The author is unique and interesting on his own merit, but his novel (recommended and lead by Joyce) broke all rating records from our group. Set during the Bolshevik revolution around 1920, our hero, the Count, is under house arrest in the finest hotel in Russia at that time- the Metropol. He is truly a genius, very well educated and extremely well read. He has many trials and tribulations to conquer but never falls from his gentlemanly demeanor. Written with beautiful language and great philosophic passages this book can easily be read more than once. (Linda’s comment) Jam-packed with many facts and trivia all woven into a tense adventure, with even some romance thrown in. There you have the recipe for our book group to be thrilled.