F. Dostoevsky – The Gambler – Review

Dostoevsky was pressured to write this novel in 1866 (with a deadline of November, only to begin writing the tale in October) under threat of heavy financial penalties from his publisher. One can confidently assume, that his publisher had fronted the author money, and without any product from the writer, imposed the deadline. The novel was written in 26 days. The deadline was met, and without doubt, the work stands up against his best work, including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot or The Brothers Karamazov.

Many critics have suggested that the novel is not autobiographical. Personally, I find this proposal ridiculous on many levels. All works of great fiction have a quasi-relation to the writer's life. As a writer of fiction myself, there is always included observations, individual anecdotes, experiences and pure creative imagination, that make up the work. In fact, the author was known as a prolific gambler, amongst other addictions, but threw the obsession after about 20 years. Writing a short story about a sexual killer, doesn't make the author a sex obsessed murderer. Writing about a sorcerer, doesn't make the creator an occult practitioner. As many writers have stated, the creative endeavour in story telling, is a mysterious process. Anyone, however, who has experienced the massive kick of endorphins while at the Black Jack table or Roulette wheel, will relate to The Gambler.

Alexei Ivanovich is the narrator of the novel – the subtitle of the text is, 'From the Diary of a Young Man”. In the translated 19^th century style, the book reads like a diary. Alexei is a tutor for a seemingly well-to-do Russian family, while on holiday at a German Spa. Similar to all Dostoevsky's novels, there is a large cast of characters, all from varying countries and cultures. All the characters have a hint of mystery, a cloud of secrets and intrigue, that hovers over the plot, pushing the reader to discover how the puzzle all fits together.

Reading Dostoevsky over the last 40 years, the writer vividly paints the aristocratic, intellectual and social construct of 19^th century Europe – from a Russian perspective. He writes in somewhat stereotypes: French arrogance and charm; German staid persona and focus on rules; English observance and business acumen, and Russian - a cacophony of all the above. One needs to remember that in 19^th century Europe, everyone has their particular station, everyone has their place in the social hierarchy, and no one questioned the reason why. It was not until I read Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground, that my love for this author came to a conscious reality - a true rebel, thinker and intellectual revolutionary.

Close to the end of the novel, Alexei realises he can do something about his wannabe lover's financial predicament, and returns to the casino, and begins betting on the Roulette Wheel. The 3 pages describing his thoughts about the game, his mindset and the outcome, will make any casual gambler's blood pressure rise. The Russian writer's words rival any modern film about gambling. A “moralist” writer, (a 19^th century criticism of Dostoevsky) becomes clear at the end of the story.

I have never stated that any 19^th century novel read, was a “page turner”.

The Gambler is one such novel.