RULES OF CIVILITY: AMOR TOWELS

Unlike Towels bestseller, A GENTLEMEN IN MOSCOW,  this novel is set in New York City in the late 1930's, just as the depression seems to be winding down, at least for the folks in Towles' book.  The title is taken from George Washington's Rules of Civility, 106 maxims on how one should live one's life.  In the beginning, the novel seems to be about the relationship between the protagonist, Katey Kontent, Eve, her best friend, and their friend Tinker, a seemingly successful and very rich young man. Tinker introduces Katey to the rest of the gang, Dicky Vanderwhile, Wallace Wolcott, Bitsy, Peaches, Hank, and Ann Grandyn. Their names say it all, the cream of society. Only Katey,  the daughter of a Russian immigrant, must make her way in the publishing business.  We see this group at parties, at clubs, seemingly oblivious to the plight of the rest of America, the war breaking out in Europe.  They are fun and frivolous for the most part and some even have scruples.  The novel may seem like one gathering after another, an endless party but it ends up being a love story of sorts.