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A Gentleman in Moscow

by Amor Towles

★★★★☆ 4.32 (679 466 ratings)
2016 · 462 pages · ~7h 42m read · Fiction

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel across from the Kremlin. While the Soviet Union undergoes decades of tumultuous change outside, the Count builds a rich, meaningful life within the hotel's walls. This beautifully written novel explores themes of purpose, resilience, and the true meaning of nobility. With its elegant prose and unforgettable characters, it offers a profound meditation on how one can maintain dignity and find joy even under the most restrictive circumstances.

Widely read around the world. Estimated 5 million readers.

Atmosphere: HistoricalVibe: TenderPacing: Relaxing
historicalpoliticsphilosophy

Notable Quotes

"After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we’ve just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour."
"if a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them."
"...what matters in life is not whether we receive a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim."

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