A Gentleman in Moscow

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Which aspects of the novel did you connect with the most? Are there any aspects that didn’t resonate with you?
• What was your impression of Count Rostov? What parts of his character did you connect to? Did you find him sympathetic?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Consider the book’s exploration of friendship. Do you have friendships like those that the count develops over the course of the novel?
• Do you agree with the novel’s contention that freedom of a certain kind is possible even when one is physically confined? Why or why not?
• The novel depicts change as inevitable, both personally and societally. How do you respond to change? Do you find it easy to adapt?
• Consider the count’s efforts to preserve elements of the past. Have you ever taken similar steps? Did you find them fulfilling?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does the novel explore the role of women in 19th-century Russia? How does this compare to the status of women in contemporary societies?
• Class is explored as a major theme in the novel. What does the novel have to say about class? In what ways is this message relevant to the contemporary world?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Choose a character other than the count (Mishka, Anna, the bishop, etc.). Discuss their role in the novel, considering not only the plot but thematic meaning.
• Discuss the significance of the setting of this novel. Why do you think Towles chose to set this novel in Russia in the late 19th/early 20th century? What themes does the novel touch on that are amplified by this choice?
• Analyze the character of Count Rostov. What is his character arc over the course of the novel? How does he change? How did your understanding of him change?
• Idlehour is a symbol of the count’s past and the bygone tsarist era. What other spaces hold symbolic importance in the novel?
• How does Towles explore the theme of imprisonment, both metaphorical and literal, in the novel? 

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Update a chapter of the novel, placing it in a modern setting. Which elements would change, and which could stay the same?
• Rewrite a chapter of A Gentleman in Moscow as a play and act it out. What did you change, and what worked well?

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