The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Name: The Gambler
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Gambler opens with the narrator, Alexis Ivanovitch, returning from a brief absence to rejoin the household of "the General," a Russian nobleman traveling abroad at the resort of Roulettenberg. Alexis serves as tutor to the General's children, but his real preoccupation is Polina Alexandrovna, the General's step-daughter, to whom he is helplessly, tormentedly devoted despite—or because of—her cold, imperious treatment of him. The household is financially ruined and awaiting news of the death of a wealthy Moscow relative, "Grandmother," whose inheritance is expected to rescue the General and enable his intended marriage to the alluring but mercenary Mlle. Blanche de Cominges. The General is also entangled with the calculating Frenchman De Griers, to whom he is heavily indebted and mortgaged. Alexis begins gambling at roulette, first on Polina's behalf and then his own, experiencing wild swings of fortune driven more by compulsion and pride than strategy. Provoked by Polina in a fit of reckless devotion, he publicly insults a German Baron and Baroness, getting himself dismissed from the General's service and endangering the household's already precarious position. De Griers and the General try unsuccessfully to rein him in. Alexis also observes the enigmatic Englishman Mr. Astley, who is clearly in love with Polina and seems to know more about the tangled relationships—especially concerning Mlle. Blanche's dubious past and De Griers' true motives—than he will disclose. The narrative's central upheaval arrives when Grandmother herself, very much alive, arrives unexpectedly in Roulettenberg, dashing everyone's expectations of an inheritance. Vigorous, blunt, and imperious, she is immediately captivated by roulette and, ignoring all warnings, plunges into reckless play, first winning spectacularly and then losing enormous sums over successive days, squandering a fortune while the General, De Griers, and Mlle. Blanche watch their hopes collapse. Mlle. Blanche promptly abandons the ruined General for a Prince, then, upon discovering his poverty too, drops him as well. De Griers, having salvaged what he can from the General's mortgaged property, departs after sending a cold, self-serving letter to Polina explaining that he has protected his own interests at the General's expense. Grandmother, having lost the bulk of her wealth, prepares to return to Moscow, inviting Polina to come live with her, though Polina hesitates for reasons tied to her siblings and to her secret entanglement with De Griers. The General, meanwhile, disintegrates emotionally, and Alexis, sending Polina a letter demanding to know if she still needs him, finds her waiting in his room holding De Griers' letter of renunciation.

By Fyodor Dostoevsky · First published 1867 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Realist Fiction, Drama · 17 chapters · 73,475 words

First lines

At length I returned from two weeks leave of absence to find that my patrons had arrived three days ago in Roulettenberg. I received from them a welcome quite different to that which I had expected. The General eyed me coldly, greeted me in rather haughty fashion, and dismissed me to pay my respects to his sister. It was clear that from SOMEWHERE money had been acquired. I thought I could even detect a certain shamefacedness in the General's glance. Maria Philipovna, too, seemed distraught, and conversed with me with an air of detachment. Nevertheless, she took the money which I handed to her, counted it, and listened to what I had to tell. To luncheon there were expected that day a Monsieur Mezentsov, a French lady, and an Englishman; for, whenever money was in hand, a banquet in Muscovite style was always given. Polina Alexandrovna, on seeing me, inquired why I had been so long away. Then, without waiting for an answer, she departed.

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The Gambler is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, dated 1867 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Date: 1867 CE
Language: English
Genres: Psychological Fiction, Realist Fiction, Drama, Philosophical Fiction, Satire
Length: 73,475 words
Structure: 17 chapters, 1,140 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Discussion starters

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Genres

Psychological Fiction — Explores the inner workings of the protagonist's mind and his compulsive gambling behavior.
Realist Fiction — Depicts realistic characters and situations, focusing on the social and economic conditions of the time.
Drama — Contains intense emotional conflicts and personal struggles, particularly related to addiction and relationships.
Philosophical Fiction — Examines existential themes and the human condition through the protagonist's experiences and reflections.