A Gentleman in Moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.

One of the most amusing and heartening scenes in the book is where he observes a young couple on a first date, and as the waiter suggests a poor wine pairing for the Latvian Stew, the Count interjects to suggest a Mukuzani instead of the Rioja.

Here are just a few {cough} of the dishes and foods described: “baked pretzels, sweet rolls, and loaves of bread so unparalleled they were delivered daily”, “saltimbocca [herbed with nettle rather than sage]”, “kotleti”, “fennel and orange salad”, “osso buco”, “rack of lamb with a red wine reduction”, “bouillabaise”, “ ...

About the author Amor Towles is the author of New York Times bestsellers RULES OF CIVILITY, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, and THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, as well as the short story collection TABLE FOR TWO.