We meet Count Rostov before a Bolshevik tribunal where he is charged with being a “social parasite.” The result of the vast majority of these trials is a guilty verdict and swift execution. Because of a revolutionary poem attributed to him, the Count’s life is spared and he’s sentence to house arrest for life at the hotel where he currently resides, The Hotel Metropol. 

My first thought was “how can an almost 500-paged book about a guy trapped in a hotel possibility be interesting?” And I honestly don’t know how Towles did it - the small world in which the Count resides expands and becomes larger than life. Each room, character, and interaction weaves an incredibly rich tapestry of daily life until you wonder why there’s even a world outside of The Hotel Metropol. The Count is somewhat frozen in time as his home country rapidly changes outside his window - he is impacted by these changes but also views them from a more philosophical perspective than he may have if he were still Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov.

He takes every change in stride, from befriending a seven year old girl to becoming the head waiter at the establishment he used to frequently dine. His kindness, genuine interest in those around him, and willingness to be amazed by the smallest trifle make him one of my favorite characters of all time. He is truly, above all, a gentleman. 

A Gentleman in Moscow has the most delightful cast of characters - from Emile, the head chef of the hotel’s high class restaurant with a penchant for throwing things at people, to Sofia, the young woman temporarily put into his care by a long ago friend - they’re all completely lovable and bring distinct flavors to the already rich story. 

There is so much I could say about this book but there’s only one word needed: exquisite.