The Gambler

"The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the complex interplay of gambling, love, and personal ambition, primarily focusing on the character Alexei Ivanovich, who serves as a tutor to a Russian general's family. As he navigates his feelings towards the enigmatic Polina Alexandrovna, the novel explores themes of obsession, desire, and the societal pressures surrounding wealth and reputation. At the start of "The Gambler," Alexei returns to the gambling haven of Roulettenberg after a short absence, only to find the mood among his patrons, particularly General Zakharin and his family, shrouded in tension and expectation. The opening chapters reveal Alexei's struggle with his own gambling impulses amidst the backdrop of the general's precarious financial situation and the looming shadow of Polina's desires and expectations. As the narrative unfolds, Alexei grapples with his conflicting emotions toward Polina while he finds himself drawn into the chaotic and thrill-laden world of roulette, ultimately questioning his own motivations and the lengths he will go to win both money and affection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, sometimes transliterated as Dostoyevsky, was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. Numerous literary critics regard him as one of the greatest novelists in all of world literature, as many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces. Dostoevsky's literary works explore the human condition in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia, and engage with a variety of philosophical and religious themes. His most acclaimed novels include Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872), The Adolescent (1875), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). His 1864 novella Notes from Underground is considered to be one of the first works of existentialist literature.