A Gentleman in Moscow
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Ending of book
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Harris
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Jan 25, 2018 08:36AM
Did Rostov at the end change his 'end plan' because he was found out by The Bishop? I thought he had originally planned on leaving Russia, but then changed plan and went to his ol' homestead. He paid Victor to lead a ruse to Finland OR was he himself planning on going to Finland?? Prob. he wouldn't be hunted down because the Administrator said 'round up the usual suspects' and put an end to the investigation. Just want to know if he intended to go Home....
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Harris wrote: "Did Rostov at the end change his 'end plan' because he was found out by The Bishop? I thought he had originally planned on leaving Russia, but then changed plan and went to his ol' homestead. He pa..."I think Rostov always intended to go home and that the Finland stuff was just to provide a false lead. I don’t think Rostov could ever leave Russia. His first priority was to make sure Sophie was safe, and then he just wanted to go home.
Makes sense, but I have to re-visit the part where he discovers the Bishop in his room and is angry w/ himself for leaving map, etc. in his desk and then goes to the trouble of delaying the Bishop so he can leave...thanks for your response. H.
Harris wrote: "Makes sense, but I have to re-visit the part where he discovers the Bishop in his room and is angry w/ himself for leaving map, etc. in his desk and then goes to the trouble of delaying the Bishop ..."I see where you are coming from, but I think his concern was about the Bishop thwarting his plans to leave, regardless of where he was leaving to.
Sounds totally plausible, will check it out meself. Thank you for your responses! H.
SwishDK44 wrote: ""The willowy woman" is Anna. The author refers to her as such when the Count first sees her on p. 110 as "his eyes were drawn to a willowy figure coming through the hotel's doors" and "Stop it! the..."I completely agree. Thank you for the page numbers which I attempted to locate but I was just plain exhausted after reading this masterpiece.
Tytti wrote: "Valerie wrote: " It's nice to here it from someone who is there."Just FYI, Romania was never a part of the Soviet Union.
But there are also Russians who think that the picture this book gives ab..."
No one said Romania was in the USSR. I specifically referred to the Bolshevik Revolution and it's influence on the country ;)
Why are you treating this like a history book? It's fiction, but it's based on good research. We only see Russia from one man's (insular) perspective, for the most part. Some might say that's exactly the point of the book.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, you really went there? Come on...
It was Anna he met at the end. If you look back at how she’s described in the book the word willowy is often used.
Geri wrote: "I thought the detail about the silver streak in the woman's hair indicated that it was Sophia. She had to use the black hair dye on the silver streak in her hair to complete her disguise. The only ..."The willowy woman is definitely Anna. I think that is why the author, Towles, worded it that way...hint for the final conclusion.
Valerie wrote: "Forgive my misunderstanding. I assumed your only problem with this book was the simplistic approach to his "escape" for the ending. But it seems you are angry with the entire scenario of the plot a..."So beautifully written, Valerie, and you have such insight. Wow!
It was anna. Sge has been rederred to as "willowy" at least twice before. As a prior comment notes, the ending parallels Casablanca in íts ambiguity. Do they stay in the country side to fight for civility within? Does she help him defect to reunite with Sofia? Does she go with him? I hope there is never a sequel to ruin the suspense. I loved the book. I didn't so much like the way the author reveals knowledge that Rostov has, while withholding that from the reader. This was much less a work of historical fiction than a story of life unfolding. Rustic is our George Baily. So i wouldn't be too critical about historical inaccuracies.
Tytti wrote: "Rosanne wrote: "We learn in the book that Rostov was not the author of the poem Where Is It Now? which led to his house arrest in the first place. I felt sure that Towles would use this fact to get..."I don't think he was arrested because of the poem, but rather it saved his life. He was arrested for being nobility, and was spared because of the proletarian sentiments of his radical friends poem. The kangaroo court gave him the lighter sentence than death or gulag, although Rostov expresses that house arrest is the worst punishment, he later concedes that he is the luckiest man in Russia for having been spared the ravages of collectivism
Valerie wrote: "I just finished reading this book for the first time and I loved it! I don't know if anyone is even reading this board anymore, but I am dying to discuss the book with someone and alas - there is n..."Vakerire, your analysis is fantastic. Thanks for sharing. I really like your padding of the the freedoms ristov needs to reclaim, and how, unemotional, he returns to his destroyed home. Rostov is truly at peace. I rarely re-read a book, although this one i definitely will. Somewhat ironically, war and peace was the last one.
Rosanne wrote: "I LOVED every word of A Gentleman in Moscow until the ending. I am so disappointed. Rostov did some very ungentlemanly things at the end which were totally out of character. Why in the world would ..."The poem was pro-revolution and the book states in no uncertain terms that it was only the poem that saved the Count from execution as a "former Person" and resulted in the comparatively light sentence of life in the Metropol.
And I think he took up the gun against the Bishop because, with the short window of time before the Bishop would report him (likely the second he returned to his office) there was no other choice. And I thought that given the foreshadowing early in the book when he visits the prior hotel manager (and finds the mysterious box which at the end we find out contains the pistols) it fit perfectly.
Took a while to read this book but so many levels to it. A real 'comfort book' in some respects. The wise words the Count refers to 'a man must master his circumstances or otherwise be mastered by them' ran throughout the book. Was grateful to fellow reviewers to confirm who the 'willowy woman's was at the end.
Paul wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I just finished reading this book for the first time and I loved it! I don't know if anyone is even reading this board anymore, but I am dying to discuss the book with someone and a..."Thank you Paul!!
My first impression when listening to the audiobook was that the Count and Anna did meet at the Count's ancestral home, but that it was in modern Finland, not Russia. Finland was a part of Russia prior to 1917, making the Count Russian by birth, then upon his return it made him an enemy of the state. This initial thought has some holes at the least and it sounds more likely that I was flat out confused. One obvious question is why the Count would have gone to Russia when he returned home, as opposed to simply stayed at home in Finland. Based on this whole thread I take it I missed some other key information regarding his hometown and his final path to freedom. Looks like he duped the police into believing he went to Finland when in fact he simply went home, inside Russia. Thanks for all your posts! A great way to bring the story together.
Ramona wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Forgive my misunderstanding. I assumed your only problem with this book was the simplistic approach to his "escape" for the ending. But it seems you are angry with the entire scenar..."I Loved "A Gentleman in Moscow," and intend to read it again.
Valerie wrote: "Forgive my misunderstanding. I assumed your only problem with this book was the simplistic approach to his "escape" for the ending. But it seems you are angry with the entire scenario of the plot a..."Tytti may not have actually read the book. It seems he/she just seems intent on not appreciating the book.
Pantalonsfancie wrote: "Tytti wrote: "Pantalonsfancie wrote: "a Nordic passport would not have helped the Count get out of Russia, but it would have helped him travel from Finland to his actual destination in Paris"Nope..."
There are many places to cross into another country besides an official border. I remember ice skating between Switzerland and Austria as a child.
Marti wrote: "I thought the ending was beautiful and then the believability in modern society to live undetected made me a little sad. With Anna being so well known, I thought it would be impossible for them to ..."I agree. While it was sweet to picture them living quietly among his beloved apple trees, surely someone would notice and remember HER, since she was a huge star. No, they would have been tracked down and arrested for sure.
I am very grateful for this discussion. Thanks to all that went ahead of me. I agree with the majority: I think, that he met Anna and the Finland thing was a diversion. My big hang up, is what was the real trigger in arranging for Sophia's escape? And would Sophia leave without expecting her father to follow? I think the Alex decided to leave for two reasons. (1) He could not see his daughter perform in public. (2) the USSR engine will likely take her away from him. He already had one scare.
If losing his daughter was the motivator, why would he stay in Russia (long-term)? Alex and Anna had a plan. They may be waiting for things to cool down, but they were a family which I think became more important to Alex than his country.
I like the fact that all of the answers are alluded to and dropped in throughout the novel. It was Anna (the willow) he met at the end. They could definitely have lived out the rest of their lives in obscurity. Her prime was 20+ years in the past - it is unlikely that the two would be sought or recognized in his home of Nizhny Novgorod. As long as they don’t return to any of the 6 major cities it is reasonable to assume. As for Sophia - Alexander is a man who has watched as this new country has destroyed his estate, his name, his friends, and his homeland. Additionally, it is referenced that he hears all that occurs in the restaurant. He has heard these leaders speak of actions and beliefs that any parent would want to protect his child from. Knowing this trip might be the only way he made arrangements for her to escape knowing he would never be with her again. That is why she is so upset the second to last night together. The last night they share happy stories and memories.
Is the middle-aged innkeeper at the end Katerina? I got the impression he was going to try to help her.
I have enjoyed reading the assessments of the ending of the book. The willowly woman has to be Anna; that is how she has been referred to throughout the book, and we know her hair was greying. However we have to ask why Towles didn’t simply say Anna. Could it be because Sophia is also now a woman whose hair has changed? Could it be because this plan of escape deeply unites the three of them? Recall the game played by the Count and Sophia. On their last night together Sophia calls for “famous threesomes.” The Count, Anna, and Sophia are deeply intertwined in one another’s lives in this ending. It’s lovely, really. Recall the opening poem: “”Well, where is our purpose now?
Geri wrote: "I thought the detail about the silver streak in the woman's hair indicated that it was Sophia. She had to use the black hair dye on the silver streak in her hair to complete her disguise. The only ..."I thought about that too, but I don't think he would have put her in danger to stay in Russia.
"He's not a gentleman. He's inconsiderate, selfish, rude, lazy (half past nine?), gluttonous, nosy and over and over we get implications that the guy is really a lech with women too. He talks the talk but does not walk the walk of a gentleman." Geez, Valerie, what book did you read?
Penny wrote: "After completing this entire book which is very lengthy, I was unclear about the ending. Was the lady the count met in the kitchen of the Inn the Inn his lover Anna, his friend the poet's lover, or..."Duh! It was Anna, who was described as willowy when first introduced in the hotel's lobby.
Jon wrote: "I thought it was a beautiful book. The ending, I felt, was poignant. The "obvious" way to have ended the book would have had Count Rostov show up in Paris and live the rest of his life in leisure w..."He couldn't meet up with Sofia; such a thing would have endangered both of them. By her defection he offered her a chance to have a life free from it's former confines; his further involvement would have constrained her opportunities.
Leslie wrote: "Anna was the woman, that was clear. But Why would the Court steal a Scandinavian passport if he planned to stay in Russia? Did I miss something or do I just interpret it differently? I know he want..."He stole the passport because he wanted the Russian officials to think he had escaped the country so they wouldn't look for him in Russia
I was hoping that the Count and Anna would meet Sophia in the US. Else why the Finish passport?
Somewhere in the book Anna was described as having slightly graying hair. Was she in a play,? I can't find it, but it did stand out at the moment.
If you want the definitive answer as to whom the woman the Count meets at the end of the book, see the author’s answer to questions. (The adjective “willowy” is the best hint!) This link has lots of other interesting bits of information on the book from the author. http://www.amortowles.com/gentleman-m...
Loved the book. My confusion around the ending is recognizing who the 60-ish official with the "round up the usual suspects" quote is. How do we know it's Osip? I think Towle's hint is the reference to the scar on his had, that looks like someone tried to split it open with a cleaver. But I guess my powers of retention are retreating: do we see that happening to Osip somewhere early in the book?
Tytti wrote: "Rosanne wrote: "We learn in the book that Rostov was not the author of the poem Where Is It Now? which led to his house arrest in the first place. I felt sure that Towles would use this fact to get..."Rosanne wrote: "I LOVED every word of A Gentleman in Moscow until the ending. I am so disappointed. Rostov did some very ungentlemanly things at the end which were totally out of character. Why in the world would ..."
where in the book did it say that the Count did not write the poem?thx
I don't remember exactly where he admits he did not write the poem. It is somewhere in the middle. His more revolutionary friend wrote it. (Sorry it's been months and I don't remember character names.) The friend wanted to print it but would have been arrested if he claimed authorship. The count felt safe putting his name on it because of his title and the fact that his grandfather was considered a hero. Irony: He was trying to save his friend's life, which he ultimately could not save. Instead he saved his own.
Claire wrote: "Tytti wrote: "Well, that sounds just about equally unbelievable than the whole story. I'm not sure why there would have been any Finnish couples or their rooms (or their passports, Finns generally ..."But the year was 1954, before the age of technology. Makes it somewhat more plausible.
The woman at the end is Anna. Near the end of the book, there is a very short passage where Anna is acting on stage “in a wig tinged with grey” when the lights go out during the state dinner and the nuclear plant takes over. I think we can assume that Anna is wearing that wig at the end of the story, in essence, hiding her identity from everyone but Count Rostov.
Several people have mentioned that at the end of the book, the woman in the tavern had a silver streak in her hair. But the author describes “her hair tinged with grey.” This was indeed Anna.
Tytti wrote: "It claims to be historical fiction, not fantasy, so it should follow some basic rules of the real world, at least if it expects to make any sense. In fact the author seems to rely on the fact that ...""Historical fiction" is a genre that few authors openly admit pertains to their work. Most prefer that their work be regarded as "literary" and not affixed to prescribed standards of any genre. Labeling a work historical fiction is often done by librarians and booksellers in their attempts to put books in the hands of readers who have expressed an interest in reading fiction that takes place in the past. Read this article from Huffpost that says " Literary Fiction separates itself from Genre because it is not about escaping from reality, instead, it provides a means to better understand the world and delivers real emotional responses." https://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven...
Am or Towle noted in an interview that the reference to the woman at the end had been made several times, so the person who responded about several references in the book about the willowy woman is apparently correct that it is Anna.
Penny wrote: "Thanks. I appreciate your insight. It was such an unclear ending I was a bit disappointed."I, too, was disappointed. I felt I was left hanging.
The women was definitely Anna. After Sofia cracked her head racing up the stairs, the Count said something to the effect that the responsibility of a parent was to see to the physical well being of a child into adulthood, and to provide them with an opportunity to live a purposeful life. He sent Sofia away, taking advantage of her musical talent to launch her to a new life. I do not think the Count altered any plans, he intended all along to return to his home. I believe the seed was planted when he was on the parapet and considering jumping, when his friend Abram found him and offered him honey. In the honey he tasted the apples of Nizhny Novgorod, his home. The Count also talks proudly of the history and culture of his country, I just don't think he could ever be happy leaving. The Finnish passport was a ruse, imo.
There were a few bumps in the road, but basically the plan went off without a hitch. The Count lives out his life in his homeland with a women he loves, and Sofia comes to America to live the purposeful life he desired for her. He will never again see Sofia or his friends, and of course nothing good can be imagined with the fate of Nina, but such is life. For all practical purposes, this is a happy ending.
This was a great book.
I loved this book and was completely immersed in it. The language is beautiful; the characters well-drawn. It's a story that is both intimate and universal; it never stumbles. While the count's actions toward the end do seem a bit over-dramatic, the earlier discussion of duels and their purpose makes it perfectly plausible. He was willing to threaten violence when Sophia's life and freedom were at risk. I thought the ending was enormously satisfying. Initially, I imagined that Rostov would join Sophia in Paris and it seemed a little too predictable. With this ending, much is left to the imagination OR you might say: It's the new beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Did anyone else consider that Sophia was actually the child of Rostov and Anna?
What was the search for Absinth about?
Davisa wrote: "Did anyone else consider that Sophia was actually the child of Rostov and Anna?"What made you think that? I didn’t pick up on anything that would make me think the child was anyone’s but Nina’s.
I enjoyed the book but was surprised by the ending. I wanted the Count to escape Russia and reunite with Sofia. The Counts love for his country and Anna must of been a bigger motivator for staying then we were led to believe. Its rather strange and ambiguous and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
Thank you for relaying the reference to the willowy woman. I couldn't recall who he described that way and I listened to the audio book, which made it impossible for me to go back and find the page with the reference. Yes, then it was Anna, his love.
Sheryl wrote: "What was the search for Absinth about?"I thought that it was one of the many ingredients required in the recipe for bouilabaisse...
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