A Gentleman in Moscow
4.4

Set in post-revolutionary Russia, A Gentleman in Moscow tells the story of Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel across from the Kremlin. Confined to the walls of the Metropol Hotel for decades, the Count builds a rich inner life and forms enduring relationships with the staff and guests. Through charm, wit, and resilience, he adapts to a world that changes radically around him. Amor Towles’s novel is a beautifully written meditation on time, grace, and purpose. It combines historical detail with timeless themes, delivering a story of quiet dignity and human connection.

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About Amor Towles

Amor Towles is an American novelist acclaimed for his elegant, character-driven historical fiction. A former investment professional, Towles shifted to writing full-time after the success of his debut novel, Rules of Civility. His best-known work, A Gentleman in Moscow, tells the story of a Russian aristocrat under house arrest, and has been widely praised for its lyrical prose and philosophical depth. Towles excels at crafting refined, immersive worlds and complex characters. His third novel, The Lincoln Highway, further showcased his versatility and narrative skill. Towles is celebrated for his literary style, historical insight, and ability to evoke timeless human themes.

Other Books by Amor Towles

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The Lincoln Highway

by Amor Towles

4.7

Amor Towles' 'The Lincoln Highway' follows the captivating journey of Emmett Watson, a young man recently released from a juvenile work farm, as he embarks on a transformative road trip with his brother and two friends from Nebraska to New York City. Set in the 1950s, this novel weaves a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. Through vivid storytelling and intricate character development, Towles explores themes of family, friendship, redemption, and the pursuit of the American dream. As the group encounters a mix of challenges and unexpected encounters along the iconic Lincoln Highway, readers are drawn into a richly layered narrative that delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the choices that shape our lives.

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Rules of Civility

by Amor Towles

4.7

In 'Rules of Civility' by Amor Towles, readers are transported to the vibrant and glamorous New York City of the late 1930s. The novel follows the intelligent and ambitious Katey Kontent as she navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and social mobility. Through Katey's experiences, the book delves into themes of class, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Towles' elegant prose captures the essence of the era, immersing readers in a world where appearances and manners hold great importance. As Katey encounters a cast of intriguing characters and faces pivotal decisions, the novel explores the consequences of ambition and the true meaning of success.

Similar Books

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The Grapes of Wrath

by John Steinbeck

4.0

Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of dust bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of the Joad family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel West in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision; an eloquent tribute to the endurance and dignity of the human spirit.

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The Vanishing Half

by Brit Bennett

4.2

Twin sisters Desiree and Stella grow up in a small Southern Black community where light skin is prized. One eventually disappears to live as a white woman, severing ties with her past. Decades later, their daughters’ lives intersect, uncovering family secrets and confronting issues of race, identity, and generational legacy. The Vanishing Half is a powerful exploration of the choices that define us and the stories we inherit. With beautiful prose and emotional depth, Brit Bennett delivers a poignant, sweeping novel about passing, belonging, and the bonds of sisterhood.

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The Cellist of Sarajevo

by Steven Galloway

4.5

Set during the siege of Sarajevo in the early 1990s, 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' by Steven Galloway is a poignant exploration of life under siege. The novel interweaves the lives of three characters—Dragan, Kenan, and Arrow—each struggling to preserve their humanity amidst the chaos of war. Their stories orbit around the figure of a cellist, who plays Albinoni's Adagio in the streets to commemorate the lives lost to a mortar attack. Galloway deftly captures the resilience of the human spirit, the impact of art in times of despair, and the simple acts of courage that shine through the shadows of conflict. The book's haunting prose and meditative tone create an indelible reflection on the moral choices faced in brutal circumstances.

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Pachinko

by Min Jin Lee

4.3

A victorian epic transplanted to Japan, following a Korean family of immigrants through eight decades and four generations. Yeongdo, Korea 1911. In a small fishing village on the banks of the East Sea, a club-footed, cleft-lipped man marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The couple have one child, their beloved daughter Sunja. When Sunja falls pregnant by a married yakuza, the family face ruin. But then Isak, a Christian minister, offers her a chance of salvation: a new life in Japan as his wife. Following a man she barely knows to a hostile country in which she has no friends, no home, and whose language she cannot speak, Sunja's salvation is just the beginning of her story. Through eight decades and four generations, Pachinko is an epic tale of family, identity, love, death and survival.