J. Carroll
asked
Amor Towles:
A Gentleman in Moscow is a delight. You have some wonderfully engaging characters in this story. I especially enjoy the scene in which Emile lends his chopper to Andre for the juggling performance. One of the things I appreciate most is the voice of the narration. It reminds me of Turgenev's unnamed sportsman in A Sportsman's Notebook. Did you in fact live at the Metropol while writing this?
Amor Towles
Dear Mr. Carroll,
When I visited Moscow for the first time in 1998, I wandered into the historic Metropol Hotel as a curious tourist simply to take a glance at the giant painted glass ceiling that hangs over the grand restaurant off the lobby. It was the memory of that short visit which prompted me, some years later, to set my book in the hotel. When I set out to write the book, I decided I wouldn't return to the hotel until I was at least two-thirds of the way into my first draft. Why? I didn't want the reality of the hotel to interfere with my imagining it.
When I was about two-thirds done, I returned to Moscow and spent a week at the Metropol in Suite 217—the very room in which the first Soviet constitution was drafted in the aftermath of the Revolution. At that point, I also began researching first hand accounts of the life in the hotel (which you can find in The Metropol section at amortowles.com). I had some sense of trepidation as I began that research, fearing the hotel in history would fall far short of the hotel in my tale. What I learned firsthand and from that research was that the life of the hotel was even more extraordinary than I had imagined.
Best,
Amor
When I visited Moscow for the first time in 1998, I wandered into the historic Metropol Hotel as a curious tourist simply to take a glance at the giant painted glass ceiling that hangs over the grand restaurant off the lobby. It was the memory of that short visit which prompted me, some years later, to set my book in the hotel. When I set out to write the book, I decided I wouldn't return to the hotel until I was at least two-thirds of the way into my first draft. Why? I didn't want the reality of the hotel to interfere with my imagining it.
When I was about two-thirds done, I returned to Moscow and spent a week at the Metropol in Suite 217—the very room in which the first Soviet constitution was drafted in the aftermath of the Revolution. At that point, I also began researching first hand accounts of the life in the hotel (which you can find in The Metropol section at amortowles.com). I had some sense of trepidation as I began that research, fearing the hotel in history would fall far short of the hotel in my tale. What I learned firsthand and from that research was that the life of the hotel was even more extraordinary than I had imagined.
Best,
Amor
More Answered Questions
Deborah
asked
Amor Towles:
Not a question, but a thanks from the bottom of my heart? "A Gentleman in Moscow" is the only book I've read 3 times in a row just because I fell in love so hard with Alexander (yes, on first name basis now) that I couldn't stand the idea of letting him go... the story in which nothing and everything happens, (much like life) and above of the feeling of kindness throughout the book will stay with me forever. Thank you
J. Carroll
asked
Amor Towles:
That's wonderful. I am often struck by the jewels that research unearths while writing historical fiction. It's surprising how actual events known and unknown reflect a greater truth. Perhaps it's the mythical Universal Mind? I also believe in Faulkner's saying that stories happen to those who can tell them, and you tell them well. I'll carry the Triumvirate with me for many years and look forward to your next.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more