110 pages • 3 hours read
A Gentleman in Moscow
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Book Brief
480
Novel • Fiction
Moscow, Russia • 1920s
2016
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles narrates the life of Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel following the Bolshevik Revolution. Confined to a small attic room, he witnesses significant societal changes and forms meaningful relationships. Through his confinement, the Count learns resilience, adapts to changing times, and finds solace in human connections.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Romantic
Reviews & Readership
720,491 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Amor Towles' A Gentleman in Moscow captivates readers with its rich, immersive storytelling and profound character development. Critics laud the elegant prose and historical detail, but some find the pacing slow and the narrative overly descriptive. Overall, it's praised for its charming tale of resilience and personal growth.
Who Should Read A Gentleman in Moscow?
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with richly detailed settings and character-driven plots will appreciate A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, for their exquisite prose and compelling narratives set against historical backdrops, will find this novel equally engaging.
720,491 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Sofia: The daughter of Nina Kulikova. She is left with the Count at the Metropol Hotel when Nina leaves and doesn't return. Sofia becomes like a daughter to the Count, and he dedicates himself to her care and upbringing.
Sofia: The daughter of Nina Kulikova. She is left with the Count at the Metropol Hotel when Nina leaves and doesn't return. Sofia becomes like a daughter to the Count, and he dedicates himself to her care and upbringing.
Mikhail Fyodorovich Mindich (Mishka): A close friend of the Count from St. Petersburg, Mishka is a passionate poet and Bolshevik sympathizer. He is deeply intertwined in the Count's life and his work plays a significant part in the Count's trial, leading to the poem that saves the Count from execution being attributed to him.
Anna Urbanova: A willowy actress and the love interest of the Count. Over the years, she visits the Metropol and maintains a recurring romantic relationship with him, providing companionship and support throughout his confinement.
Anna Urbanova: A willowy actress and the love interest of the Count. Over the years, she visits the Metropol and maintains a recurring romantic relationship with him, providing companionship and support throughout his confinement.
The Bishop (Comrade Leplevsky): Initially a waiter at the Metropol, he becomes an adversary to the Count. He is promoted to hotel manager, where he exhibits incompetence and malice, representing the hypocrisy and power struggles within the Bolshevik regime.
Osip Ivanovich Glebnokov: A Bolshevik Party official who forms a cautious friendship with the Count. He is keen on learning languages and understanding Western culture, reflective of Bolshevik ambition and ideology.
Osip Ivanovich Glebnokov: A Bolshevik Party official who forms a cautious friendship with the Count. He is keen on learning languages and understanding Western culture, reflective of Bolshevik ambition and ideology.
Andrey Duras: The maître d’ of the Boyarsky restaurant at the Metropol and a part of the "Triumvirate" with the Count and Emile. Andrey is elegant, perceptive, and dependable, providing steady friendship to the Count.
Emile Zhukovsky: The chef de cuisine of the Boyarsky and a member of the "Triumvirate." Emile is known for his fiery temperament and culinary prowess, creating exquisite dishes despite wartime scarcity.
Emile Zhukovsky: The chef de cuisine of the Boyarsky and a member of the "Triumvirate." Emile is known for his fiery temperament and culinary prowess, creating exquisite dishes despite wartime scarcity.
Richard Vanderwhile: An American aide-de-camp to a general and later a State Department official. He becomes a friend of the Count, with whom he shares philosophical discussions, and later plays a significant role in assisting Sofia.
Viktor Stepanovich: The conductor of the band in the Piazza at the Metropol and a mentor to Sofia, giving her piano lessons. He is depicted as a minor character who aids in the Count's escape.
Viktor Stepanovich: The conductor of the band in the Piazza at the Metropol and a mentor to Sofia, giving her piano lessons. He is depicted as a minor character who aids in the Count's escape.
Marina: Initially a chambermaid and later a seamstress at the Metropol. She becomes a confidante and source of support for the Count and serves as a mother figure to Sofia.
480
Novel • Fiction
Moscow, Russia • 1920s
2016
Adult
18+ years
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