The Gambler

The Gambler is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky and originally published in 1866.

Alexei Ivanovich is the tutor of the sons of a general of the Russian Empire army. He is based in the German town of Roulettenburg and there is a casino where much of the plot unfolds. The general's family has a series of debts, not only with the casino, but also with other people in the city.

Alexei falls in love with Polina, his boss's stepdaughter, and this leads him to commit whatever madness she asks of him. At one point, he is seduced by gambling and betting and begins to spend his money on this hobby...

This novel, which we can consider a psychological exploration of gambling obsession and addiction, is semi-autobiographical since the main character is inspired by Dostoevsky himself and his gambling addiction, with the problems it brought him.

As a curious fact, this novel was written by Dostoevsky in just three weeks because the Russian writer was drowned by his debts and editorial demands, so he wrote it against the clock.

This edition of The Gambler is based on the English translation by C. J. Hogarth.