The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Description

The Gambler is a short novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, that was first published in 1866. A first person narrative, told from the point of view of Alexei Ivanovich. Alexei is a tutor who works for a Russian family who reside in a German hotel. The patriarch of the family, known as the General, is a gambler who, heavy in debt, awaits news of the death of a wealthy aunt so he can use his inheritance to pay off some of his debts. Alexei meanwhile is in love with the General's niece, Polina. The story revolves around the addiction of gambling, in particular the roulette table, and how it overtakes people lives to damaging effect. The book also reflects Dostoevsky's own addiction to roulette, and indeed, he wrote The Gambler under a strict deadline in order to pay off some gambling debts of his own. This translation by C. J. Hogarth was published in 1867.

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