Amor Towles

Rules of Civility

50 Of The Best Historical Fiction Books You Must Read | Book Riot

60 Best Historical Fiction Novels of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

A Novel

In June 1922, a tribunal of Bolshevik Russia condemns Count Alexander Rostov to a life of confinement within the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. Rostov, an aristocrat, could have been given a death sentence, but his previous pro-revolutionary poem titled "Where Is It Now" sways the committee's decision. After the Count is relocated to a small room, once occupied by servants, he is mostly left undisturbed. The Hotel Metropol maintains its elegance over the next three decades, serving as a venue for the new regime's leaders to relish in previously aristocratic luxuries, as well as a location to entertain and spy on international journalists and dignitaries. Among the denizens of the hotel is Nina, a lively nine-year-old girl who introduces the Count to the unseen corners of the building. Over time, the Count grows concerned as Nina's interests shift from princesses to the workings of bureaucrats and union bosses. 

As time progresses, the Count crosses paths with Anna Urbanova, an esteemed actress. Despite a chilly initial encounter, they soon form a close bond and share many intimate moments within the hotel. The hotel begins to rebound from a post-revolution slump as the Soviet Union gains recognition from the West. Unfortunately, an encounter with an inept waiter, referred to as the Bishop by the Count, leads to complications as the waiter ascends the hierarchical ladder of the hotel. His complaint results in an edict that all wine, regardless of its vintage, must be sold unlabeled and at a single price. This event, paired with the anniversary of his sister's death, prompts the Count to contemplate suicide, which is luckily deterred by a timely interruption. 

In the following days, the Count finds employment as a waiter at the hotel and eventually rises to the position of headwaiter. His life takes a sharp turn when he encounters Nina again, who entrusts her daughter, Sofia, to the Count while she pursues her husband who has been sent to Siberia. With guidance from Marina, the hotel seamstress, the Count raises Sofia. As Sofia matures, she develops a talent for piano which leads her to study at the Moscow Conservatory. During this time, the Count learns of the death of his dear friend, Mishka. When Sofia has the opportunity to tour Paris, the Count helps her to defect to the West. The Count himself escapes the hotel with the aid of Viktor Skadovsky and eventually ends up in the location of his former family estate, where he reunites with Anna Urbanova.

Amor Towles Books in Order (4 Book Series)

Rules of Civility

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

You Have Arrived at Your Destination

Forward Collection, Book 4

The Lincoln Highway

A Novel

What To Read Next

Amor Towles Books in Order (4 Book Series)

Rules of Civility

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

You Have Arrived at Your Destination

Forward Collection, Book 4

The Lincoln Highway

A Novel

What To Read Next

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