The other insider secret relates to his first novel Rules of Civility. In relation to A Gentleman in Moscow, Towles wrote the culminating climactic moment in both novels to take place at the exact same time: June 21, 1954, at midnight in Moscow and, accounting for the time change, 5:00 pm in New York in The Lincoln Highway. Towles also throws in two easter eggs for his loyal readers that I find worth mentioning to demonstrate the eye for detail Towles has in every corner of this book. While Dutchess is arguably the novel’s antagonist, Towles does an incredible job of creating real and rounded characters that we may be quite irritated by or frustrated with, but that we can in some way empathize with and understand, and maybe even, in Dutchess’ case, become charmed by.

Towles also takes the creative liberty of having only one of these characters speak in first person during his sections, and this is not our protagonist Emmet, like one might expect, but Dutchess. The readers see clearly the particular insights of each character and the many threads of the plot are effortlessly weaved together with this method. The book jumps perspectives with each chapter and explores the viewpoints of the four boys as well as the potential love interest of Emmet, Sally. While in A Gentleman in Moscow, he creates a wise, quiet, respectable man, in this novel he gives us characters who are manipulative and greedy, curious and hopeful, and everything in between. Towles has a distinct gift for character building.

Towles’ writing is smart and captivating and his third novel is certainly no exception. Without revealing too many spoilers, this story absolutely does not go where it promises to at the start. They hijack the trip and all four end up on the opposite side of the country in New York. Duchess and Wooley however, have different plans for their journey. Emmet is in search of new opportunities as he chases something like the American dream. Emmet and Billy have decided to move to California after the death of their father. Towles takes his readers on a 10-day road trip along with eighteen-year-old protagonist Emmet Watson, his younger brother Billy, and their friends Dutchess and Wooley. This distinctly American story takes place in 1954 beginning in Nebraska but quickly taking to the road. His first two novels, Rules of Civility (2011) and A Gentleman in Moscow (2016) were incredibly well-received, and I can personally attest to the validity of that high praise on both accounts. Amor Towles becomes a third-time author with this brand new novel The Lincoln Highway. If you’re looking for (and I’m sure you are) an American adventure novel that will keep your wheels turning months after reading it, look no further.

Wallace wolcott amor towles