The Gambler. Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"The Gambler" is a gripping narrative of the dangers of an addiction to gambling. As was common with Dostoyevsky's writing he draws upon his own life in a semi-autobiographical way in «The Gambler». Dostoyevksy himself suffered from a compulsion to gambling and those first-hand experiences bring a depth of realism to «The Gambler» and to his portrayal of the main character, Alexis Ivanovitch, a young man addicted to gambling. «The Gambler» is an insightful look at the compulsive nature of the gambling addict and the tragic consequences of such an addiction.