The Gambler

Dostoyevsky's personal experiences with gambling serve as the backdrop for this novel, reflecting his tumultuous relationship with betting and financial desperation. His initial wins at Wiesbaden were overshadowed by significant losses, leading him to use his writing as collateral for cash. Under immense pressure from his publisher, he completed the novel with the help of an early stenographer and his future wife, Anna Grigorievna, highlighting the intense circumstances surrounding its creation.