The Gambler

Its story of passion and despair is based on Dostoevsky's own experience as a compulsive gambler but Dostoevsky was able to break away, whereas Alexei vows to quit as soon as he breaks even an event, it is clear, that will never happen. Like so many other characters in Dostoeveky's novels, Alexei is trying to break through the wall of the established order and the human condition itself. But instead he is drawn into the roulette wheel's vortex.

作者：陀思妥耶夫斯基（1821—1881），“俄国文学三巨头”之一，影响世界文学的重要作家。

译者：刘宗次：北京外国语大学教授，曾参与《俄国文学史》和《俄国文学批评史》的编写，翻译了普希金、陀思妥耶夫斯基、雷巴科夫等作家的小说。