The Gambler

In THE GAMBLER, Dostoevsky writes from the point of view of an addict about his own addiction. Dostoevsky himself was no stranger to passionate commitments, whether voluntary or not.

Thus he was ideally suited to tell this story with sympathy and understanding. The heroine of THE GAMBLER is modeled after the tempestuous Apollinaria Suslov--Dostoevsky's mistress.

"It is impossible to appreciate Dostoevsky without sampling his entire range. Moreover, many of his shorter works are masterpieces in their own right. THE GAMBLER is an excellent example." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)