Rules of Civility

A Novel

By: Amor Towles

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway and A Gentleman in Moscow, a “sharply stylish” (Boston Globe) book about a young woman in post-Depression era New York who suddenly finds herself thrust into high society—now with over one million readers worldwide

On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve.

With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.

Critic reviews

Praise for Rules of Civility

“An irresistible and astonishingly assured debut about working class-women and world-weary WASPs in 1930s New York…in the crisp, noirish prose of the era, Towles portrays complex relationships in a city that is at once melting pot and elitist enclave – and a thoroughly modern heroine who fearlessly claims her place in it.” —O, the Oprah Magazine

“With this snappy period piece, Towles resurrects the cinematic black-and-white Manhattan of the golden age…[his] characters are youthful Americans in tricky times, trying to create authentic lives.” —The New York Times Book Review

“This very good first novel about striving and surviving in Depression-era Manhattan deserves attention…The great strength of Rules of Civility is in the sharp, sure-handed evocation of Manhattan in the late ‘30s.” —Wall Street Journal

“Put on some Billie Holiday, pour a dry martini and immerse yourself in the eventful life of Katey Kontent…[Towles] clearly knows the privileged world he’s writing about, as well as the vivid, sometimes reckless characters who inhabit it.” —People

“[A] wonderful debut novel…Towles [plays] with some of the great themes of love and class, luck and fated encounters that animated Wharton’s novels.” —The Chicago Tribune

“Glittering…filled with snappy dialogue, sharp observations and an array of terrifically drawn characters…Towles writes with grace and verve about the mores and manners of a society on the cusp of radical change.” —NPR.org

“Glamorous Gotham in one to relish…a book that enchants on first reading and only improves on the second.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer

Such a pleasant surprise

I did not expect a gripping story after reading the synopsis. It surprised me with more action than I've expected. The focus of the book is still an internal life of a smart, gentle young woman and her coming of age in NYC in late 1930s.
It is beautifully written, the characters are nicely developed. You feel like you are reading one of the great classics the main heroine admires so much, but with a very modern twist to it.
If you like Jane Austin and Charles Dickens, this is a book for you.

Nothing happens!!

This boook is just boring. I have been waiting for something to happen and so far (I am almost finished) NOTHING of any depth or importance has happened. This book was highly recommended by a friend and I will now have to tell her that I truly hated it. My advice is: skip this one! Yes, the book transports you to the 1930's but then abandons you there with nothing interesting or challenging to do or learn. You just get tired of the endless martinis, cigarettes, and dead ends in the story.

Rules of Civility

I loved everything about this book, the story, the characters, the descriptions of New York. I miss them already.

Some what of a sad book

I loved the reader, great voice. The book to me, was a bit sad at the end but over all I really enjoyed it.

Young, Female and Single in NYC in the 30's

If you could sum up Rules of Civility in three words, what would they be?

Touching, insightful and fun.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The gals of the era are lively and confident. They are strait talkers and shooters and pretty liberated for the times. The characters are flawed (aren't we all?) and still very appealing.

What about Rebecca Lowman’s performance did you like?

Matter of fact tone went really well with the main character who is a no-frills kind of gal.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily. It worked well over time.