Spilleren

I wasn't surprised to learn that Dostoyevski had a gambling problem himself because his insight into his narrator, Alexey's, compulsive behaviour is wonderfully realistic. Apparently this novella was written in great haste because the profits from its publication were needed to settle gambling debts! I liked the evocation of high society shenanigans in a German casino town called Roulettenberg where everyone knows everyone and strict rules of class and etiquette abound. There seems to be little entertainment other than strolling through the park or gracing the roulette tables, yet from this Dostoyevsky has created an interesting story of selfish, back-stabbing people all unashamedly out to gain as much of each other's fortunes as they can.

I am not sure I would have enjoyed The Gambler so much if I had read the book, because most of the story is presented through often overly melodramatic dialogue, but listening to Zimmerman's deft portrayal of the characters lifted it into another league. Granny is by far my favourite character and her casino scenes are superb. I felt the story meandered somewhat once Alexey left Roulettenberg for Paris, but this is still well-deservedly a classic.