A Gentleman in Moscow: Comparing the Read to the Watch

The Book:

A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, is one of those books that most people adore (it was a huge bestseller in 2016 when it came out) but some people DNF (did not finish). After finally diving into its 462 pages, I understood both types of readers. It takes a minute to get moving and devotes pages and pages to topics such as Absinthe and Chekhov. But when the second big inciting incident of the book takes place, I became so invested in the main characters and what would happen to them that I read faster and faster until the end.

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is an aristocrat whose family lost everything in the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Bolsheviks are in charge, and though they hate the Count for everything he represents, his life is spared and he is sentenced to permanent house arrest in Moscow’s lush Metropol Hotel. It’s a slap on the wrist compared to the Gulag, but the Count’s freedoms—access to fresh air, sunshine, or any change of scenery whatsoever—are severely curtailed. He is tossed from his luxury suite into barren attic accommodations, where he, like Sara Crewe in A Little Princess, rises above his limitations and makes the best of things. I fell in love with him and his delightful way of facing hardship with grace and joy. Part historical fiction, part spy novel, and part love story (the devotion between him and his charge, Sofia, moved me to tears), this exceptional novel teaches readers about Russian history, but more importantly, about the power of love, courage, and friendship in the darkest days.

The Series:

How does the TV adaptation compare to the book? Everyone knows the book is better as a rule, but in this case, the eight-part television series starring Ewan McGregor as the Count, comes close. Written and executive produced by Ben Vanstone (All Creatures Great and Small), the series brings the elegant and glamorous Metropol Hotel, its occupants, and employees to life. McGregor is terrific in his role as a nobleman who must adapt to massive upheaval in his own life and more broadly in his beloved Russia, encompassed by the Soviet Union. Will he retain dignity through terrible losses and his wits through daunting challenges? He can’t do it alone, and the supporting cast of characters—his “comrade” keeper, Osip (Johnny Harris), the glamorous actress Anna (McGregor’s real-life wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and Nina (Alexa Goodall), a child guest at the hotel with as little supervision as Eloise had at the Plaza—are essential allies. Purists may grumble at some of the changes made in the series, but those changes made the series snappier and more suspenseful than the book. It’s a gripping and heart-filling watch, whether you’ve read the book or not (my husband concurs). Christian viewers will appreciate themes of commitment, courage, and sacrifice. Rated TV-14. Watch A Gentleman in Moscow with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or Apple TV.