Richard and Judy summer read in the UK and an instant New York Times paperback bestseller, and has been made into an acclaimed film. Fredrik’s subsequent novels, My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologies and Britt-Marie was Here, also went straight to number 1 in Sweden on publication.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Henning
Koch

Henning Koch was born in Sweden but has spent most of his life in England, Spain, and Sardinia. Most recently he translated A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, and his translation of Tom Malmquist’s In Every Moment We Are Still Alive will be published in 2017. He has also written a short story collection, Love Doesn’t Work, and a novel, The Maggot People.

Henning Koch was born in Sweden but has spent most of his life in England, Spain, and Sardinia. Most recently he translated A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, and his translation of Tom Malmquist’s In Every Moment We Are Still Alive will be published in 2017. He has also written a short story collection, Love Doesn’t Work, and a novel, The Maggot People.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
04/06/2015
Country
Sweden
Original Language
Swedish
Publisher
Hodder and Stoughton
Translator
Henning Koch
Translation
Translated from the original Swedish by Henning Koch

RELATED FEATURES

News May 21 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Winner Revealed

Discover this year's winner!
Video May 16 2026

Brigitte Giraud – Live Fast Q&A

Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.
Video May 12 2026

Laurent Binet – Perspective(s) Q&A

Check out our Q&A with Laurent Binet, author of shortlisted title Perspective(s), as he discusses the inspirations behind his work and reflects on the role libraries have played in shaping his journey
Video May 8 2026

Ali Smith – Gliff Q&A

Shortlisted author Ali Smith discusses the creative inspirations behind Gliff and reflects on the significance of libraries throughout her reading and writing life in our latest Q&A.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.