REVIEW OF A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW

A Gentleman in Moscow

Reviewed by Joe Igoe

 

A very touching, well detailed account of a man exiled to the microcosm of Moscow’s finest hotel.  A man of surprising experience, intelligence and resourcefulness living in a time and place where his origins- and the origins of his self- have been repudiated, outlawed and often executed.

It is a fairy tale and an engaging one at that.  In a way reminiscent of The Avengers in that the main protagonist is incredibly erudite, experienced and cultured.  In a way reminiscent of The Princess Bride in that all the pieces and people come together just so to let the good triumph over the bad and banal. Discrepancies are conveniently glossed over.

While not sacrificing too much to realism, there are elements of the outside world which are allowed to creep in.  Allusions are made to the upheavals of the Russian revolution and the depredations of Stalin as well as the effects of these events on people.  But, somehow, our hero survives and ultimately prevails – with the help of his inexhaustible supply of luck, sophistication, knowledge and money.  He is additionally very sympathetic.  His kindness and ability to connect with people of all sorts and sizes is what makes him appealing as a character.  He also manages to positively affect all deserving souls who meet him as well as outwitting those of a more sinister nature.

The strength of the book is its well-constructed narrative combining events in the hotel, the Soviet Union outside and the insular world of the hotel.  Glimpses of man’s ability to survive, innovate and, at least to a certain extent, prosper in difficult circumstances with kindness and humour are plentiful.  Even the ostensible bad guys, or at least one of them, is allowed a sense of humour and sympathy in his interactions with Alexander, his intervention to save Nadia and his instructions to “round up the usual suspects”.

In the final analysis this “Harry Potter” of a Russian tale is very enjoyable, finely crafted and with a fine bit of Menschlichkeit or humanity.  It’s not “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”, but doesn’t purport to be.  I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable book to read.