Apr 21, 2017 a gentleman in moscow is the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. Hardcover this book discussion guide, has moved to my new we. For those interested in learning more about the background of the book or my process, i encourage you to browse this site where i have placed a variety of supporting materials. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions arlenes.
A gentleman in moscow by amor towles is the story of a russian aristocratturnedwaiter who lives 32 years of his life under house arrest at the hotel metropol in moscow. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the kremlin. This 108page guide for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis, as well as several more indepth sections of. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles reading guide. Its also boldly driven by the urge to make observations about other people while also offering them succor and guidance. Praise for a gentleman in moscow in 1922 count alexander rostov is put under house arrest in the elegant hotel metropol in moscow. At one point, i got tearyeyed because one of the characters gets hurt and must go to the hospital. The literary epicurean book club selection march 29, 2017 by amor towles book description courtesy of goodreads. A member of the russian aristocracy, the count was raised in an estate in the nizhny novgorod province along with his read full character analysis the counts best friend, whom he met. The gentleman in moscow is a novel written by amore towles. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions. Sentenced to house arrest in moscows metropol hotel by a bolshevik tribunal for writing a poem deemed to encourage revolt, count alexander rostov nonetheless lives the fullest of lives, discovering the depths of his humanity. In 1922, count alexander rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal.
Sep 30, 2017 more than half a million readers have fallen in love with the new york times bestseller a gentleman in moscow everything a novel should be. Apr 20, 2017 the literary epicurean book club selection march 29, 2017 by amor towles book description courtesy of goodreads. A gentleman in moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of count alexander rostov. Amor towles a gentleman in moscow is an epic writ small, a story of tolstoyan scope on a minute scale.
When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest. Sep 03, 2016 a gentleman in moscow is a novel that aims to charm, not be the axe for the frozen sea within us. A gentleman in moscow relevant reading book discussion. Oct 04, 2018 a gentleman in moscow summary quotes fate would not have the reputation it has, if it simply did what it seemed it would do.
And the result is a winning, stylish novel that keeps things easy. A beautiful reminder that a rich life is made of so much more than ones circumstances, and that purpose is often found in the most unexpected places. The point of view is unique, the story being told by this man in this quiet isolated and seemingly lonely position. A gentleman in moscow discussion guide book discussions. He is a member of the russian nobility, which is quickly being dissolved in favor of a communist government structure, and so when he returns to the. This is a key takeaways and analysis of the book and not the original book. A gentleman in moscow has a little bit of everything gates notes. The count is the protagonist and titular character of a gentleman in moscow. Sep 25, 2016 a gentleman in moscow by amor towles 462 pp. At the beginning of the book, count alexander ilyich rostov is sentenced to spend his life under house arrest in moscows metropol hotel.
The book is technically historical fiction, but youd be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor. Immediately download the a gentleman in moscow summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching a gentleman in moscow. Sentenced to house arrest in moscow s metropol hotel by a bolshevik tribunal for writing a poem deemed to encourage revolt, count alexander rostov nonetheless lives the fullest of lives, discovering the depths of his humanity. Our new facebook group, book club favorites brings together a dynamic community of readers. In the transcript at the opening of a gentleman in moscow, the. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles reading guidebook club. Russia north asia 20th century multiple decades 2016 bookbrowse top 20 best books. I dont know what kept me so long because it is a very beautiful book.
The novels plot is set in the beginning of the 20th century russian empire and follows the story of count alexander ilyich rostov and his life in the hotel metropol where he has been under house arrest for thirtytwo years. This study guide consists of approximately 105 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of a gentleman in moscow. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers. Essentially, a gentleman in moscow takes the shape of a diamond on its side.
A gentleman in moscow by amor towles reading guidebook. Set in postrevolutionary russia, the novel follows its protagonist, count alexander ilyich rostov, as he develops new friendships, family, and loves, all while confined within the walls of the metropol. A gentleman in moscow character analysis litcharts. The book is technically historical fiction, but you would be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story. From the moment the count passes through the hotel s revolving doors, the narrative begins opening steadily outward.
Mar 26, 2019 a gentleman in moscow by amor towles from the new york times bestselling author of rules of civility comes a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel. Theres fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood and poetry. The majority of a gentleman in moscow is told in the third person from the counts point of view. A count becomes a waiter in a novel of soviet supremacy. From the new york times bestselling author of rules of civility a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel.
Amor towles skillfully transports us to the metropol, the famed moscow hotel where movie stars and russian royalty hobnob, where bolsheviks plot revolutions and intellectuals discuss the merits of contemporary russian writers, where spies spy, thieves. A complete summary of a gentleman in moscow a gentleman in moscow is a novel written by amor towles. Click to tweet for as it turns out, one can revisit the past quite pleasantly, as long as one does so expecting nearly every aspect of it to have changed. In terms of a gentleman in moscow, for instance, the launch of the worlds first nuclear power plant in russia in 1954 is an historical fact, but the assembly of party leaders to observe the blackingout of moscow is an invention. Reading guide for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. Although the count was imprisoned during the onset of communism, he saw the changes in government reflected in the way the hotel operated. The sentence is handed down by a bolshevik tribunal because the count had written a poem in 19 with revolutionary undertones. A gentleman in moscow is the utterly entertaining second novel from the author of rules of civility. The novel a gentleman in moscow by amor towles tells the story of count alexander ilyich rostov, a russian aristocrat sentenced to house arrest for his association with a poem with revolutionary overtones. A gentleman in moscow is a worthy update to the great.
William blake famously wrote, to see a world in a grain of sand,and heaven in a wild flower,hold infinity in the palm of your hand,and eternity in an hour. A gentleman in moscow is laced with sparkling threads they will tie up and tokens they will matter. Heres the description from the superstore website for a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow is a novel that aims to charm, not be the axe for the frozen sea within us. Dinner and a book club a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. Count alexander rostov born 1889 1954 65 years old at end of book 33 years old when imprisoned. See our book club recipe inspired by juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters in the the.
Amor towles answers questions on his novel, a gentleman in moscow. From the new york times bestselling author of rules of civility a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel 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. To enhance your book club check out a study guide for book clubs. This will become count alexander ilyich rostovs daily challenge and his lifelong campaign, to see the whole world as defined by the confines of a single building. Aug 27, 2019 finally i finished a gentleman in moscow. Having read a gentleman in moscow, who would you recommend it to.
Theres fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood, and poetry. A gentleman in moscow amor towles, 2016 penguin publishing 480 pp. It took me longer to read a gentleman in moscow than some other books because many of the storys details were almost hidden in the wellcrafted prose. When in 1922, the thirty year old count is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a bolshevik tribunal, he is sentenced to house arrest in the metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the kremlin. Amor towles answers questions on his novel, a gentleman in. The very first paragraph of amor towless novel, a gentleman in moscow, contains a description of st. Exceptional storytelling brings a changing moscow inside the walls of one building. Dinner and a book club a gentleman in moscow by amor.
Even as young man, i was a fan of the 1920s and 1930s, eagerly reading the novels, watching the movies, and listening to the music of the era. A gentleman in moscow latvian stew recipe from amor towles. Book club questions for a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles is an enjoyable and stylish novel. Published in 2016, a gentleman in moscow, by american author amor towles, is the story of count alexander rostov, a russian nobleman who, after the bolshevik revolution of 1917, is sentenced to lifelong imprisonment in moscows metropol hotel.
As the book opens, you find count alexander in the midst of a trial for crimes against the country. A former colonel of the red army who becomes the chief administrator of the secret police in russia. A gentleman in moscow, the story of one man confined to one hotel for one lifetime and what a lifetime it was. No reading group should be without this book club companion to amor towless acclaimed novel, a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow has a little bit of everything bill gates. Initially, this narrator appears in footnotes, then in the addendums, then in the historical introductions of 1930, 1938 and 1946. If a gentleman in moscow stirs or renews your interest in russian literature. A great book group discussion guide for a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow is one of the most popular books offered from book of the month.
More than half a million readers have fallen in love with the new york times bestseller a gentleman in moscow everything a novel should be. A count becomes a waiter in a novel of soviet supremacy the. An absolute delight mail on sunday a work of great charm, intelligence and insight sunday times winning. Search for other book schemes from the main menu or click on the book image to link to our most popular schemes for inspiration and book club gathering ideas. Over the next two hundred pages detailed descriptions accumulate of people, rooms, objects, memories. Set in postrevolutionary russia, the novel follows its protagonist, count alexander ilyich rostov, as he develops new friendships, family, and loves, all while confined within the walls of the metrop. For those interested in cooking something for their book group, i highly. He is a member of the russian nobility, which is quickly being dissolved in favor of a communist.
There is, however, an overarching narrator with a perspective different from the counts. A gentleman in moscow book club discussion questions arlene. To keep the discussion interesting, class size is limited to 16. On june 21, 1922, count alexander ilyich rostov is sentenced to a life of house arrest in moscows metropol hotel. A latvian stew recipe with pork, apricots and prunes from author amor towles, paired with his novel, a gentleman in moscow. A gentleman in moscow has a little bit of everything. Topics such as perspective and place are common themes across novels. A gentleman in moscow is an amazing story because it manages to be a little bit of everything. In each book club session, we dine on a delicious menu related to the book while we enjoy a lively discussion. The count must adjust not only to his new circumstances in a small room in the hotels belfry but also to the knowledge that his way of life is disappearing under the bolshevik regime. Notes from a gentleman in moscow 1922 1954 tale over 32 years characters. First of all, if you have come to this readers guide because you have read a gentleman in moscow, i owe you my heartfelt thanks. The book takes time to ruminate meaningfully on selfhood, friendship, parenthood and the devastating unattainability of modest hopes. Similarly, the little copper plates on the bottom of antiques designating them as property of the people are a.
When the soviets reopen russia to foreign relations, he asks the count to tutor him in french read full character analysis richard vanderwhile. A gentleman in moscow by amor towles marlo yonocruz. Its usually a lot of fun, but it can get us in trouble when one of us is further along than the otherwhich recently happened when we were both reading a gentleman in moscow by amor towles. A m or towles shares a recipe for latvian stew, inspired by his novel, a gentleman in moscow. All citations in this study guide refer to the kindle version of a gentleman in moscow, published september 6, 2016. This comprehensive guide includes useful literary context. Here we see a country in repeated upheaval over the course of decadesfrom the end of imperial russia in the bolshevik revolution past the rise of the ussr, a period that includes the defeat of one of historys greatest evils by a country that becomes anotherand we see it all from.