A Gentleman in Moscow

How does the Count’s relationship with Nina carry on in his relationship with Sofia? How does he carry on Nina’s memory? In what ways does Sofia show herself to be not only Nina’s daughter but, in some ways, the Count’s?

Why does the Count send Sofia to America, and why does he choose to stay in Russia? What are the signs, throughout the novel, that suggest he feels he belongs in Russia?

The novel makes numerous references to sailing. How is the Count like Robinson Crusoe? Why, in “Around and About,” is the Metropol compared to a steamship, and how is the Count’s “course of study” with Nina similar to the experiences of a steamship passenger?

Explore how America is depicted in the novel. How do Osip, Anna, and Richard see America? How does the Count? Are their opinions similar or different?

Discuss the three gathering places in the Metropol: the Boyarsky, the Piazza, and the Shalyapin. What purpose does each serve? How do the clienteles differ? What about each does the Count appreciate? What role does each serve in the Count’s life?

What do the Bolsheviks profess to stand for, and how do they deviate from their own ideal? Consider Mishka, Nina, and Osip. How are their beliefs similar or different? Why do Mishka and Nina’s fates differ from Osip’s?

What is the effect of Towles’s waiting until Book 4 to reveal that Mishka, not the Count, wrote the poem, “Where Is It Now?” Where else does Towles withhold information until later? Where does he create suspense?

Consider the title of the book. Why is the book called A Gentleman in Moscow as opposed to Alexander Rostov in Moscow? Why is the Count called “the Count” throughout the book as opposed to Alexander or Rostov?