by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky
Amazon.com
The Gambler brilliantly captures the strangely powerful compulsion
to bet that Dostoyevsky, himself a compulsive gambler, knew so well.
The hero rides an emotional roller coaster between exhilaration and
despair, and secondary characters such as the Grandmother, who throws
much of her fortune away at the gaming tables, are unforgettable.
The book's publishing history is equally so: Under the pressure of
a deadline from an unscrupulous publisher, and with rights to his
entire oeuvre at stake, Dostoyevsky dictated the book in less than
a month to the star pupil of Russia's first shorthand school. Then
he married her.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable
edition of this title.
Book Description
Dostoevsky's short novel is told in the first person by a young man,
Alexei, who is addicted to gambling. Its story of passion and despair
is based on Dostoevsky's own experience as a compulsive gambler --
but Dostoevsky was able to break away, whereas Alexei vows to quit
as soon as he breaks evenan event, it is clear, that will never happen.
Like so many other characters in Dostoeveky's novels, Alexei is trying
to break through the wall of the established order and the human condition
itself. But instead he is drawn into the roulette wheel's vortex.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Download Description
Narrated by the character Alexei, who is addicted to gambling, this
short novel is based on Dostoevsky's own experiences as a compulsive
gambler. Like so many characters in Dostoevsky's novels, Alexei is
trying to break through the wall of the established order and the
human condition itself but instead he is drawn into the vortex of
the roulette wheel.
--This text refers to the Digital edition.
Ingram
Narrated by the character Alexei, who is addicted to gambling, this
short novel is based on Dostoevsky's own experiences as a compulsive
gambler. Like so many characters in Dostoevsky's novels, Alexei is
trying to break through the wall of the established order and the
human condition itself but instead he is drawn into the vortex of
the roulette wheel.
