A Gentleman in Moscow Review

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, A Gentleman in Moscow.

A Gentleman in Moscow a novel by Armor Towles transports the reader back in time to 1922 Russia and the memories of the opulent life of the Russian Tsars. Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov,  a charming 20 something year old, well educated and well traveled aristocrat has been sentenced to live the remainder of his life at the luxury Metropol Hotel where he already lives. Upon arriving back to his room after his sentencing Count Rostov is informed that he will be moving out of his suite up stairs to an attic storage closet.  He takes his most valued possessions,  his grandfather’s beautiful writing desk, a picture of his beloved deceased sister, and a couple lamps.

The Metropol Hotel is grande and luxurious, a city in itself, housing several restaurants, a bar, banquet halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms and shops. At first the Count continues his usual routines: a standing appointment each week for a haircut , cocktails at  the Shalyapin bar, lunching at the Piazza cafe, and fine dinning at Boyarsky restaurant.

Mischka, a college friend, of Alexander comes to visit him over the years.  Through their relationship we get a glimpse of the Counts life before the Metropol Hotel.  Mischka also brings word of the changing world outside of the hotel. Befriended by a young girl named Nina the Count experiences the hotel in a way he has never before; secret doors, halls, and rooms. Nina thrives on the knowledge and wisdom the Count has to offer.

After years of “hotel arrest”, on what would be his sister’s birthday  despair starts to set in and the Count starts to contemplate a noble way out.  At that moment the Count  tells himself that “if a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them” and that “imagining what might happen if one’s circumstances were different was the only sure route to madness.” and hence the real story begins.  A story of making the best of your circumstances.The Count’s life becomes rich with the relationships he develops with the hotel’s colorful inhabitants: a beautiful movie star, a chef, a waiter,  a seamstress, a Russian official and an American soldier. What the captivating story of Count Alexander llyich Rotov’s life shows us is that we are saved by friendship and duty.

I have not shared with you some surprising details of the book because I want you to experience them for yourself.  When the book is over you will not want to leave all your new friends. A Gentleman in Moscow is a definite must read.

If you liked A Gentleman in Moscow then make sure to also read Rules of Civility!

Enjoy and Be Well!