From Farhad Pirbal, the Kurdish writer, to:

To Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Great master, Dostoyevsky!

It is very strange

Those who read you must always change:

He who is faithless, you give him the form of faith.

He who has faith, his faith does not remain.

He who is cowardly, you make him brave.

He who is brave, you make him cowardly.

He who is shameless, you give him shame.

He who has shame, you make him shameless.

He who is rich, you force him to give all his money to the "poor".

He who is poor and a beggar

You force him to do any work for money, as long as it is legal.

He who wants to deceive himself, you make him regret and you take away his hope of life.

He who is happy and his heart is happy with the world

You make him irreparable so that he deceives himself.

He who is a criminal, you make him an angel.

He who is an angel, he comes and easily and calmly betrays himself.

He who is stupid, you make him wise.

He who is wise, you make him a "fool".

He who is a gambler, he takes his hand from gambling.

He who does not even know anything about gambling

You make him the worst "gambler".

He who has God in his heart, becomes the devil.

He who has the devil in his heart, becomes a saint.

He who does not know you, knows you.

He who knows you, fears you forever.

It is very strange, great master, Dostoyevsky!

I never dare to approach you again.

In this novel as well, similar to the novel (Abel), a character with strange and unusual Russian characteristics enters a family, has different effects on each individual in the family, and removes the veil from their faces.

The gambler, on the surface, presents a moral discussion. How gambling gradually seduces people and how with strong psychological motives, it forces you again and again to gamble with what you have earned over the years and lose everything. Dostoyevsky so beautifully takes you along with Alexei Ivanovich to the roulette table and engages you in the story so that when he loses, you also feel绝望, and when he wins, you also feel joy.

Describing the inner states of people is Dostoyevsky's specialty, and in this book too, he has well described the excitement and state of the gamblers.

The behavior of none of the characters in this story is, just like the wheel of fortune, predictable. People make choices among the options they have (which are also limited), and the result is of course with chance and coincidence, and each of their lives experiences many ups and downs.

It can be seen that at the gambling table, a group of people pick up pen and paper and calculate and write in order to discover a logical relationship; but just as discovering this relationship is impossible in gambling, it is also an impossible thing in life, and the narrator does not know such a way of living as life.

All of these can be a kind of sign of predestination in the author's world view.

Dostoyevsky in his works makes his characters fanatical, even leading them to murder under the guise of their ideological beliefs and goals... like Raskolnikov in (Crime and Punishment) and Alexei in The Gambler.

Most of his stories are about rebellious, sick, and insane people, and he carefully examines the psychological aspects of their characters.

Nietzsche, the great German philosopher, studies Dostoyevsky's works and says: "Dostoyevsky is the only one who taught me something about psychology!"

The world of Dostoievski is intense, nightmarish, passionate, dirty, funny and tragic.
This book also talks about a passion that Dostoievski seemed to know well, which is gambling.
But that doesn't matter. The amazing thing is how he describes this world, the world of the casino, of bets, basically of roulette, which is the game that passionates (and ruins) several of the characters in this story.
But he doesn't judge. He simply makes a portrait where tragedy and humor enter almost all the time. At moments I died of laughter and at others my stomach twisted with pain seeing what Alexei, or the general, or Polina, or the crazy grandmother did, whose entrance to the story is a wonder. I loved them all!
It is exciting to read it because there is sincerity, passion and urgency in everything that his characters do. It is the opposite of the "correct" writers who try to convey some morality. Dostoievski goes completely in another direction. He doesn't even bother to introduce you gently to the story. He puts you in the middle without many explanations and little by little you understand all the drama that is happening.
I loved this book. I don't know why I hadn't read it before, but it only reconfirms once again Dostoievski as one of my favorite writers.

Aman from the descriptions of Dostoyevsky's story...

I, who have never seen a casino in my life, nor a gambler and the process of gambling, could clearly feel the emotions and the pounding heart of the gamblers and the atmosphere ruling that place!

It is truly remarkable how Dostoyevsky's vivid descriptions can transport the reader into a world that they may have never experienced firsthand. Through his words, we can sense the excitement, the anticipation, and the desperation that the gamblers feel. The fictional casino becomes a living, breathing entity, filled with the hopes and dreams of those who enter its doors.

Even though I have no personal connection to the world of gambling, Dostoyevsky's writing makes me feel as if I am right there, in the midst of it all. His ability to capture the essence of human nature and the power of addiction is truly masterful. It makes me wonder what other hidden worlds and emotions he can reveal through his stories.

Dostoevsky, with his accustomed and rare simplicity, points out the essential differences between the Russian, French, and English personalities.

The Russian character, according to him, is often marked by a profound sense of inner turmoil and a yearning for spiritual enlightenment. Russians are known for their emotional intensity and their ability to experience a wide range of emotions deeply.

The French, on the other hand, are more inclined towards rationality and elegance. They value logic and refinement in their thoughts and actions. Their culture emphasizes style and grace.

The English, in Dostoevsky's view, are characterized by their practicality and reserve. They are a nation of doers, focused on getting things done efficiently. Their emotions are often kept in check, and they maintain a certain distance in their social interactions.

By highlighting these differences, Dostoevsky provides us with a fascinating glimpse into the unique qualities of each national character.

This novel is a masterpiece within Dostoyevsky's works.

It is extremely difficult to write about an illness when you are suffering from it.

The matter requires a great deal for the patient to admit his illness. However, Fedor is not content with this. Instead, he brings out the character of "Alyosha," the gentle and meek one who strips Ivanovitch and reveals his illness to him harshly.

And one cannot say that the writer of these characters is the same. Dostoyevsky delves into the human soul in a wonderful way, not only in the character of the gambler but in all the characters of the novel.

As for the narration and description, it goes without saying.

Fedor reaches the peak of creativity in the pages between 185 and 193, the pages that contain the gambling of Ivanovitch. In fact, I have never seen a writer write like this before. In these pages, you will find everything.

This novel, even if it is not the best that Dostoyevsky has written, is still magnificent.

Dostoevsky's "The Gambler" is a remarkable work that delves into the complex human psyche. The people crowding in the gambling halls, jostling each other, is a vivid portrayal of the chaos and desperation. When some claim that Dostoevsky wrote this novel in a hurry to meet the publisher's demands, it seems an exaggeration. How could this man produce such a masterpiece in a rush? It's as if God truly created him in his era to surpass others with his words and wisdom.

The gambling house is a vast arena for Dostoevsky's moral battles and a platform to present his views on many things. For example, in the novel, we can see the Russian's perspective on the Western Europeans around them. We witness how the Germans and French are seen as mere manufacturers or swindlers, while the English society is regarded with more respect and dignity.

Always, a certain feeling grips me when I read Dostoevsky's novels. I want to shout and ask, "Isn't there a single wise man among you, people?" Dostoevsky writes about the insane, a world where only one rational mind exists, like Mr. Astley the Englishman. The rest of humanity are slaves to humiliation, desires, and沉沦 in vice.

Dostoevsky also intended to reveal the class nakedness that prevailed in the society of nobles, lords, dukes, etc., with their ranks of honor that dominated Europe at that time. He expressed his contempt for the bourgeoisie and aristocracy, showing them as mere buffoons in the illustrations and in the gambling house as children, and in life as greedy exploiters.

Always, that playful woman appears in Dostoevsky's novels, who can't settle on anything around her. Is she a voluptuous lover of money and wealth, or is there still a noble human inside her like "Polina"? The description and the intrigue are unrivaled as long as you read Dostoevsky.

He has this style that makes you feel anxiety, illness, and pain, and on the other hand, blows up the ground of the novel for you with strange characters who make you laugh, like the old grandmother. Dostoevsky's eternal black comedy, there's no doubt that that period of Dostoevsky's life as a gambler was full of things worth remembering and telling, which is why such a skillful and wonderful novel emerged from it.

And the novel is not without admonition. Dostoevsky's admonition is to tell you that he doesn't admonish and that admonition is actually useless. But he does admonish. In "The Gambler," we see what happens when human desires are left unchecked to guide a person's life. The old woman loses her money, the general loses his mind, and our friend Alexei the tutor loses his life, honor, and dignity. Only the noble Englishman Mr. Astley preserves his sanity, life, and honor because he doesn't pursue greed, money, and gambling.

My friend Fyodor, I will read you forever. You have never disappointed me, and you never will.

Oh, those who are satisfied with themselves! Oh, that false pride that accompanies the words of those hypocrites when they give their advice, admonitions, and clichéd expressions! If they knew the extent of my current state of restlessness and discomfort, they would be unable to find the words they use to give advice, admonish, and teach a lesson.

"Finally, I was back after two weeks of absence. Our people had already been in Rouletteburg for three days. I thought they would be waiting for me like the Messiah; but I was wrong."

"The Gambler" is undoubtedly the most autobiographical book of Dostoevsky. Everything that happens to the character of Alexei Ivanovich, who narrates in this novel his experience of those feverish days lived in Rouletteburg and his relationship with the voluptuous Polina Alexandrovna, who is simply the alter ego of Polina Suslova, a student sixteen years younger than Dostoevsky and who was his lover during one of the most tumultuous periods of his life, and who dominated him from 1862 to 1866, when the author suffered a fierce addiction to gambling during his exile in Baden Baden, a town of rest and dissipation that was something like Las Vegas but in the 19th century and located in the middle of Europe.

Everyone went to those cities, with luxurious hotels and comfortable spas to rest and obviously to play roulette without restraint, in the same way that Dostoevsky did. It was common in those days to go on vacation in large groups, stay in hotels and spend the whole day in the casino. The Russians, for a change, had an endless entourage of people prepared to spend thousands of rubles, francs or florins on the roulette wheels.

This was the most disordered and chaotic stage in the life of the great Russian novelist. With his first wife, Maria Dimitrievna dying of tuberculosis, he escapes to Europe, dazzled by the beauty of Polina in the midst of a whirlwind of love that left him almost completely ruined.

It took Dostoevsky several years to detoxify himself from his gambling addiction, which led him to lose practically everything, including his first wife, who died in 1864.

This novel stems from those experiences in which Dostoevsky shows his knowledge in the art of roulette gambling and for this he casually uses his own life to portray it on the pages of his book.

His lack of control was such that, drowned in debts, he even pawned his wife's wedding ring. He constantly lived borrowing money from his friends and even enemies and to return to Russia.

The same fate befalls several characters in the novel. To tell the truth, some are wonderful, such as those who make up that group of gamblers like the general, the Frenchman Des Grieux, a sly friend of the general, the Englishman, Mr. Astley and particularly the grandmother, Antonida Vasilievna Tarasevichova, the babulinka, a septuagenarian presumably on the verge of death, who will give some of them to get her millions as an inheritance, but who like a magic trick appears in Rouletteburg alive and kicking.

From there, different games of fidelity and betrayal will arise, and all that in the midst of waste and uncontrolled bets in the casino. Everyone wants to save themselves by breaking the bank, but only add more confusion and disorder to their lives.

Dostoevsky took only 25 days! (between October 4 and 29, 1866) to write "The Gambler" in order to pay the debt that his editor had imposed on him, who had threatened to take him to jail if he did not fulfill the contract agreed upon, in addition to keeping the rights to his work and because that was all the time he gave him to write the book. The deadline was November 1, 1866.

The pressure was so great that Dostoevsky had to hire a stenographer, named Anna Grigorievna Snitkina to speed up the writing process of the book.

Anna would eventually become his last wife and it was there that he would find peace and a way out of his gambling addiction, to the point that Anna not only gave him tranquility and children, but also became the administrator of his finances.

Dictating the book against the clock, he managed to present it on time (after being certified before the local police station, since the editor deliberately hid to expose him and get him arrested on purpose), and in this way the book was finally published, which served him to recover both himself and his image in society. From there came his great novels such as "The Idiot", "The Devils" and "The Brothers Karamazov".

One last amazing fact that shows why Fyodor Dostoevsky was such an impressive writer: while in the mornings he dictated "The Gambler" to Anna, practically against the clock, in the afternoons he dictated the beginnings of what would be one of his major novels, "Crime and Punishment".

Two novels at the same time... and of what caliber!

This is a truly crushing novel.

It belongs to those classic stories where the narrator is completely overwhelmed by the weight of his intense desire, by the overpowering force of the odds stacked against him, and by the inherent frailty of human hope.

Within Dostoevsky's short novel, there lies an almost existential subtext, an underlying and ever-present risk of utter ruin.

The message seems to be that the longer one lives, the greater the probability of losing everything one holds dear.

Dostoevsky teases the reader with small victories, decent runs of good fortune, and hopeful illusions that lull the reader into believing that perhaps one could walk away from life with love, a sense of fulfillment, and yes, plenty of wealth.

But alas, time, that unforgiving creditor, the vig that always takes its cut, and death (that heartless croupier bitch) all conspire to wheedle away your very last gulden and mortgage the soul's final breath.

It's a powerful and sobering tale that forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of life and the inevitability of loss.

The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky is an enthralling and captivating exploration of the themes of obsession, desperation, and the very essence of human nature.

Set within the intense backdrop of a high-stakes roulette game, this remarkable novel delves deep into the tortured mind of Alexei Ivanovich. He is a man whose addiction to gambling gradually spirals out of control, transforming into a powerful and all-consuming force that dominates his every thought and action.

Dostoevsky, with his masterful pen, skillfully captures the palpable tension and crippling anxiety that inevitably accompany the relentless pursuit of fleeting luck. Moreover, he weaves in rich and nuanced character development, breathing life into each and every character. Additionally, the novel is interspersed with sharp and incisive social commentary, adding another layer of depth to the narrative.

The story unfolds at a gripping pace, making it a quick yet profoundly impactful read. The Gambler offers a truly fascinating and enlightening insight into the complex psychology of addiction, vividly showcasing Dostoevsky's unrivaled ability to penetrate the deepest recesses of the human soul and lay bare its most hidden and profound secrets.

Gentlemen, truly who else but Dostoyevsky has the ability to write about human suffering and truth? Let me answer myself. "No one." If Sartre and Heidegger explain existentialism and suffering with philosophy and bombastic formulations, I assure you that Dostoyevsky shows you this human existence, its mistakes, its freedom and its love line by line.

"How strange the human soul is, after experiencing all these intense feelings, it no longer recognizes serenity and, on the contrary, becomes more restless and desires other intense feelings, more and more intense until it is emptied of content."

Gambling - Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Dostoyevsky's works are like a mirror that reflects the deepest and most complex aspects of human nature. His characters are not just fictional figures but representatives of the human condition. Through their experiences, we are able to see the heights and depths of human emotions, the struggle between good and evil, and the search for meaning and purpose in life. His writing style is unique, filled with passion, intensity, and a profound understanding of the human psyche. It is no wonder that he is considered one of the greatest writers of all time.

The Gambler is yet another remarkable literary work by Dostoevsky. It is an extremely humorous piece that had me literally laughing out loud on several occasions. It is an entertaining read from start to finish.

What I found most enjoyable was the colorful interaction among the, at times, outrageously vivid cast of characters around which the story revolves. There's the imperious Grandmama, and the bombastic, duplicitous Frenchman de Grieux. Moreover, I was completely captivated by the vivid descriptions of the adrenaline-packed gambling sessions at the casino in the fictional German town of Roulettenburg. Dostoevsky skillfully transports the reader into the feverish and fanatical mindset of a gambler who is constantly seeking his next winning streak, even to the point of financial ruin.

The main character, Alexei Ivanovich, embodies the spirit of an astute gambler who can win and lose thousands of francs in a matter of minutes. Interestingly, throughout the narrative, Alexei uses the 'I' form, which perhaps implies a possible connection to Dostoevsky's own life experience as an avid gambler.

The Gambler showcases a lighter and more carefree side of Dostoevsky's virtuosity as a writer, in contrast to his other 'heavier' works like Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and Notes from Underground. It is definitely worth reading if you want to explore the wide range of Dostoevsky's literary works or simply enjoy literary fiction.