"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Call Number: FICTION Towles
"A Gentleman in Moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. 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. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel's doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him a doorway into a much larger world of emotional discovery..."

Character Development: Analyze the character of Count Alexander Rostov. How does he evolve over the course of the novel, both emotionally and intellectually? What challenges does he face, and how does he adapt to his circumstances?
Themes of Adaptation and Resilience: The novel explores themes of adaptation and resilience in the face of adversity. How does Count Rostov adapt to his confinement in the Metropol Hotel, and how does he find purpose and fulfillment within the confines of his new life?
Social Commentary: Discuss the social and political commentary in the novel, particularly in relation to the changing landscape of Russia during the early 20th century. How does the author use the character of Count Rostov to reflect on broader societal changes and historical events?
Friendship and Connection: Count Rostov forms meaningful relationships with various characters throughout the novel, including hotel staff, guests, and a young girl named Nina. How do these relationships shape his experience of isolation, and what do they reveal about the importance of human connection?
The Role of the Hotel: The Metropol Hotel serves as a central setting in the novel. How does the hotel environment contribute to the story's atmosphere and themes? What significance does the hotel hold for Count Rostov and the other characters?
Class and Privilege: The novel explores themes of class and privilege, particularly in relation to Count Rostov's aristocratic background. How does his privileged upbringing influence his interactions with others, and how does he navigate his changing social status during his time in the hotel?
Literary Style: Discuss the author's use of language and literary devices in the novel. How does Towles create a sense of time and place through his descriptive prose? What impact does the narrative style have on the reader's experience of the story?
Historical Context: "A Gentleman in Moscow" is set against the backdrop of significant historical events, including the Russian Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. How does the novel depict these historical events, and how do they shape the characters' lives and choices?
Humor and Wit: The novel is known for its humor and wit, particularly in Count Rostov's observations and interactions. Discuss the role of humor in the novel and how it contributes to the overall tone and mood of the story.
Freedom and Imprisonment: Explore the themes of freedom and imprisonment in the novel, both literal and metaphorical. How does Count Rostov find freedom within the confines of his confinement, and what does his experience teach us about the nature of freedom?
Legacy and Memory: The novel concludes with a reflection on Count Rostov's legacy and the impact he has had on those around him. How does the novel explore themes of memory, legacy, and the passage of time?
Reader's Response: Reflect on your personal response to the novel. What aspects of the story resonated with you the most, and why? How did the novel challenge or expand your understanding of historical fiction and the human experience?

Early Life and Education: Amor Towles was born and raised in the Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. He developed a passion for literature and storytelling from a young age, which would later influence his career as a writer.

He attended Yale College, where he studied English literature and graduated in 1985. Towles then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in English from Stanford University.

Career in Finance: After completing his education, Amor Towles pursued a career in finance, particularly in the field of investment management. He worked for over 20 years as an investment professional in various capacities, including as a director of research at an investment firm.

Towles' background in finance provided him with insights into human behavior, society, and culture, which would later inform his writing.

Literary Career: Amor Towles made his literary debut with the publication of his novel "Rules of Civility" in 2011. The novel, set in New York City in the late 1930s, follows the story of a young woman named Katey Kontent as she navigates the social scene of Manhattan's elite.

"Rules of Civility" received critical acclaim for its elegant prose, vivid setting, and memorable characters. The novel became a bestseller and established Towles as a talented new voice in contemporary literature.

Towles followed up the success of his debut novel with the publication of "A Gentleman in Moscow" in 2016. The novel, set in 1920s Russia, follows the life of Count Alexander Rostov, who is placed under house arrest in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow during the Russian Revolution. "A Gentleman in Moscow" also received widespread praise from critics and readers alike, further solidifying Towles' reputation as a masterful storyteller.

Personal Life: Amor Towles currently resides in New York City with his wife and two children. In addition to his writing career, he is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors and literary events.

Towles' novels are characterized by their rich historical detail, elegant prose, and exploration of human nature and society. He has become known for his ability to transport readers to different time periods and settings, weaving together intricate narratives that resonate with readers around the world.

Mikhail and Margarita by Julie Himes
Call Number: FICTION Himes
It is 1933 in Russia and Mikhail Bulgakov's enviable literary career is on the brink of being dismantled. His friend and mentor, the poet Osip Mandelstam, has been arrested, tortured, and sent into exile. Meanwhile, a mysterious agent of Stalin's secret police has developed a growing obsession with exposing Bulgakov as an enemy of the state. To make matters worse, Bulgakov has fallen in love with the dangerously outspoken Margarita. Facing imminent arrest, infatuated with Margarita, he is inspired to write his masterpiece, The Master and Margarita , a satirical novel that is scathingly critical of power and the powerful. Ranging from lively readings in the homes of Moscow's elite to a Siberian gulag, Mikhail and Margarita recounts a passionate love triangle while painting a portrait of a country with a towering literary tradition confronting a dictatorship that does not tolerate dissent. Margarita is a strong, idealistic woman fiercely loved by two very different men, both of whom will struggle in their attempts to shield her from the machinations of a regime hungry for human sacrifice in a time of systematic deception.
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly
Call Number: FICTION Kelly
It is 1914, and the world has been on the brink of war so often, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanovs. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia: the church with the interior covered in jeweled mosaics, the Rembrandts at the tsar's Winter Palace, the famous ballet. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia's imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortune-teller's daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya's letters suddenly stop coming, she fears the worst for her best friend. From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg and aristocratic countryside estates to the avenues of Paris where a society of fallen Russian émigrés live to the mansions of Long Island, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways. In her newest powerful tale told through female-driven perspectives, Martha Hall Kelly celebrates the unbreakable bonds of women's friendship, especially during the darkest days of history.
The Woman of a Thousand Names by Alexandra Lapierre; Jeffrey Zuckerman (Translator)
Call Number: FICTION Lapierre
Born into Russian aristocracy, wealth, and security, Moura never had any reason to worry. But in the upheaval of the Bolshevik Revolution, her entire world crumbles. As her family and friends are being persecuted by Vladimir Lenin's ruthless police, she falls into a passionate affair with British secret agent Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart. But when he's abruptly and mysteriously deported from Russia, Moura is left alone and vulnerable. Now, she must find new paths for her survival, even if it means shedding her past and taking on new identities. Some will praise her tenderness and undying loyalty. Others will denounce her lies. But all will agree on one point: Moura embodies Life. Life at all cost.
The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch
Call Number: FICTION Loesch
A haunting, remarkable debut about secrets, revenge, and redemption that follows three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the last days of the Soviet Union, and the enduring love story at the center. In a faraway kingdom, in a long-ago land... ...Rosie lived peacefully in Moscow and her mother told her fairy tales. Magical stories that could have been the folklore of their people, or her mother's own imaginings-Rosie was never sure. But one summer night, all of that came abruptly to an end when her father and sister were gunned down. Now, a decade later and studying at Oxford University, Rosie has a fiancé who knows nothing of her former life. When her reclusive mother dies and leaves behind a notebook full of eerie handwritten tales, Rosie returns to Russia and uncovers a devastating family history that spans the 1917 Revolution, the siege of Leningrad, Stalin's purges, and beyond. At the heart of this stands a young noblewoman, Tonya, as pretty as a porcelain doll, and idealistic, handsome Valentin, who dreams of a better Russia. Both of their actions will set off a sweeping story that reverberates across the century...
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott
Call Number: FICTION Prescott
A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice--inspired by the true story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth century: Doctor Zhivago . At the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their mission: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dare publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world--using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally's tutelage quickly learns how to blend in, make drops, and invisibly ferry classified documents. The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story--the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was sent to the Gulag and inspired Zhivago's heroine, Lara--with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk. From Pasternak's country estate outside Moscow to the brutalities of the Gulag, from Washington, D.C. to Paris and Milan, The Secrets We Kept captures a watershed moment in the history of literature--told with soaring emotional intensity and captivating historical detail. And at the center of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world.

Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles: "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles

"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles

QUICK LINKS

CONNECT WITH US

Westwood Public Library

Main Library

Islington Branch