“The chief thing is to keep playing, to keep hoping for luck.”
Chapter 1
The novel opens with the introduction of Alexei Ivanovich, a young tutor working for a Russian general’s family in the fictional German spa town of Roulettenburg. The general is deeply in debt and desperately waiting for the death of his wealthy aunt, Granny Antonida Tarasevicheva, to inherit her fortune. Meanwhile, Alexei is secretly in love with the general’s stepdaughter, Polina Alexandrovna, who manipulates him emotionally. The atmosphere is tense, with financial ruin looming over the household.
Chapter 2
Polina challenges Alexei to prove his love by approaching a French marquis, De Grieux, to ask for money. Alexei reluctantly agrees, revealing his humiliation and powerlessness. Meanwhile, the general is infatuated with Mademoiselle Blanche, a French adventuress, further complicating the family’s financial and emotional entanglements.
Chapter 3
Granny, the wealthy aunt, unexpectedly arrives in Roulettenburg, shattering the general’s hopes of her imminent death. Contrary to expectations, she is lively and domineering. Intrigued by roulette, she demands to be taken to the casino, where she begins gambling recklessly, losing large sums of money.
Chapter 4
Alexei accompanies Granny to the casino, fascinated by her fearless gambling. Despite his warnings, she continues to lose, squandering her fortune. Meanwhile, Polina remains distant, using Alexei as a pawn in her own emotional struggles. The general panics as his financial security crumbles.
Chapter 5
Granny’s gambling spree ends in disaster—she loses everything. The general is ruined, and Mademoiselle Blanche abandons him. Polina, in a moment of vulnerability, confesses her love for Alexei but then abruptly rejects him. Devastated, Alexei turns to gambling as an escape.
Chapter 6
Alexei becomes obsessed with roulette, experiencing both exhilarating wins and crushing losses. His self-destructive behavior mirrors the chaos of his emotions. Polina leaves town with De Grieux, leaving Alexei heartbroken and adrift.
Chapter 7
Alexei’s gambling addiction consumes him. He wins a fortune but loses it all, descending into despair. The novel ends with him trapped in a cycle of hope and ruin, reflecting on the futility of his obsession.
Key Ideas
- The destructive nature of gambling addiction and its psychological grip.
- Love as a form of emotional manipulation and power struggle.
- The futility of chasing wealth and luck as a means of salvation.
- Social decay and moral corruption in 19th-century Europe.
- The contrast between rationality and reckless passion.
Notable Adaptations
| 1974 | The Gambler (Film) | Starring James Caan, loosely based on Dostoevsky’s life. |
| 2007 | The Gambler (TV Movie) | Russian adaptation starring Nikolai Burlyaev. |
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in psychological depth and moral dilemmas.
- Those fascinated by addiction and self-destructive behavior.
- Fans of Russian literature and Dostoevsky’s existential themes.
- Anyone drawn to tragic love stories and flawed characters.