The Works of Amor Towles
The second quarter of 2024 has featured a deep dive into the novels authored by Amor Towles. I was previously aware of his existence because I frequently saw others devouring his books on airplanes and beaches. I was aware that he had a loyal following- his first three novels sold over 6 million copies- but no one had ever explained the source of his appeal to me. I went in cold, inspired by a glowing New York Times review of his most recent effort- Table for Two. Adhering to my customary discipline, I started with his first book, The Rules of Civility, followed that experience with A Gentleman in Moscow, The Lincoln Highway and finally Table for Two. I am now an advocate for Towles and recommend him with enthusiasm. He is clearly a very bright fellow. He was a successful New York investment banker, has old family money and received degrees from Yale and Stanford. He has polymath characteristics and his novels display a depth of knowledge in economics, architecture, fine art, gourmet dining, blues and jazz. His references to classic works of literature are constant. He has mastered the art of vividly describing his locales- Manhattan, the Hamptons, Moscow, Paris, the American Midwest, the Adirondacks and Southern California. His fundamental attraction is complex characters- most presented with kindness and affection. His books are not heavily populated by awful people. Human flaws are on display, but he cheers for the good guys and that may be one explanation for his popularity. The books are spirited and joyful, certainly not pollyannaish or naive, but erring on the side of human potential and healthy relationships. My short reviews follow in chronological order.
1) The Rules of Civility
Published in 2006, Towles introduces us to 1938 Manhattan- a world populated by an elitist super wealthy class surrounded by a parade of other characters aspiring to the same status. Young, attractive and ambitious women spice up the narrative. We visit gorgeous Fifth Avenue townhouses, Gatsby style country estates, spectacular Conde Nast offices, Greenwich Village clubs and hotspots, luxury suites at The Plaza and world class restaurants. He captures the special aura associated with these glamorous settings. You soak up the environment. The WASP lead characters have predictable, if hilarious names- Tinker Grey, Mason Tate, Wallace Wolcott. The narrator is Katy Kontent, the daughter of Russian immigrants, who lives in a boarding house and works as a secretary at a law firm. She is extraordinarily bright. Her soulmate is Eve Ross, the coolest character in the book (although she suddenly departs mid read), a magnet for the wealthy aristocrats who admire her independence, beauty and quick wit. She has affluent Indiana parents, but refuse to cash her father’s checks.
Eve and Katy’s adventures drive the narrative. There is disappointment, even tragedy, despite the exposure to this obscenely wealthy coterie. They realise they need to forge their own path. This is a strong introductory novel. It is not as finessed as the three works that follow, but I recommend it on its own merits. The attention to detail on New York and its cultural idiosyncrasies is impressive. It is quality!
2) A Gentleman in Moscow
No secrets here. This is my favourite Towles novel. I loved it- a page turner so magnetic and endearing that I was genuinely saddened when it ended. I wanted the portrayal of Count Rostov to go on forever. Kudos to the author, particularly since unlike the The Rules of Civility which was set in his home terrain, he ventures in Soviet era Moscow- clearly at the opposite end of the locale spectrum. He captures of the intrigue of life at the Hotel Metropole, an actual classic old world hotel across from the Kremlin. We begin in 1922, five years after the collapse of the Czar ruled Russian empire. We experience the Bolsheviks in charge and the full Stalinist era. His prose has matured since his first novel. It is more precise and elegant, even lyrical. Wit and a sense of irony are not normally associated with Stalin’s Soviet Union but Towles develops characters that retain their essential humanity in a uniquely challenging environment.
The Gentleman from Moscow IS Count Rostov. He is creature of the upper class in the Russian Imperial era. He was a full blown aristocrat, a member of the Jockey Club and Master of the Hunt- a titled landowner just as comfortable in Paris as Mother Russia. He is natural target for the revolutionary Leninists and is sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest at he Hotel Metropole. He is saved from a death sentence by a mildly progressive poem he wrote in his youth. Against all odds, he builds a full life- developing genuine friendships with a fascinating cast of characters. We encounter a precocious nine year old girl, a master chef, a charming maitre de, an enchanting Russian actress, a childhood friend and a complicated communist apparatchik. He ultimately steps in as a father figure to a young girl left in his care and he exceeds his own expectations. The gruesome nature of the Soviet regime is referenced, but is never center stage. Rostov is advised of artistic associates being deported to Siberia, learns most of his pre revolution friends are dead or in exile, hears about the millions starved to death in the Ukrainian famine, mourns the suicide of his best friend and eventually realises that his original source of contentment at the hotel- Nina- has disappeared into the Siberian gulag. He becomes a waiter at the hotel restaurant and studiously maintains the old world standards, for food, wine and service. The ending is surprising and you even get to bond with American officials operating in clandestine fashion in the heart of Moscow. It ALL works! The characters are richly developed and a source of inspiration. Politics may be bad but decency and loyalty can survive.
3) The Lincoln Highway
This novel is a complete change of pace from the The Rules of Civility (New York) and A Gentleman in Moscow (Russia). Instead, we embark on an enchanting road trip- starting in Nebraska, traversing the American midwest and ending up in New York and the Adirondacks. Ironically, the ultimate destination of the road trip is California and the narrative is a catalogue of detours, wrong turns and distractions. The operative character mode is Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Three eighteen year old boys and a brilliant nine year old navigate the country in an aging sedan, freight trains and box cars. We visit homeless shelters, gilded era estates and the seedy underside of Manhattan. Thought provoking themes are presented thru captivating characters, both primary and secondary.
The teenage protagonists are a bundle of diverse personalities. Emmet Watson, wise beyond his years, just released from a Nebraska Juvenile Reformatory. He returns home to his family farm, now being foreclosed by the local bank. His Dad, the world’s worst farmer has passed away. His mother abandoned him when he was 8- suddenly departing for California. He, along with his 8 year old brother Billy, decide to embark on their own mission to California. The purpose is to either track down their mother or to just pursue the American dream in the golden land of opportunity. They adjust their plan when two of Emmet’s reform school buddies join them after creatively escaping from the juvenile home. Duchess is the product of a con man father and Woody is the developmentally disabled wayward son of a prominent and wealthy New York family.
I don’t want to betray the twists and turns of the plot. There are surprises, moments that make you cringe and scenes which inspire laughter and tears. The secondary characters encountered on the journey cover the gamut- a true mixed bag. Rich men, poor men- blacks/whites, preachers and con artists- a remarkable smorgasbord- all who serve a purpose in story development. We see wise people on decrepit settings. We see shallow people in comfortable surroundings. Mostly, we see complicated people struggling to survive. Towles has a soft side, clearly rooting for the well intentioned characters he is crafting and endorsing a vision of hope, not despair. The climax is poignant. Enjoy the book!
4) Table for Two
This is Towles’ most recent release and the format is unusual. He begins with six “New York” short stories. A bit of a throwback to The Rules of Civility scene. People with secret lives, troubled marriages substance abuse problems, sexual identity issues, financial woes, eccentric hobbies and occasional fraudsters and criminals to spice up the picture. I loved two of the stories and appreciated elements in each of the others. The stories are not linked- they stand alone. Towles prose is urban witty and wise- readable and elegantly constructed. Commercially successful authors are frequently stereotyped a second class writers, but Towles is prominent example of the shallowness of that observation.
The second section of Table for Two is a 200 hundred page novella set in Los Angeles. Again, no hesitation in tackling a new venue. Eve Ross, our favourite character on The Rules of Civility, reappears years later in sunny and decadent Southern California. She left Manhattan in frustration, decided to forego a return to her Indiana roots and took the train straight west- all systems go! Her character is a load- she has matured since her fun days in Manhattan. She is much tougher, less vulnerable and has become a great judge of character. Towles name drops wildly- Eve’s best friend is Olivia De Haviland of Gone with the Wind fame. The plot is Chinatown style California noir. Corruption, greed, sexual exploitation, disgusting men, everyone on the make; the weather may be wonderful but oddballs and phonies rule the roost. The story is darker than Towles’ previous works. More outright violence and depravity. The litany of scoundrels create a concrete messaging opportunity for Towles. Honest people, good souls, decent humans can, by using their own smarts and wiles prevail over the crooks and evildoers, The novel actually has a happy ending and the writing is outstanding. I look forward to Mr Towles' next writing adventure.
