The Gambler

The Gambler, published in 1867, is one of Dostoevsky's most personal works — written in a frantic 26 days to meet a publisher's deadline and pay off his own crushing gambling debts. The novella follows Alexei, a young tutor employed by a Russian general, who becomes hopelessly consumed by roulette at a German casino resort. Dostoevsky captures the irrational, self-destructive psychology of addiction with terrifying accuracy — the desperate certainty that the next spin will change everything. The brilliant American author Anna Snitkina, who took down the novel in shorthand, later became Dostoevsky's second wife. A gripping, raw, and surprisingly short masterwork. Stream free, no account required.