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A Gentleman in Moscow
A Novel
eBook - 2016
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civility, a novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel—a beautifully transporting novel.
The mega-bestseller with more than 2 million readers, soon to be a major television series
"Perhaps the ultimate quarantine read . . . A Gentleman in Moscow is about the importance of community; the distance of a kind act; and resilience. It's a manual for getting through the days to come." —O, The Oprah Magazine
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.
The mega-bestseller with more than 2 million readers, soon to be a major television series
"Perhaps the ultimate quarantine read . . . A Gentleman in Moscow is about the importance of community; the distance of a kind act; and resilience. It's a manual for getting through the days to come." —O, The Oprah Magazine
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.
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Penguin Publishing Group
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Add a QuoteThe book is a bit slow at first but it becomes clear it needed to be like that to develop the story of the Count and all the people he encountered in his life. A story of friendships and the importance and ease of them.
“Looking back, it seems to me that there are people who play an essential role at every turn. And I don’t just mean the Napoleons who influence the course of history. I mean men and women who routinely appear at critical junctures in the progress of art or commerce, or the evolution of ideas-as if Life itself has summoned them once again to help fulfill its purpose
“Manners are not like bonbons, Nina. You may not choose the ones that suit you best; and you certainly cannot put the half-bitten ones back in the box. . . .” - p. 52
“Here, indeed, was a formidable sentence--one that was on intimate terms with a comma, and that held the period in healthy disregard.” - p. 68
“It is a sad but unavoidable fact of life," he began, "that as we age our social circles grow smaller. Whether from increased habit or diminished vigor, we suddenly find ourselves in the company of just a few familiar faces.” - p. 94
“After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we’ve just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour.” - pp. 120-121
“Showing a sense of personal restraint that was almost out of character, the Count had restricted himself to two succinct pieces of parental advice. The first was that if one did not master one’s circumstances, one was bound to be mastered by them; and the second was Montaigne’s maxim that the surest sign of wisdom is constant cheerfulness.” - p. 419
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Carolyn_51
Mar 14, 2018
The author shows insight into the customs. language, and values of his characters and their time. In just a few words he makes the reader picture the scene and often leaves gaps of years, leaving an explanation of what happened during this time for later in the story. A book that I couldn't put down.
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Add a CommentThis is a wonderful story about a Count imprisoned for over 30 years in Metropol, a luxurious Moscow hotel. In the course of his imprisonment he befriends a number of people including staff members and a few guests. All of them become a part of his community helping him to survive his confinement. But most of all, having a purpose in life lifted him from despair...
as in presiding as head waiter at the prestigious restaurant in the hotel . His responsibility as guardian to a little girl, dropped into his care, also enriched his life. But it also drove him to master his circumstances.
One of my new absolute favorite reads! Read in the 'social distancing' of Spring 2020 its the perfect read while stuck at home to reflect on how to approach circumstances. A Gentleman in Moscow immerses you into the luxe Hotel Metropol in Moscow-- a world so full of detail you can almost feel the carpets and hear the clinking of glasses and china. We follow the life of Count Alexander Rostov who has been sentenced to house arrest at the hotel. A book that takes its time to unfold and introduce characters, anchors you in the setting of the hotel and gives hints and rumors of the upheavals going on outside the doors of the Hotel. One of the most likable main characters i can remember reading, a true gentleman and someone who chooses to take a hold on his circumstances rather than be defined by them. Cannot recommend it highly enough!
Well-written with engaging characters. That said, the story is implausible to say the least and the "historical details" are poorly researched. An OK fantasy but don't take it seriously.
This is a charming book, from the characters to the location to the plot. It's much like the protagonist - elegant, knowledgable and well-spoken. I fell in love with this aristocratic "unperson" right from the start and imagine most readers do too. It's not a page turner but you don't want it to be. This is one to savour. It will stay with me for some time.
One of the best books I've read in a long time! An interesting story, beautifully written!
This was a great read and I loved Count Rostov-he WAS a true gentleman! And I learned a little about city of Moscow & some Russian history too. A very well written novel.
I read this book while listening to a Youtube 10-hour thunder and rain background. It seemed to fit the novel, which is based in Russia, beautifully. This novel is a truly wonderful read, rightfully earning all of the 5-star ratings. It has great depth, history, an understanding of people, and so many more layers to offer, that it deserves to be reread several times.
i love it and thought it very well written.
Absolutely loved the more sophisticated sense of humour of the book. And it was fascinating how the author described the life of the Count in the Metropol, without in any way belittling or skipping over the horrible events taking place in the Soviet Union throughout this period. It reminded me a lot of author Donald Jack. I will definitely be prioritizing other books by Amor Towles.
An immensely enjoyable literary journey. Pity it had to end.