A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel Audiobook, by Amor Towles Play Audiobook Sample

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel Audiobook

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel Audiobook, by Amor Towles Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Nicholas Guy Smith Publisher: Penguin Random House Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 11.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 8.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: September 2016 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9780735288539

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

172

Longest Chapter Length:

08:59 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

13 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

06:14 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

3

Other Audiobooks Written by Amor Towles: > View All...

Publisher Description

“The book is like a salve. I think the world feels disordered right now. The count’s refinement and genteel nature are exactly what we’re longing for.” Ann Patchett



“How delightful that in an era as crude as ours this finely composed novel stretches out with old-World elegance.” —The Washington Post


He can’t leave his hotel. You won’t want to.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civility—a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel.



In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and 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 entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.

Soon to be a major television series starring five-time Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh.

“And the intrigue! . . . [A Gentleman in Moscow] is laced with sparkling threads (they will tie up) and tokens (they will matter): special keys, secret compartments, gold coins, vials of coveted liquid, old-fashioned pistols, duels and scars, hidden assignations (discreet and smoky), stolen passports, a ruby necklace, mysterious letters on elegant hotel stationery . . . a luscious stage set, backdrop for a downright Casablanca-like drama.” —The San Francisco Chronicle

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"This is that type of book that continuously pulls you in. It provides a very readable perspective on life following the Russian revolution. The mystery and intrigue of living in a famous hotel might also appeal to many. For me a great line in the book is "“if a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them." The book also sets up the reader for a great ending."

— Richard (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • Marvelous.

    — Chicago Tribune  
  • The novel buzzes with the energy of numerous adventures, love affairs, twists of fate and silly antics.

    — The Wall Street Journal
  • A winning, stylish novel.

    — NPR.org  
  • Enjoyable, elegant.

    — Seattle Times
  • The perfect book to curl up with while the world goes by outside your window.

    — Refinery29
  • Who will save Rostov from the intrusions of state if not the seamstresses, chefs, bartenders and doormen? In the end, Towles’s greatest narrative effect is not the moments of wonder and synchronicity but the generous transformation of these peripheral workers, over the course of decades, into confidants, equals and, finally, friends. With them around, a life sentence in these gilded halls might make Rostov the luckiest man in Russia.

    — The New York Times Book Review
  • This is an old fashioned sort of romance, filled with delicious detail. Save this precious book for times you really, really want to escape reality.

    — Louise Erdrich
  • Towles gets good mileage from the considerable charm of his protagonist and the peculiar world he inhabits.

    — The New Yorker
  • Irresistible . . . In his second elegant period piece, Towles continues to explore the question of how a person can lead an authentic life in a time when mere survival is a feat in itself . . . Towles’s tale, as lavishly filigreed as a Fabergé egg, gleams with nostalgia for the golden age of Tolstoy and Turgenev.

    — O, The Oprah Magazine “‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘Eloise’ meets all the Bond villains.
  • The same gorgeous, layered richness that marked Towles’ debut, Rules of Civility, shapes [A Gentleman in Moscow].

    — Entertainment Weekly
  • This novel is astonishing, uplifting, and wise. Don’t miss it.

    — Chris Cleave, author of Little Bee
  • The book moves briskly from one crisp scene to the next, and ultimately casts a spell as encompassing as Rules of Civility, a book that inhales you into its seductively Gatsby-esque universe.

    — Town & Country
  • In all ways a great novel, a nonstop pleasure brimming with charm, personal wisdom, and philosophic insight . . .This is a book in which the cruelties of the age can't begin to erase the glories of real human connection and the memories it leaves behind. A masterly encapsulation of modern Russian history, this book more than fulfills the promise of Towles' stylish debut, Rules of Civility.

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred) 
  • In his remarkable first novel, the bestselling Rules of Civility, Towles etched 1930s New York in crystalline relief . . . His latest polished literary foray into a bygone era is just as impressive . . . an imaginative and unforgettable historical portrait.

    — Booklist
  • House arrest has never been so charming as in Towles’s second novel, an engaging 30-year saga set almost entirely inside the Metropol, Moscow’s most luxurious hotel. . .empathetic, and entertaining.

    — Publishers Weekly
  • An irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working class-women and world-weary WASPs in 1930s New York…in the crisp, noirish prose of the era, Towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave – and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it.

    — O, the Oprah Magazine
  • With this snappy period piece, Towles resurrects the cinematic black-and-white Manhattan of the golden age…[his] characters are youthful Americans in tricky times, trying to create authentic lives.

    — The New York Times Book Review
  • This very good first novel about striving and surviving in Depression-era Manhattan deserves attention…The great strength of Rules of Civility is in the sharp, sure-handed evocation of Manhattan in the late ‘30s.

    — Wall Street Journal
  • Put on some Billie Holiday, pour a dry martini and immerse yourself in the eventful life of Katey Kontent…[Towles] clearly knows the privileged world he’s writing about, as well as the vivid, sometimes reckless characters who inhabit it.

    — People
  • [A] wonderful debut novel…Towles [plays] with some of the great themes of love and class, luck and fated encounters that animated Wharton’s novels.

    — The Chicago Tribune
  • Glittering…filled with snappy dialogue, sharp observations and an array of terrifically drawn characters…Towles writes with grace and verve about the mores and manners of a society on the cusp of radical change.

    — NPR.org
  • Glamorous Gotham in one to relish…a book that enchants on first reading and only improves on the second.

    — The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • “Nothing demonstrates the pleasures of audiobook listening better than a fine novel narrated with sensitivity and understanding…A gifted narrator, Nicholas Guy Smith captures scene and character with expressive shadings of voice and tone—a master performance that engages the listener from the start and illuminates Towles’ telling prose and subtle dialogue. In a season of outstanding novels, this one stands out…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”

    — AudioFile
  • “A book that inhales you into its seductively Gatsby-esque universe.”

    — Town & Country
  • “Irresistible…[an] elegant period piece…as lavishly filigreed as a Fabergé egg.”

    — O, The Oprah Magazine
  • “How delightful that in an era as crude as ours this finely composed novel stretches out with old-World elegance.”

    — Washington Post
  • “In all ways a great novel, a nonstop pleasure brimming with charm, personal wisdom, and philosophic insight.”

    — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
  • “House arrest has never been so charming as in Towles’ second novel, an engaging thirty-year saga set almost entirely inside the Metropol, Moscow’s most luxurious hotel.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “[A] beguiling portrait of a Russian count who lives large while under permanent house arrest in a Moscow hotel.”

    — BookPage
  • “And the intrigue!…[A Gentleman in Moscow] is laced with sparkling threads (they will tie up) and tokens (they will matter): special keys, secret compartments, gold coins, vials of coveted liquid, old-fashioned pistols, duels and scars, hidden assignations (discreet and smoky), stolen passports, a ruby necklace, mysterious letters on elegant hotel stationery…a luscious stage set, backdrop for a downright Casablanca-like drama.”

    — San Francisco Chronicle

Awards

  • Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
  • A BookPage Top Pick for September 2016
  • An Amazon Best Book of the Month for September 2016
  • Finalist for the 2016 Kirkus Prize
  • A New York Times Editor’s Choice
  • New York Times bestseller
  • Libro.fm Audio bestseller

A Gentleman in Moscow Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.66666666666667 out of 54.66666666666667 out of 54.66666666666667 out of 54.66666666666667 out of 54.66666666666667 out of 5 (4.67)
5 Stars: 18
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 4.85 out of 54.85 out of 54.85 out of 54.85 out of 54.85 out of 5 (4.85)
5 Stars: 17
4 Stars: 3
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4.47619047619048 out of 54.47619047619048 out of 54.47619047619048 out of 54.47619047619048 out of 54.47619047619048 out of 5 (4.48)
5 Stars: 16
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 2
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — dre, 3/5/2023
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    — Searchgirl791, 2/17/2023
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    — neil streeting, 1/5/2023
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — John Borton, 8/11/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Sebastian Kowalski, 8/7/2022
  • Overall Performance: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Teresa Shustock, 5/20/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — James D Wilde, 5/2/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is one of the very best books I have read. Great storyline and presentation. "

    — MJ, 4/22/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Chaya Deitsch, 2/18/2022
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — 2/14/2022
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    — linda nathan, 12/21/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Noah Newdorf, 9/12/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Gregory Hollick, 1/8/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Delia Gummere, 12/20/2020
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — EQ, 6/9/2020
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — penelope, 6/10/2018
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — chris kuebler, 5/5/2018
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Our book club at work read this. We all loved it. I wondered what it would be like to live in a hotel and this story shows how the main character coped with it. It's a great history lesson that left me wanting to know more! The main character is wonderful and truly embraces life the best he can considering his circumstances. The ending left you hopeful. A wonderful story. "

    — Samantha, 2/27/2018
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — salvatore peraino, 2/3/2018
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Cornelis Vonk, 1/1/2018
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was such a charming & lovely story. We picked it for our book club and I can hardly wait to talk about it and hear what other have to say. I found myself wondering if I could too live in a hotel such as Alexander did. His life was so interesting and the people he met equally so. What a twist at the end as well. I highly recommend this book! "

    — Samantha, 11/1/2017
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " While this was well narrated, the plot was slow moving. I dd not listen to the entire book. "

    — Louanne, 4/25/2017

About Amor Towles

Amor Towles was born and raised near Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale University and received an MA in English from Stanford University. For many years a principal at an investment firm in Manhattan, he now devotes himself full time to writing. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller.

About Nicholas Guy Smith

Nicholas Guy Smith, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a highly rated and diverse voice-over actor who has been heard in feature films, television commercials, and video games. He has voiced characters for Disney, Warner Brothers, Universal, and the Cartoon Network.