One Sentence Summary
Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow is a historical fiction novel of romance and redemption set in Soviet Russia.
Book Genre
A Gentleman in Moscow is a historical fiction novel full of romance and redemption.
Main Topic of the Book
A Gentleman in Moscow is the story of one man’s journey to find freedom and redemption through many tries and tribulations in the face of Soviet Russia’s oppressive and constrictive society.
Key Ideas
- Individual agency in the face of formidible odds
- The power of friendship to overcome any obstacle
- The freedom that comes with understanding one’s strength and choices
- Making peace within a society that discriminates against the individual
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
The premise of A Gentleman in Moscow is the story of a Russian aristocracy member, Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced by the Bolshevik Tribunal to life imprisonment in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in 1922 after being cursory found guilty. Rostov has to face a different set of rules in a world that had changed drasticly since the time of his youth. Life in the Hotel constricts Rostov, and at the same time offers him the opportunity to see the world in a unique perspective from the changing times. As Rostov learns to find freedom in the face of opposition, he develops a unique bond with Anya, a young girl who visits the hotel and finds herself in Rostov’s care. Through Anya, Rostov gains hope, new perspective and love in the chaotic and changing Soviet Union.
Key Takeaways
- The limits of oppressive regimes can be broken when individuals choose to have agency and refuse to give in to their surroundings.
- Trusting in the friendship of fellow individuals can lead to strength.
- Having a fair understanding of one’s strength and choices can lead to a way out of oppressive situations.
- It is possible to make peace within a society that discriminates against the individual by having an unshakeable commitment to practices of kindness and character.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Amor Towles is an American author and former Wall Street investor. He gained popularity after writing his debut novel Rules of Civility in 2011, which earned him the position of New York Times bestselling author. He wrote the novel A Gentleman in Moscow in 2016 and was praised for brilliantly weaving historical facts and fiction together.
Target Audience
A Gentleman in Moscow is targeted towards adults, as it contains mature themes. The novel focuses on the time period of Soviet Russia, so historical fiction readers and those who are familiar with Russian culture would enjoy this book.
Publisher and First Publication Date
A Gentleman in Moscow was published by Viking Press in 2016 and was widely acclaimed for cleverly portraying the time period of the story.