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The Gambler

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Narrated by: Walter Zimmerman
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Publisher's summary

The Gambler brilliantly captures the strangely powerful compulsion to bet that Dostoevsky, himself a compulsive gambler, knew so well. The hero rides an emotional roller coaster between exhilaration and despair, and secondary characters such as the grandmother, who throws much of her fortune away at the gaming tables, are unforgettable. The book's publishing history is equally so: under the pressure of a deadline from an unscrupulous publisher, and with rights to his entire body of works at stake, Dostoevsky dictated the book in less than a month to the star pupil of Russia's first shorthand school. Then he married her.

In this dark and compelling short novel, Fyodor Dostoevsky tells the story of Alexey Ivanovitch, a young tutor working in the household of an imperious Russian general. Alexey tries to break through the wall of the established order in Russia, but instead becomes mired in the endless downward spiral of betting and loss. His intense and inescapable addiction is accentuated by his affair with the general's cruel yet seductive niece, Polina. In The Gambler, Dostoevsky reaches the height of drama with this stunning psychological portrait.

©1981 Jimcin Recordings (P)1981 Jimcin Recordings
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Editorial reviews

In Fyodor Dostoevsky's novella, Alexei Ivanovich is the tutor of a Russian family living in Germany. The General, the head of the family, is in debt, and knowing this, his niece Polina puts Alexei onto a life of gambling. Walter Zimmerman has a wonderfully terse style that fits Dostoevsky's marvelous prose, while also using a variety of accents when giving voice to the multitude of characters, making each one as distinct and memorable as Dostoevsky's narrative. The Gambler is a powerful portrait of Ivanovich's addictions to gambling and love, and the thrilling highs and crippling despair that come with both.

What listeners say about The Gambler

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great read

I am new to audible.com. I drive for a living so listening to tapes passes the time. I joined audible because my Libary did not have 'The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky' in the system. I have long been a Dostoevsky fan no one writes like him.
I highly recommend this book.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not recommended

I found this book boring, offering little in the way insights into gambling. And generally the story was lacking. Maybe the translation was a problem. At any rate I found the narration was not the best one could hope for.
There are far better audiobooks available on this site. I suggest skip this one unless you are desperate for something relying on the reputation of Dostoevsky.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

great book // lousy reader

The gambler is one of the great classics. However most pleasure was spoilt by a hasty, untrained, dull reader. I have no idea why such bad quality is included in a commercial product. I do not recommend this title therefore.

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2 people found this helpful