Amor Towles
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is a delightful romp in a Moscow hotel during the early to the mid-twentieth century. It opens in 1922 with the sentencing of Count Alexander Rostov to house arrest in Moscow’s luxurious Metropol Hotel. Confined to the hotel for over three decades, Count Rostov manages to make the most of a bad situation.
The classic Metropol Hotel hosts an illustrious clientele. A who’s who in Moscow as well as in the international community pass through its doors to bask in its elegant atmosphere. It boasts a barber shop, a florist, a seamstress, and a chef who prides himself with his gourmet creations. Into this mix steps our gentleman count. Demoted from his formerly spacious quarters in the hotel to a bleak, small room in the upper levels of the hotel, the count quickly adjusts to living in a confined space. His day consists of strict adherence to a regimented routine, that is until all is upended by Nina, a precocious nine-year-old guest at the hotel. She disrupts his life and introduces him to areas in the hotel’s underbelly he never knew existed.
Nina is just one of the many colorful characters who interact with the count during his confinement. Among them is the glamorous actress, the chef, the maître d’, the Russian official, the piano teacher, the kind-hearted seamstress, his childhood friend, an American State Department official, and Sofia—the young child he adopts as his daughter. A connoisseur of fine wine and fine foods, Rostov is well-suited for the role he later assumes as head waiter. His life becomes even more interesting as he observes guests and garners valuable information while serving them dinner. Although confined to living within the walls of the hotel, Rostov is not cut off from the rest of the world. Quite the opposite. The hustle and bustle of the outside world with its political and social upheavals intrude into the hotel with Rostov witnessing the thick of it. His life is never dull.
An astute observer of human behavior, Rostov is also charming, erudite, cultured, intelligent, generous, well-mannered, kind, and witty. He is loved and respected by nearly everyone he meets. His endearing personality counts in large measure for the success of the novel. He is particularly delightful while conversing with children. The narrative voice also plays a significant factor in the novel’s success with its asides, footnotes on historical events, commentary, direct addresses to the reader, sparkling diction, and tongue-in-cheek humor.
The novel is well-deserving of all the accolades it has received. The plot, with its surprising twists and turns at every corner, moves at a brisk pace and keeps one engaged. The characters are well-developed, colorful, and authentic. The central figure is unforgettable, thoroughly charming, and a gentleman in every sense of the word. And piecing it all together is an engaging narrative voice.
Reading the novel is akin to having a leisurely, gourmet meal with a charming dinner companion who entertains and delights with a gripping story in a captivating voice. One almost wishes the meal would never end.