The Gambler

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Gambler paints a stark picture of the attractions—and addictions—of gambling. Using skillful characterization, Dostoevsky faithfully depicts life among the gambling set in old Germany. This probing psychological novel explores the tangled love affairs and complicated lives of Alexey Ivanovitch, a young gambler, and Polina Alexandrovna, the woman he loves.

Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoevsky (1821–1881) was born in Moscow, the son of a surgeon. Leaving the study of engineering for literature, he published Poor Folk in 1846. As a member of revolutionary circles in St. Petersburg, he was condemned to death in 1849. A last-minute reprieve sent him to Siberia for hard labor. Returning to St. Petersburg in 1859, he worked as a journalist and completed his masterpiece, Crime and Punishment, as well as other works, including The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov.

Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist.” (Albert Einstein)

What a narrator!

This is probably the best narration that I have heard from any audiobook. Simon Prebble’s ability to seamlessly transition between languages and accents. I was astounded! Bravo!
Also the story is fantastic.

Brilliant story and narrator

this is an excellent work of fiction and somewhat autobiographical as well. the reader is one of the best! this is a short but really interesting and exciting around through the mind of the amazing FD!

Good story

Pretty entertaining, not being too long is a plus. There's a bit in French in conversations so make sure you're cool with not understanding every word if you don't speak French, for the most part you get the idea from the context.

A master psychiatrist this Fyodor

A masterful dissection of the personality of the gambler, the Russian in the eyes of a French and English in the eyes of a Russian.
I learned more from this man than I learned from some of the best teachers and professors of psychiatry in the 20th and 21st century.
To understand gambling from within, every psychiatrist should read this book.

Good writing, fair story, great narration

Simon Prebble is a true pro, so even a mediocre book would be a pleasure to listen to if he reads it. This book is more than mediocre, but does not at all measure up to Dostoevsky’s great novels. The psychological aspect of the gambling addict (or any other addict) is handled quite well; the relationships between the characters are sort of pathetic and aren’t so credible. Oh, sure, there are some people whose only interest in someone is for their money. But that’s kind of cliched. And Alexei’s love of Polina is based on what? It’s so shallow. Is it not just some infatuation? Does he have some kind of psychological problem to be willing to be so absurdly submissive to someone? I would like the psychology behind that to have been explored, but it isn’t. If nothing else, this story shows how fickle a man can be (when usually, such fickle behavior is depicted in female characters). Though the story is just fair, the writing is excellent (and I’m sure it is better in the original). This was a freebie, so I’d recommend it if you’ve got a few spare hours.

Great for its time

Elegant description of the psyche of a gambler. Narrator has done a great job of impressions.

important lessons in an entertaining story

A good into into Dostoevsky, an amusing story with important lessons.

The narrator is great

OK 10 stars

Excellent, couldn’t have been done better! Brings the characters to a life intended by Dostoyevsky.

Classic Book, Amazing Narrator

Must read for any fan of gambling, and/or financial speculation, cryptocurrency, and volatile pursuits of that kind. Also very funny at some points, I was laughing more than I expected to.

Time and the human condition

If a person had the ability to stand between the two gaming establishments, the primary house of the 1860’s and our now reality house of today’s 2022, it must be recognized as a human weakness and genetically encoded, too risk all for the hope of an imaginary truth built upon a known lie. Although 160 years has passed, this weakness for a fulfillment never to be obtained still sells.What organized crime once controlled and now openly excepted and expected by our on Government of which they do know a good thing when they see it. Are we really evolving as a species? It is too bad Mr. Darwin is not present to give argument. Nothing new under this sun. Great read, best of a reality check.