I had heard of Amor Towles’ novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, years ago and wondered why I would read about a Russian gentleman trapped in a hotel after the Bolshevik revolution. On the surface, the novel doesn’t sound interesting and seems out of touch with today’s popular romances and speculative fiction best sellers. Turns out, A Gentleman in Moscow was a New York Times’ best seller.
In 1922, Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov (or simply, the Count) is sentenced to remain in a hotel for the rest of his life. He may never set foot outside the doors again. In the course of the ensuing years, the Count meets many fascinating personalities, gets involved in matters of intrigue large and small, and becomes a better man. Not to say the Count is a terrible man at the start. He’s actually an affable, engaging character at the beginning of the book. His charming personality and dynamic reactions to his situation draws in the reader in the first chapters. It’s amazing how much changes over the course of the book. In fact, the stakes that set up the climax aren’t introduced until much further in the novel.
As I read Gentleman, I had the sense that this was not only a novel of our time, but a novel destined to be a classic. The novel has all the markings of great literature: a hero with stakes, a fascinating premise, enduring themes, and writing that elevates everything else.
I love elements of a story that enhance the prose itself. I was amazed to see a map and a poem (attributed to a character) at the start of this novel. Author Stuart Turton’s also included additional material in his first two novels, I’m pleased to see this front matter start to appear in modern novels again. Their absence has been sorely missed.
The novel isn’t what most would expect. Given the premise, it’s quite humorous. For an aristocratic character and harsh setting, it’s warm-hearted. And given the ennui and despair of our modern times, it’s quite hopeful. This endearing tone sets the novel apart. And—as an aside—what’s missing from the Paramount miniseries. The series is good in its own right, but falls short of the novel’s greatness (e.g. Where is the count’s low ceiling? Where are the prior examples of Sofia’s sudden appearances? Where is the game of Zut?). Another contrast to the miniseries that books shine on is arrangement. Every chapter in Gentleman starts with an “A.” A little game between writer and reader that I thoroughly enjoyed.
A Gentleman in Moscow comes with my highest recommendation. Don’t follow my example and wait years to read it. Pick up this modern classic and see for yourself.