
The Gambler (The Unabridged Hogarth Translation) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Psychological Novella of Roulette, Obsession, High Society, and Self-DestructionBy Fyodor DostoevskyLength0m
About this audiobook
The Gambler is a taut psychological novella set in the fictional German spa town of Roulettenburg, where money, desire, and status revolve around the roulette wheel. Through the feverish voice of Alexei Ivanovich, tutor to a ruined Russian family, Dostoevsky examines addiction not merely as vice but as metaphysical compulsion: a wager against humiliation, social hierarchy, and the self. Written with compressed dramatic intensity, sharp dialogue, and ironic social observation, the work belongs to Dostoevsky's great middle period, anticipating the moral extremities and interior monologues of his later masterpieces. Fyodor Dostoevsky knew the terrain of the book intimately. His own encounters with roulette in European casinos, his chronic debts, and the pressures of serial publication shaped both the novel's urgency and its emotional precision. Famously composed under severe financial constraint, The Gambler transforms personal crisis into art, exposing the links between chance, freedom, pride, and self-destruction. This unabridged Hogarth translation is recommended to readers seeking Dostoevsky in a concentrated, electrically readable form. It is indispensable for understanding his psychology of compulsion and his unsparing vision of human freedom.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, Mystery and Thriller
Length0 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 20, 2013
LanguageEnglish