The Gambler

The Gambler by Dostoevsky is characterized by strong autobiographical motives, as the author himself was a compulsive gambler. The story of the creation of this book is very interesting: after losing everything in Wiesbaden, the writer, desperately in need of money, signed a contract with a publishing house, according to which he had to write a novel... in 26 days. These utterly improbable deadlines forced Dostoevsky, for the first time in his life, to use the services of a secretary-stenographer, to whom he dictated the text. Thus, the genius's life was joined by the young Anna Snitkina — a woman destined to become his wife and muse...