The Gambler

novel by Dostoyevsky

Also known as: “Igrok”

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June 29, 2026

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Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Gambler (Igrok) was written in 1866. The novel is based on Dostoyevsky's own experiences with compulsive gambling and his tumultuous relationship with Appolinariya Suslova.1

The story centers on Alexei Ivanovich, a tutor in a Russian family, who becomes entangled in the world of gambling, particularly roulette, in a German spa town. His obsession with gambling is driven by a desire for money, not just for its own sake, but as a means to achieve freedom and independence. The narrative explores the psychological torment and destructive nature of addiction, as Alexei's life unravels due to his insatiable urge to gamble. The novel also touches upon themes of social class, love, and the clash between Russian and Western European values.1

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Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Stay in western Europe
…dictated his novel Igrok (1866; The Gambler)—based on his relations with Suslova and the psychology of compulsive gambling—which he finished just on time. A few months later (1867) he married the stenographer, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina. She at last put his life and finances in order and created stable conditions for…
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…dictated his novel Igrok (1866; The Gambler)—based on his relations with Suslova and the psychology of compulsive gambling—which he finished just on time. A few months later (1867) he married the stenographer, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina. She at last put his life and finances in order and created stable conditions for…
Read More