A user of a Mönchengladbach library returned a book 60 years late.

It was in a package from southern France, along with a two-page handwritten apology, the city library said on Monday.

The library waived overdue fines.

In the letter, the now 81-year-old borrower asked "a thousand apologies" for the late return.

He had borrowed a book by the socialist and revolutionary Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) that dates from 1883, i.e. it was printed during Engels' lifetime.

“The city library is happy about the return of its property.

She can now cross the title from the long list of missing books."

However, more than 850 other books have been missing since the end of the war.