Count Alexander Rostov is placed under house arrest and forced to live in an attic room in the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. This is the story of what happens to him inside that illustrious hotel... 
 This is a lovely story; beautifully observed and deftly written, it allows all life to be observed through the eyes on one man - the most excellent Count Rostov. It's quite hard to say what goes on because this is more a story of observation rather than about enormous happenings. Nevertheless, the characterisation is wonderful and the story so beautiful you just have to read it!