A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles

A Gentleman in Moscow

By Amor Towles

  • Release Date: 2016-09-06
  • Genre: Historical
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 8,339 Ratings)

Description

The mega-bestseller with more than 2 million readers, soon to be a Showtime/Paramount series starring Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Rostov

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway and Rules of Civility, a beautifully transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.

Reviews

  • Immensely readable

    5
    By MinRay
    Fascinating characters, a wonderful story, and an attitude of persistent hope.
  • Took a while, but worth it.

    4
    By ReaderKate
    It took me a while to get into the story. But it is worth sticking it out for a bit. The character development and the collection of “family” is well done. I took A LOT of Russian history in college, so I was extremely interested in how the Count’s life, and the world around him, changed in those 40 momentous years.
  • Very fun read

    5
    By ebenkert
    Beautiful writing through a whimsical yet engaging plot, surrounded by lovable characters
  • Time and Place

    4
    By Richard Bakare
    Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” resembles a well crafted impressionist snapshot of a changing culture and people. I can’t speak for how accurate the representations maybe but dense scope and descriptive style certainly put us in what feels like many decades of Russia past. In those various times and places we are taken through an exploration of class differences and how spaces along with language define them. That journey through time and place is Towles’ master stroke of writing. Because he goes beyond historical fiction and delves deeper into a philosophical treatise on the changing zeitgeist over time from the perspective of one man. A gentleman at that, whose constancy pushes back against the tide and is moved by the crashing waves of change at every turn. The clever and well placed time jumps show us as much about what changes with age as they do by omitting years of events. The anchor that is our protagonist, Alexander, reminds us that all things change in a dynamic environment, your effort to remain what you are is what limits you. So watching how he does and does not adapt to his changing environment is a joy in itself. However, this book is no short read and is slow in some passages making it can be an effort to get through. The payoff in the second half of the book is worth it. No spoilers from me, but watch for the ruse.
  • Fantastic!!!!

    5
    By Curlygirrl
    A truly beautiful story.
  • Magical story for all

    5
    By demari17
    Spies, secrets and being under arrest. What else could you ask for from a spy novel in Russia. Russia and spies do a romantic dance of sorts and it will draw you in and not let you out of Mother Russias grip.
  • Really Enjoyable Historical Read!

    5
    By gravelblue
    A rather enjoyable book that follows much of the life of a man in one location, while the world changes around him. A lovely, touching read. Have recommended to others.
  • A Gentleman in Moscow

    5
    By Blessed and know it!
    Brilliant!
  • Lovely

    5
    By Erin5266
    A lovely tale superbly told.
  • A Gentleman in Moscow

    5
    By Skritzer67
    Excellent read. Draws you in and begs you to stay awhile. A visit to an old world and engaging characters.

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