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The House of the Dead / The Gambler
"Man is a creature that can get accustomed to anything, and I think that is the best definition of him."
Translated by Constance Garnett with an introduction by Anthony Briggs.
Dostoevsky's fascination for mental breakdown and violence (20 murders in his four main novels) was based on his own life, and these two unmistakably autobiographical works bear this out.
The House of the Dead is fiction, but based on his four years in a Siberian prison. An educated upper-class man is condemned to live among criminals and brutal guards, with arbitrary punishments, lousy food, disgusting living conditions, hard toil and many floggings. Somehow he avoids bitterness and recrimination; faith in humanity survives. With its breadth of characterisation, acute sense of detail and strong narrative interest, this work can still shock, entertain and inspire.
In The Gambler we see the Russian community in a German spa town. Drawn to the casino, Alexey becomes obsessed with roulette. In a gripping story, full of psychological interest, his growing mania eclipses even his interest in Polina, a heroine of demonic and vibrant sexuality. Dostoevsky himself was rescued from a similar gambling obsession by the young stenographer who took down this work at his dictation and married him soon afterwards.
Translated by Constance Garnett with an introduction by Anthony Briggs.
Dostoevsky's fascination for mental breakdown and violence (20 murders in his four main novels) was based on his own life, and these two unmistakably autobiographical works bear this out.
The House of the Dead is fiction, but based on his four years in a Siberian prison. An educated upper-class man is condemned to live among criminals and brutal guards, with arbitrary punishments, lousy food, disgusting living conditions, hard toil and many floggings. Somehow he avoids bitterness and recrimination; faith in humanity survives. With its breadth of characterisation, acute sense of detail and strong narrative interest, this work can still shock, entertain and inspire.
In The Gambler we see the Russian community in a German spa town. Drawn to the casino, Alexey becomes obsessed with roulette. In a gripping story, full of psychological interest, his growing mania eclipses even his interest in Polina, a heroine of demonic and vibrant sexuality. Dostoevsky himself was rescued from a similar gambling obsession by the young stenographer who took down this work at his dictation and married him soon afterwards.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1860
128 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
About the author
Fyodor Dostoevsky
3,342 books74.1k followers
Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский
(Russian)
Works, such as the novels Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880), of Russian writer Feodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky or Dostoevski combine religious mysticism with profound psychological insight.
Very influential writings of Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin included Problems of Dostoyevsky's Works (1929),
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky composed short stories, essays, and journals. His literature explores humans in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century and engages with a variety of philosophies and themes. People most acclaimed his Demons(1872) .
Many literary critics rate him among the greatest authors of world literature and consider multiple books written by him to be highly influential masterpieces. They consider his Notes from Underground of the first existentialist literature. He is also well regarded as a philosopher and theologian.
(Russian: Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский) (see also Fiodor Dostoïevski)
Works, such as the novels Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880), of Russian writer Feodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky or Dostoevski combine religious mysticism with profound psychological insight.
Very influential writings of Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin included Problems of Dostoyevsky's Works (1929),
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky composed short stories, essays, and journals. His literature explores humans in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century and engages with a variety of philosophies and themes. People most acclaimed his Demons(1872) .
Many literary critics rate him among the greatest authors of world literature and consider multiple books written by him to be highly influential masterpieces. They consider his Notes from Underground of the first existentialist literature. He is also well regarded as a philosopher and theologian.
(Russian: Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский) (see also Fiodor Dostoïevski)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 15, 2023
The first novel starts beautifully, but it isn't the fairytale it seemed to be.
"În ținuturile îndepărtate ale Siberiei, în inima stepelor, a munților și pădurilor de nepătruns, dai când și când de orașe mici, cu o mie, cel mult două mii de suflete, cu locuințe neînsemnate din lemn, cu câte două biserici, una în oraș, alta în cimitir - așezări care aduc mai degrabă cu satele frumoase din preajma Moscovei decât cu un oraș în toată puterea cuvântului."
The story is a reflection on the life of prisoners in Siberia, told by a former prisoner, a nobleman, who murdered his wife.
"Închisorile și sistemul de muncă silnică nu-l îndreaptă pe infractor; ele doar îl pedepsesc și apără societatea de actele viitoare ale infractorului care i-ar putea tulbura liniștea."
I didn't know that in the past the prisoners were given corporal punishments and the author gives plenty details on the matter.
"Și totuși, aceiași deținuți care, zile și nopți înaintea pedepsei, se lăsaseră pradă zbuciumului sufletesc au trecut prin această tortură cu bărbăție, până și cei mai fricoși dintre ei. [..] în general, oamenii știu să îndure durerea."
"Tirania este o deprindere; ea se dezvoltă treptat, până devine o boală. Insist pe faptul că omul cel mai bun poate deveni foarte grosolan și se poate abrutiza din cauza deprinderilor, până la stadiul de animalitate."
The second novel "Jucătorul" has intrigue but not one likeable character. I thought it would go into the psychological aspects of the mind of a player, but it doesn't go that far, the actions of the characters remain pretty superficial.
"În ținuturile îndepărtate ale Siberiei, în inima stepelor, a munților și pădurilor de nepătruns, dai când și când de orașe mici, cu o mie, cel mult două mii de suflete, cu locuințe neînsemnate din lemn, cu câte două biserici, una în oraș, alta în cimitir - așezări care aduc mai degrabă cu satele frumoase din preajma Moscovei decât cu un oraș în toată puterea cuvântului."
The story is a reflection on the life of prisoners in Siberia, told by a former prisoner, a nobleman, who murdered his wife.
"Închisorile și sistemul de muncă silnică nu-l îndreaptă pe infractor; ele doar îl pedepsesc și apără societatea de actele viitoare ale infractorului care i-ar putea tulbura liniștea."
I didn't know that in the past the prisoners were given corporal punishments and the author gives plenty details on the matter.
"Și totuși, aceiași deținuți care, zile și nopți înaintea pedepsei, se lăsaseră pradă zbuciumului sufletesc au trecut prin această tortură cu bărbăție, până și cei mai fricoși dintre ei. [..] în general, oamenii știu să îndure durerea."
"Tirania este o deprindere; ea se dezvoltă treptat, până devine o boală. Insist pe faptul că omul cel mai bun poate deveni foarte grosolan și se poate abrutiza din cauza deprinderilor, până la stadiul de animalitate."
The second novel "Jucătorul" has intrigue but not one likeable character. I thought it would go into the psychological aspects of the mind of a player, but it doesn't go that far, the actions of the characters remain pretty superficial.
February 1, 2021
Two great stories — not my favourites from Dostoyevsky but there is always something so compelling about his writing that still shines through here. Both are semi-autobiographical tales, one based on Dostoyevsky's years spent in a Siberian prison and the other his experience of gambling addiction.
The House of the Dead gave a shocking insight into the realities of a Siberian prison camp. I found the characters and the dynamics between individuals and different groups within the prison to be fascinating. The observations made about the daily experiences of the prisoners and the workings of the prison reveal a brutal life full of suffering and yet Dostoyevsky manages to give the story heart too. Three successive chapters had me ranging through a whole series of emotions: in 'Christmas' a sort of quiet despair and pity as the prisoners' attempts at merrymaking are unable to disguise their true misery; in 'The Theatricals' I was full of joy and amusement at the way in which they threw themselves into the performance of a play; in 'The Hospital' a deep feeling of disgust at the horrific conditions and outrage on behalf of the prisoners.
The narrative structure was the let down in this story, it was far too circuitous for my tastes and the narrator kept circling back to reference an anecdote he'd already told or to explain that he would talk more about the subject later. I suppose it felt more like the way someone would retell a story verbally, jumping from one subject to the next as it occurs to them, but it felt a bit sloppy and at times frustrating to read.
The Gambler was an engrossing novella which I burned through very quickly. As someone who is fairly risk-averse and gets a bit nervous even at the thought of gambling, this was an uncomfortable but enthralling read for me. It is obvious the whole time that things are not going to turn out well for Alexei, in fact for his whole group of associates there is a constant sense of impending catastrophe. Dostoyevsky is a master at exploring human psychology through his works and this story was no different, Alexei's unshakeable belief that through willpower and determination he can control his destiny and win at roulette was certainly a fascinating glimpse into the head of someone in the grip of a gambling obsession.
The House of the Dead gave a shocking insight into the realities of a Siberian prison camp. I found the characters and the dynamics between individuals and different groups within the prison to be fascinating. The observations made about the daily experiences of the prisoners and the workings of the prison reveal a brutal life full of suffering and yet Dostoyevsky manages to give the story heart too. Three successive chapters had me ranging through a whole series of emotions: in 'Christmas' a sort of quiet despair and pity as the prisoners' attempts at merrymaking are unable to disguise their true misery; in 'The Theatricals' I was full of joy and amusement at the way in which they threw themselves into the performance of a play; in 'The Hospital' a deep feeling of disgust at the horrific conditions and outrage on behalf of the prisoners.
The narrative structure was the let down in this story, it was far too circuitous for my tastes and the narrator kept circling back to reference an anecdote he'd already told or to explain that he would talk more about the subject later. I suppose it felt more like the way someone would retell a story verbally, jumping from one subject to the next as it occurs to them, but it felt a bit sloppy and at times frustrating to read.
The Gambler was an engrossing novella which I burned through very quickly. As someone who is fairly risk-averse and gets a bit nervous even at the thought of gambling, this was an uncomfortable but enthralling read for me. It is obvious the whole time that things are not going to turn out well for Alexei, in fact for his whole group of associates there is a constant sense of impending catastrophe. Dostoyevsky is a master at exploring human psychology through his works and this story was no different, Alexei's unshakeable belief that through willpower and determination he can control his destiny and win at roulette was certainly a fascinating glimpse into the head of someone in the grip of a gambling obsession.
June 5, 2024
it’s definitely not dostoevsky’s best work
September 14, 2025
It was a great idea to include these two works within the same covers, since they are thematically linked. Both deal with endurance and hope, as well as money and human dignity.
The House of the Dead is the famous fictionalised account of Dostoevsky's stint in Siberia. D made sure to cover his traces by setting Goryanchikov's 10-year imprisonment into a period way before his own time, and also casting aspersions on the mental soundness of the narrator. He is also makes a point of emphasising that, whatever the experiences of Goryanchikov, times have (surely?) changed since then.
Goryanchikov describes painstakingly the squalor of the prison life: Everything is dirty and the atmosphere is stifling. You're forced to do work that doesn't benefit yourself in any way. One has to adapt to the cynical and cruel worldview that is de rigueur among the inmates. No one gets any privacy. One has to keep oneself occupied, lest one is driven to despair. You have to garner money in order to feel like you have at least a sense of control, yet the money is bound to be confiscated unless one spends it quickly. Not to mention that you're locked up with people who are constantly inclined to display their criminal vanity and ferocious nature.
But there is also genuine humanity among the inmates, as showcased by how some of them treat our protagonist, despite the latter being seen as "a gentleman" (thus an outsider). Through these interactions, we are shown different ways in which magnanimity and humanity manifest themselves – and we are also shown what baffling deeds otherwise sensible people are capable of. The prison camp brings out extreme signs of humanity, and, mirabile dictu, it is all so very relatable.
The main thing that keeps the inmates going, even if they were assigned to the "special division" and thus were doing a life sentence, is hope and control. The prisoners become very superstitious and are likely to believe all kinds of ridiculous rumours, simply because they can't help fostering a secret wish that something radical will happen soon, something that would change everything. Despite the cynicism that pervades within the prison walls, this feeling seems to be universal. It was particularly tangible during the Christmas Eve chapter, when the holiday circumstances created painfully powerful expectations and good humour, only to be dissipated later into grim silence. Control, on the other hand, was exercised through maintaining or learning a trade during the incarceration: even though many things were forbidden and were to be punished by whipping, the prisoners went on to commit these misdemeanours in spite of the risks. They kept themselves occupied and exercised defiance against the authorities. Occasionally they would also get drunk – wherein the greatest expression of control becomes the loss thereof.
While the narrator is careful to point out the humanity within the walls, the sad fact is that any one of those prisoners wouldn't think twice if they were given a chance to escape and abandon all their "comrades". This is poignantly symbolised by the wounded eagle the prisoners kept as a pet, who, upon being finally released into the wild, didn't look back even one, but kept on going into the far distance.
The House of the Dead is gripping in its depictions, even if it was largely fictionalised (I simply don't know). However, in terms of literary art, it is somewhat lacking. Dostoevsky was still honing his craft, and here he inundates the page with long, painstaking descriptions that are not always very interesting. The prisoners' dialogue is, perhaps through Garnett's translation, quite stupid for the most part, and the way the characters are described becomes (perhaps aptly) monotonous. In this story, D is also unfortunately fond of fooling around with generalisations, praising the prisoners with the strongest superlatives now, and suddenly depriving these praises with a sudden and seemingly unheeding negative characterisation of the whole group. The depictions thus clash, and while it is true to life to have conflicting characteristics, in this work such descriptions speak of clumsiness and confusion.
Nonetheless, a fan of Dostoevsky would be a fool to miss this powerful work.
The Gambler is also about hope, but this time as a demonic force that deprives people of their control. Gone is the almost superhuman patience evinced by the inmates; now it's all needs-must-when-the-devil's-driving. What's particularly striking about this work, far superior to the first one, is that it's not simply about gambling. Gambling in this story is a facet of this powerful, propelling force within us that makes us dead certain that the future will bring us great rewards. It is sick hope, something that I would imagine Camus frowning at and drawing his philosophical conclusions from. This story is about Poe's imp of the perverse.
It is true that gambling per se plays a big part in the story, but it's ingenious how Dostoevsky blends it into the human psychology. The same strange force that propels people to gamble also drives people to pursue disasterous love and put their stakes on dubious contingencies. Dostoevsky also links this force to the general inexplicability of human motives, and thus creates a story that is far more nuanced and enlightening that one could imagine from the title (or from the silly blurb) alone. The story becomes a showcase of people's motives that are being driven by unvoiced hopes and passions and how, in that heady rush of hope, by-standers can only shake their heads and fail to understand.
The Gambler is also a story of money in relation to human dignity. Almost everyone in the work is counting on money, since their lives seem to depend on it. And I don't mean this in the ordinary way; they have risked a lot and are feverishly expecting their hopes to be realised. Only one character, the cruel Polina, seems to proudly refuse to sell her dignity for money. Assuredly, she has her own demons to fight with, but at least in this regard she stands out from the rest of the personae.
But as for the rest of the characters, they are the kind of feverish creatures that all lovers of Dostoevsky will instantly recognise. And the rush of their passions is quite captivating throughout. Many of them, especially our protagonist, are at times inexplicably repugnant, but in some ways this makes them all the more relatable, when one overcomes one's initial qualms. These people are almost possessed, and it is both sad and true to life. A fantastic work, even if a bit unfocused at times.
The House of the Dead is the famous fictionalised account of Dostoevsky's stint in Siberia. D made sure to cover his traces by setting Goryanchikov's 10-year imprisonment into a period way before his own time, and also casting aspersions on the mental soundness of the narrator. He is also makes a point of emphasising that, whatever the experiences of Goryanchikov, times have (surely?) changed since then.
Goryanchikov describes painstakingly the squalor of the prison life: Everything is dirty and the atmosphere is stifling. You're forced to do work that doesn't benefit yourself in any way. One has to adapt to the cynical and cruel worldview that is de rigueur among the inmates. No one gets any privacy. One has to keep oneself occupied, lest one is driven to despair. You have to garner money in order to feel like you have at least a sense of control, yet the money is bound to be confiscated unless one spends it quickly. Not to mention that you're locked up with people who are constantly inclined to display their criminal vanity and ferocious nature.
But there is also genuine humanity among the inmates, as showcased by how some of them treat our protagonist, despite the latter being seen as "a gentleman" (thus an outsider). Through these interactions, we are shown different ways in which magnanimity and humanity manifest themselves – and we are also shown what baffling deeds otherwise sensible people are capable of. The prison camp brings out extreme signs of humanity, and, mirabile dictu, it is all so very relatable.
The main thing that keeps the inmates going, even if they were assigned to the "special division" and thus were doing a life sentence, is hope and control. The prisoners become very superstitious and are likely to believe all kinds of ridiculous rumours, simply because they can't help fostering a secret wish that something radical will happen soon, something that would change everything. Despite the cynicism that pervades within the prison walls, this feeling seems to be universal. It was particularly tangible during the Christmas Eve chapter, when the holiday circumstances created painfully powerful expectations and good humour, only to be dissipated later into grim silence. Control, on the other hand, was exercised through maintaining or learning a trade during the incarceration: even though many things were forbidden and were to be punished by whipping, the prisoners went on to commit these misdemeanours in spite of the risks. They kept themselves occupied and exercised defiance against the authorities. Occasionally they would also get drunk – wherein the greatest expression of control becomes the loss thereof.
While the narrator is careful to point out the humanity within the walls, the sad fact is that any one of those prisoners wouldn't think twice if they were given a chance to escape and abandon all their "comrades". This is poignantly symbolised by the wounded eagle the prisoners kept as a pet, who, upon being finally released into the wild, didn't look back even one, but kept on going into the far distance.
The House of the Dead is gripping in its depictions, even if it was largely fictionalised (I simply don't know). However, in terms of literary art, it is somewhat lacking. Dostoevsky was still honing his craft, and here he inundates the page with long, painstaking descriptions that are not always very interesting. The prisoners' dialogue is, perhaps through Garnett's translation, quite stupid for the most part, and the way the characters are described becomes (perhaps aptly) monotonous. In this story, D is also unfortunately fond of fooling around with generalisations, praising the prisoners with the strongest superlatives now, and suddenly depriving these praises with a sudden and seemingly unheeding negative characterisation of the whole group. The depictions thus clash, and while it is true to life to have conflicting characteristics, in this work such descriptions speak of clumsiness and confusion.
Nonetheless, a fan of Dostoevsky would be a fool to miss this powerful work.
The Gambler is also about hope, but this time as a demonic force that deprives people of their control. Gone is the almost superhuman patience evinced by the inmates; now it's all needs-must-when-the-devil's-driving. What's particularly striking about this work, far superior to the first one, is that it's not simply about gambling. Gambling in this story is a facet of this powerful, propelling force within us that makes us dead certain that the future will bring us great rewards. It is sick hope, something that I would imagine Camus frowning at and drawing his philosophical conclusions from. This story is about Poe's imp of the perverse.
It is true that gambling per se plays a big part in the story, but it's ingenious how Dostoevsky blends it into the human psychology. The same strange force that propels people to gamble also drives people to pursue disasterous love and put their stakes on dubious contingencies. Dostoevsky also links this force to the general inexplicability of human motives, and thus creates a story that is far more nuanced and enlightening that one could imagine from the title (or from the silly blurb) alone. The story becomes a showcase of people's motives that are being driven by unvoiced hopes and passions and how, in that heady rush of hope, by-standers can only shake their heads and fail to understand.
The Gambler is also a story of money in relation to human dignity. Almost everyone in the work is counting on money, since their lives seem to depend on it. And I don't mean this in the ordinary way; they have risked a lot and are feverishly expecting their hopes to be realised. Only one character, the cruel Polina, seems to proudly refuse to sell her dignity for money. Assuredly, she has her own demons to fight with, but at least in this regard she stands out from the rest of the personae.
But as for the rest of the characters, they are the kind of feverish creatures that all lovers of Dostoevsky will instantly recognise. And the rush of their passions is quite captivating throughout. Many of them, especially our protagonist, are at times inexplicably repugnant, but in some ways this makes them all the more relatable, when one overcomes one's initial qualms. These people are almost possessed, and it is both sad and true to life. A fantastic work, even if a bit unfocused at times.
February 28, 2015
One of the lesser 'Dostoevsky's' that I read so far. But a lesser Dostoevsky is still a great work in its own right, and I believe scenes and insights from these two novels (here collected in one volume) will continue to haunt me and inform my view of life in years to come. The first of the two novels is hardly a novel, as it hasn't a narrative to speak of, but is a very involving description of life in a Syberian prisoncamp, as Dostoevsky experienced himself for several years. The protagonist is, like Dostoevsky, a gentleman, and finds himself suddenly between convicts. This is not a depressing book, though, lots of involving descriptions of the animals in the prison, the smuggling of wodka, a christmas play put up for officers, in between the soup with cockroaches and the different ways people react to bodily punishment. What Dostoevsky tries to prove here is that more evil to the human spirit than corporal punishment, is taking away his freedom, robbing him from something worthwile to do, robbing him from hope. The crushing effect of this on the spirit is something the author describes very well.
The second novel (a bit shorter) is about another type of inprisonment: gambling. The protagonist is unable to get ahead in life, because he is caught by the slavery of gambling. I always find it disturbing to read about the horrors of gambling, and was horrified by passages here.
The second novel (a bit shorter) is about another type of inprisonment: gambling. The protagonist is unable to get ahead in life, because he is caught by the slavery of gambling. I always find it disturbing to read about the horrors of gambling, and was horrified by passages here.
January 13, 2026
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella "The Gambler" written in 1867 occupies a distinctive position within the author’s literary corpus, serving both as a psychologically acute exploration of addiction and as a socio-moral commentary on European modernity. Summa sumarum he wrote this under intense financial and contractual pressure, and that shows well because it offers a concentrated examination of human irrationality, freedom, and self-destruction. Gambling in the novel functions not merely as a plot device but as a powerful metaphor for existential freedom and enslavement. Alexei repeatedly asserts his autonomy through reckless wagers, yet these acts paradoxically result in deeper subjugation—to chance, to money, and to his obsessive love for Polina Alexandrovna. The roulette table becomes a site where rational calculation collapses and human behavior is governed by impulse, desire and desperation. However, compared to Dostoevsky’s later works, "The Gambler" offers a relatively narrow philosophical scope, focusing intensely on addiction at the expense of broader ethical or metaphysical inquiry.
May 14, 2021
The gambler was wicked good
August 10, 2021
The House of the Dead ***
The Gambler ***** - amazing psychological depth and greatness.
The Gambler ***** - amazing psychological depth and greatness.
April 3, 2019
The House of the Dead was lesser than what someone would expect from Dostoevsky, the novel was poorly structured and the events didn't follow their chronological order and since it was inspired by events in his own life a reader may expect a better-written more-passionate work, but still a good one and a view on how imprisonment was in tsarian Russia.
the second shorter yet better-written novel, The Gambler, was quite good, its themes were gambling, love, debt...
I liked the parts where Alexei Ivanovich was expressing his love to Paulina:
the second shorter yet better-written novel, The Gambler, was quite good, its themes were gambling, love, debt...
I liked the parts where Alexei Ivanovich was expressing his love to Paulina:
I love without hope, and know that hereafter I shall love you a thousand times more. If ever I should kill you I should have to kill myself too. But I shall put off doing so as long as possible, for I wish to continue enjoying the unbearable pain which your coldness gives me.
It is curious and absurd how much may be expressed by the eyes of a modest and painfully chaste man, moved by love, at the very time when the man would gladly sink into the earth rather than express or betray anything by word or glance
Do you know that I shall kill you one day? I shall kill you not because I shall cease to love you or be jealous, I shall simply kill you because I have an impulse to devour you
July 20, 2023
The House of the Dead: Few can make something so bleak so humorous as Dostoevsky. And his ability to create memorable, unique characters in just a few sentences is remarkable to me. The tale, told in the first person, is from a prisoner whom recounts his first year in a Russian prison in Siberia. Full of eccentric convicts of all stripes, the prison has its own ecosystem and societal norms. The life of the imprisoned is obviously much different than the life of the free man; once a man is confined, he is never the same. Dostoevsky explains all the facets of the convict's life with his distinct style of storytelling.
The Gambler: Told from the perspective of a young tutor who develops a gambling addiction at the roulette table, The Gambler is less introspective and contemplative yet more entertaining, to me, than other Dostoevsky works I've read. The tutor, who is engaged to teach the children of a Russian general in Germany, is in love with his employer's stepdaughter. The tutor's love for the stepdaughter is all-consuming until the girl asks our protagonist to gamble for her at the roulette table. From there a seed is planted and much intrigue follows. This story, I believe, is partly autobiographical. Safe to say, the moral of the story here is that vice and addiction can be very dangerous and lead to unintended consequences.
The Gambler: Told from the perspective of a young tutor who develops a gambling addiction at the roulette table, The Gambler is less introspective and contemplative yet more entertaining, to me, than other Dostoevsky works I've read. The tutor, who is engaged to teach the children of a Russian general in Germany, is in love with his employer's stepdaughter. The tutor's love for the stepdaughter is all-consuming until the girl asks our protagonist to gamble for her at the roulette table. From there a seed is planted and much intrigue follows. This story, I believe, is partly autobiographical. Safe to say, the moral of the story here is that vice and addiction can be very dangerous and lead to unintended consequences.
March 9, 2021
Dostoevskii face referință la cauzele crimelor care au loc în societate. Și de fiecare dată când compară oamenii liberi cu cei damnați, el observă că diferența nu-i așa mare, că oamenii sunt peste tot oameni, că și cei condamnați trăiesc după aceleași norme generale, mai exact, oamenii liberi trăiesc la fel ca și cei de la ocnă. Nu întâmplător, unele crime sunt comise cu intenția de a ajunge la ocnă "ajungând aici să fugă de incomparabila ocnă din libertate".
Văzând niște trăsături comune dintre viața de la ocnă și cea "liberă", Dostoevskii atinge înainte de toate cele mai principale probleme sociale: despre relația poporului față de nobili și administrație, despre rolul banilor, despre rolul muncii, etc.
Văzând niște trăsături comune dintre viața de la ocnă și cea "liberă", Dostoevskii atinge înainte de toate cele mai principale probleme sociale: despre relația poporului față de nobili și administrație, despre rolul banilor, despre rolul muncii, etc.
January 11, 2017
The House of the Dead was a bit on the disappointing side. For something that was inspired by his own imprisonment, I had hoped for something with a bit more passion. What I got was a meandering, timeless mess of recollections that left practically no impression whatsoever. The writing was good, but if the structure isn't there, then it leaves a lot to be desired.
The far superior novel in this collection, The Gambler is a fascinating look at the dangers of gambling, as well as the kind of social scheming that I'm a great fan of. Perhaps a bit simple at times, but well constructed and engaging.
The far superior novel in this collection, The Gambler is a fascinating look at the dangers of gambling, as well as the kind of social scheming that I'm a great fan of. Perhaps a bit simple at times, but well constructed and engaging.
March 18, 2017
Couldn't bring myself to rate less than full marks. It is brilliantly written and, I imagine, a shocking revelation for the times. I have to put it down unfinished because the subject was simply too depressing for me right now.
I need to come at it with detached interest, not lay next to him while he tells it. Not sure that's possible. I'll find out in a few years...
I need to come at it with detached interest, not lay next to him while he tells it. Not sure that's possible. I'll find out in a few years...
August 26, 2022
expected so much better def not his best work
January 7, 2025
"Amintiri din casa morților"
...casa morților fiind o închisoare din Siberia. Acolo, în îndepărtata Siberie, sunt trimiși întru îndreptare elementele strâmbe ale societății rusești, cu toate națiile cuprinse în ea: ruși, polonezi, evrei, țigani, tătari etc.
Întâi de toate, Siberia ne este prezentată într-un mod ironic, ca fiind nedreaptă impresia ce ne-o făcurăm despre ea:
"E bine de știut că, în Siberia, frigul e mai ușor de îndurat când ai o slujbă călduță.
...în Siberia poți să trăiești de minune. Clima e nemaipomenită; negustorii sunt bogați și primitori; vânatul umblă pe străzi și mai că nu se ciocnește de vânător. Șampania curge valuri. Cerealele se găsesc din belșug...Într-un cuvânt, e un pământ binecuvântat."
Într-o ocnă de pe acest pământ binecuvântat, ajunge Aleksandr Petrovici să-și ispășească zece ani de pedeapsă. Într-un loc plin de tot felul de oameni, de tot felul de caractere, pedepsiți pentru tot felul de crime și alte nelegiuiri, Aleksandr învață să se adapteze și să supraviețuiască unei societăți ciuntite.
"Da, rezistent mai este omul! Este singura ființă care se poate adapta la orice și aceasta-i fără doar și poate cea mai bună definiție a lui."
Unii se prefac nebuni, alții chiar sunt, unii se prefac bolnavi (știut fiind că în spital poți fi tratat aproape omenește), alții se satură și încearcă să evadeze, unora chiar le reușește pentru scurt timp, apoi sunt prinși și "premiați" cu vergi pe spinare.
"Chiar dacă un călău ia mită pentru a pedepsi mai ușor, totuși prima lovitură este dată cu mare avânt și din toate puterile. Loviturile următoare sunt mai moi, mai ales dacă a fost plătit înainte. Dar prima lovitură, plătită sau nu, îi aparține. "Ține-te bine, te ard!". E greu de imaginat cât de mult se poate desfigura natura omenească."
Dar într-o zi, dacă nu mureai între timp, venea eliberarea.
" Închisoarea te învață să fii răbdător. Am văzut o dată cum își lua rămas-bun de la tovarăși un deținut care ispășise douăzeci de ani de temniță și care urma să fie eliberat. Erau unii care țineau minte cum sosise aici, tânăr, fără griji, negândindu-se nici la crima sa, nici la pedeapsă. Ieșea acum un bărbat cărunt, cu fața posacă și tristă.
Da, în locul acesta poți învăța ce-i răbdarea."
"Jucătorul"
La prima vedere, Aleksei Ivanovici pare a fi doar un profesor ce are în grijă copiii unui general, dar apoi se va dovedi că poate fi la fel de bine un milionar sau cerșetor, o stare fluctuantă la fel ca ruleta rusească de care nu poate sta departe.
Dar și viața generalului seamănă cu o ruletă rusească: acum are avere, dar apoi averea se pierde, se scurge prin multe găuri. Of, dacă ar muri bunica (baboulinka) bătrână și bolnavă, atunci moștenirea ar readuce situația înfloritoare în viața generalului.
Ruleta se învârte și înainte, și înapoi. Bunica învinge boala, dar face cunoștință cu ruleta rusească și ies scântei. Aleksei încearcă să-i ajute pe alții, dar cum poți face asta când tu ai nevoie de ajutor?
"Trăiesc într-o neliniște permanentă, joc pe mizele cele mai mici și aștept ceva, calculez, stau zile întregi lângă masa de joc și studiez jocul, chiar și în vis văd jocul, dar cu toate astea parc-aș fi amorțit, parcă m-aș fi împotmolit într-un fel de noroi.
Mâine, mâine totul se va termina."
...casa morților fiind o închisoare din Siberia. Acolo, în îndepărtata Siberie, sunt trimiși întru îndreptare elementele strâmbe ale societății rusești, cu toate națiile cuprinse în ea: ruși, polonezi, evrei, țigani, tătari etc.
Întâi de toate, Siberia ne este prezentată într-un mod ironic, ca fiind nedreaptă impresia ce ne-o făcurăm despre ea:
"E bine de știut că, în Siberia, frigul e mai ușor de îndurat când ai o slujbă călduță.
...în Siberia poți să trăiești de minune. Clima e nemaipomenită; negustorii sunt bogați și primitori; vânatul umblă pe străzi și mai că nu se ciocnește de vânător. Șampania curge valuri. Cerealele se găsesc din belșug...Într-un cuvânt, e un pământ binecuvântat."
Într-o ocnă de pe acest pământ binecuvântat, ajunge Aleksandr Petrovici să-și ispășească zece ani de pedeapsă. Într-un loc plin de tot felul de oameni, de tot felul de caractere, pedepsiți pentru tot felul de crime și alte nelegiuiri, Aleksandr învață să se adapteze și să supraviețuiască unei societăți ciuntite.
"Da, rezistent mai este omul! Este singura ființă care se poate adapta la orice și aceasta-i fără doar și poate cea mai bună definiție a lui."
Unii se prefac nebuni, alții chiar sunt, unii se prefac bolnavi (știut fiind că în spital poți fi tratat aproape omenește), alții se satură și încearcă să evadeze, unora chiar le reușește pentru scurt timp, apoi sunt prinși și "premiați" cu vergi pe spinare.
"Chiar dacă un călău ia mită pentru a pedepsi mai ușor, totuși prima lovitură este dată cu mare avânt și din toate puterile. Loviturile următoare sunt mai moi, mai ales dacă a fost plătit înainte. Dar prima lovitură, plătită sau nu, îi aparține. "Ține-te bine, te ard!". E greu de imaginat cât de mult se poate desfigura natura omenească."
Dar într-o zi, dacă nu mureai între timp, venea eliberarea.
" Închisoarea te învață să fii răbdător. Am văzut o dată cum își lua rămas-bun de la tovarăși un deținut care ispășise douăzeci de ani de temniță și care urma să fie eliberat. Erau unii care țineau minte cum sosise aici, tânăr, fără griji, negândindu-se nici la crima sa, nici la pedeapsă. Ieșea acum un bărbat cărunt, cu fața posacă și tristă.
Da, în locul acesta poți învăța ce-i răbdarea."
"Jucătorul"
La prima vedere, Aleksei Ivanovici pare a fi doar un profesor ce are în grijă copiii unui general, dar apoi se va dovedi că poate fi la fel de bine un milionar sau cerșetor, o stare fluctuantă la fel ca ruleta rusească de care nu poate sta departe.
Dar și viața generalului seamănă cu o ruletă rusească: acum are avere, dar apoi averea se pierde, se scurge prin multe găuri. Of, dacă ar muri bunica (baboulinka) bătrână și bolnavă, atunci moștenirea ar readuce situația înfloritoare în viața generalului.
Ruleta se învârte și înainte, și înapoi. Bunica învinge boala, dar face cunoștință cu ruleta rusească și ies scântei. Aleksei încearcă să-i ajute pe alții, dar cum poți face asta când tu ai nevoie de ajutor?
"Trăiesc într-o neliniște permanentă, joc pe mizele cele mai mici și aștept ceva, calculez, stau zile întregi lângă masa de joc și studiez jocul, chiar și în vis văd jocul, dar cu toate astea parc-aș fi amorțit, parcă m-aș fi împotmolit într-un fel de noroi.
Mâine, mâine totul se va termina."
August 6, 2025
Here’s to the most unwavering story about humanity in the most dehumanize condition ever!
The House of the Dead is a personal experience of Dostoevsky himself during a ten-year penal servitude in Siberian labor camp, disguised as a fictional character Alexander Petrovich. The book offers us a non-linear plot with a series of moral and spiritual reflections and character’s portrayals on prison life.
This isn’t just a book about convicts and how horrible their everyday life were. The suffering and sorrows each characters endure are depicted as a means to brought up the image of what it is being a real human being even the conditions are prone to stripped away their identity, freedom, and dignity. I learn that Dostoevsky never romanticized suffering, he more likely shows that “even in prison, man is still a man” and “by no fetters will you make him forget that he is a human being”. These statements are the centre idea of the book, mainly also to criticized the severe social injustice in Russian confinement.
On the other side, The Gambler had much darker narrative development. It’s the opposite of what Dostoevsky unfolds in The House of the Dead, and by this i realized why this book contained both of the story, simply to exhibit the comparison between inner enslavement and external freedom from two different perspective. in The Gambler, “imprisonment” is reflected through the character’s gambling addictions. Shaping a different taste of chaos and depravity than what’s being shown in The House of the Dead. Dostoevsky is still the most prominent author in depicting the deepest state of human’s soul, translating sorrow and turmoil into something in his books that can easily shook us who read and examine it.
The House of the Dead is a personal experience of Dostoevsky himself during a ten-year penal servitude in Siberian labor camp, disguised as a fictional character Alexander Petrovich. The book offers us a non-linear plot with a series of moral and spiritual reflections and character’s portrayals on prison life.
This isn’t just a book about convicts and how horrible their everyday life were. The suffering and sorrows each characters endure are depicted as a means to brought up the image of what it is being a real human being even the conditions are prone to stripped away their identity, freedom, and dignity. I learn that Dostoevsky never romanticized suffering, he more likely shows that “even in prison, man is still a man” and “by no fetters will you make him forget that he is a human being”. These statements are the centre idea of the book, mainly also to criticized the severe social injustice in Russian confinement.
On the other side, The Gambler had much darker narrative development. It’s the opposite of what Dostoevsky unfolds in The House of the Dead, and by this i realized why this book contained both of the story, simply to exhibit the comparison between inner enslavement and external freedom from two different perspective. in The Gambler, “imprisonment” is reflected through the character’s gambling addictions. Shaping a different taste of chaos and depravity than what’s being shown in The House of the Dead. Dostoevsky is still the most prominent author in depicting the deepest state of human’s soul, translating sorrow and turmoil into something in his books that can easily shook us who read and examine it.
May 3, 2021
I enjoyed the Gambler more than the House of the Dead, which was too prosaic, too without hope or flow; it’s a journal with some interesting insights
His style is less impressive than I recall
Such calm and reflective notes and journals of this time
“The idea has occurred to me that if you wanted to crush a man absolutely, give him meaningless labour - give him work of an absolutely completely useless and irrational character”
The time in the hospital is most interesting - where he can learn from others about corporal punishment, the relative severity (birch so much worse than sticks) and encountering those who are mad
203 The psychological reflections on torture and torturers - how good people can be torturers - pre dates the American experimented of the 50s and 60s
The executioner who is compelled - other convicts
204 Bribery of the executioners -
You have eaten is with your iron beaks” say the convicts
274 “how can you be our comrade?” Class in Russia
Then he just leaves. A strange and muted account.
The Gambler
333 Russians as dissipates of capital - national stereotype of wastefulness- “I really don’t know which is more disgusting; the Russian unseemliness or the German faculty of accumulation by honest toil”
378 Granny/Auntie is a magnificent Russian battleship of a woman
Granny: “oh you can tell the bird by it’s flight. One can see she has a sharp claw. “
After his fall: “only Russians can contain so many opposites in them at the same time”
His style is less impressive than I recall
Such calm and reflective notes and journals of this time
“The idea has occurred to me that if you wanted to crush a man absolutely, give him meaningless labour - give him work of an absolutely completely useless and irrational character”
The time in the hospital is most interesting - where he can learn from others about corporal punishment, the relative severity (birch so much worse than sticks) and encountering those who are mad
203 The psychological reflections on torture and torturers - how good people can be torturers - pre dates the American experimented of the 50s and 60s
The executioner who is compelled - other convicts
204 Bribery of the executioners -
You have eaten is with your iron beaks” say the convicts
274 “how can you be our comrade?” Class in Russia
Then he just leaves. A strange and muted account.
The Gambler
333 Russians as dissipates of capital - national stereotype of wastefulness- “I really don’t know which is more disgusting; the Russian unseemliness or the German faculty of accumulation by honest toil”
378 Granny/Auntie is a magnificent Russian battleship of a woman
Granny: “oh you can tell the bird by it’s flight. One can see she has a sharp claw. “
After his fall: “only Russians can contain so many opposites in them at the same time”
January 12, 2024
These novels are stand-out classics that reflect the depths of human nature and morality that have been influenced by Dostoevsky's biographical struggles and show his psychological growth.
In both works, Dostoevsky's psychological growth is apparent in his nuanced portrayal of characters, his exploration of moral dilemmas, and his deep engagement with the complexities of human nature. These serve as a testament to Dostoevsky's evolving understanding of the human condition, shaped by his own biographical struggles and philosophical inquiries.
Although I found The Gambler a weaker novel I could not help but be enthralled by the descent into obsession and self-destructive behavior. Dostoevsky's portrayal of the character's inner struggles highlights the darker aspects of human nature which is a theme throughout both novels.
The House of the Dead, compared to earlier short stories like 'An Honest Thief' presents a more realistic and nuanced view of poverty and criminality compared to Dostoevsky's earlier romanticized depictions. The novel reflects a shift in his understanding of human nature, acknowledging the impact of external circumstances on individuals' actions and challenging the notion that poverty alone is a reliable indicator of moral character.
In both works, Dostoevsky's psychological growth is apparent in his nuanced portrayal of characters, his exploration of moral dilemmas, and his deep engagement with the complexities of human nature. These serve as a testament to Dostoevsky's evolving understanding of the human condition, shaped by his own biographical struggles and philosophical inquiries.
Although I found The Gambler a weaker novel I could not help but be enthralled by the descent into obsession and self-destructive behavior. Dostoevsky's portrayal of the character's inner struggles highlights the darker aspects of human nature which is a theme throughout both novels.
The House of the Dead, compared to earlier short stories like 'An Honest Thief' presents a more realistic and nuanced view of poverty and criminality compared to Dostoevsky's earlier romanticized depictions. The novel reflects a shift in his understanding of human nature, acknowledging the impact of external circumstances on individuals' actions and challenging the notion that poverty alone is a reliable indicator of moral character.
July 26, 2022
I don't really enjoy this book. What I find flawed from The House of the Dead is the story doesn't really focus on characters development or focus on the main characters story plotlines. There are too manu jumping scenes from one to another. I wish it focused more on one struggling character (which is the main character, (the guy in the prison) such as his personal thoughts, more philosophical views on his condition, and really describing how he was really thinking in the prison). Meanwhile, The Gambler could have been either really an epic love story or tragic one between Polina and Alexey. I feel like it's an okay ending between them. It's not (for sure) a tragic one. I still like the Gambler kinda better than The House of the Dead because I can see Dostoevsky was really being an addict (gambling way too much). Did he have a happy life? It's just a matter of perspective, but I wish I could tell him, even in his afterlife, people will still remember his life.
January 19, 2022
The House of the Dead is a novel but it is based on the four years the author spent in prison himself.An educated upper class man[as is Dostoevsky] is condemned to live among peasants and brutal guards and this is the story of hois survival. The book explores the main character's observations in minute detail of the physical trauma, bitterness and loss of faith in humanity. An excellent read and despite the ae of the book it still has the capability to shock and inspire
The Gambler is quite different relating to a Russian family in a German spa town but centred around the casino and how it effects the group as a whole. It is a story again based on Doestoevsky's experience with gambling.A gripping story full of psychologival interest and how gambling effects each of the characters. An excellent read
The Gambler is quite different relating to a Russian family in a German spa town but centred around the casino and how it effects the group as a whole. It is a story again based on Doestoevsky's experience with gambling.A gripping story full of psychologival interest and how gambling effects each of the characters. An excellent read
January 17, 2025
Although the book doesn't follow a singular plot, instead a collection of stories based on the narrator's observation, I quite enjoyed this book! Favorite chapters (ordered by their number):
- part I. chapter II: First Impressions [1]
- part I. chapter III: First Impressions [2]
- part I. chapter XI: The Theatricals
- part II chapter II: The Hospital [2]
- part II chapter III: The Hospital [3]
- part II chapter VI: Prison Animals
- part II chapter X: How I Left Prison
There are many characters, though only a few are explored in a considerable depth. Some reminded me of Dostoevsky's other books—'A' reminded me of Dmitry from TBK, Akim Akimitch of Myshkin from The Idiot; and I found some characters felt familiar as if I've encountered them in previous Dostoevsky's works I've read.
- part I. chapter II: First Impressions [1]
- part I. chapter III: First Impressions [2]
- part I. chapter XI: The Theatricals
- part II chapter II: The Hospital [2]
- part II chapter III: The Hospital [3]
- part II chapter VI: Prison Animals
- part II chapter X: How I Left Prison
There are many characters, though only a few are explored in a considerable depth. Some reminded me of Dostoevsky's other books—'A' reminded me of Dmitry from TBK, Akim Akimitch of Myshkin from The Idiot; and I found some characters felt familiar as if I've encountered them in previous Dostoevsky's works I've read.
September 11, 2018
I am a huge Dostoevsky fan, and yet I found The House of the Dead a tad disappointing. It had its moments and was interesting, but I felt it lacked the depth of some of his other works, so I don't recommend it to anyone except die-hard fans. On the other hand, The Gambler was much more on form for him. It was a gripping tale with an interesting protagonist, and I was keen to see how things would work out for him as the story progressed. I am giving this 4 stars, but really it is 3.5 for The House of the Dead and 4.5 for The Gambler.
September 24, 2022
Interesting early work. The House of the Dead lacks some of the emotional insanity of later works, probably due to lack of females, but themes about religion and nationality that he would explore later come to the fore. Kind of gruesome with patches of light. The Gambler is more like the later style, with some real comic dialog and funny characters. I don't know of another work that explores gambling addiction so thoroughly. Also, I've never fully understood roulette until I read his explanation. An excellent read, altogether, and makes me want to re-explore the better known classics.
March 28, 2025
The sorry tale of a gambling man, of a type so familiar to Tsarist Russia as it no doubt is to any place at any time. Those expecting the portrayal of a louche degenerate may be in for a surprise here, as our protagonist is a seemingly straight-and-narrow type who just happens to fall into the habit.
The writing bears the marks of real pain as you feel Dostoevsky surely does know of what he speaks. "Tomorrow, tomorrow it will all be over!"
The writing bears the marks of real pain as you feel Dostoevsky surely does know of what he speaks. "Tomorrow, tomorrow it will all be over!"
December 9, 2025
Note: more of a 3.5 than a 3.
Overall I liked this book. Dostoyevsky is an absolute master of writing and he is one of my favourite writers of all time. But, as gripping as this book was, it wasn't as exciting for me to read as some of his other work. Some passages in this book will remain with me for many years (like the corporeal punishment chapter), as will some of the apparently simple but inherently poetic sentences in this book.
Overall I liked this book. Dostoyevsky is an absolute master of writing and he is one of my favourite writers of all time. But, as gripping as this book was, it wasn't as exciting for me to read as some of his other work. Some passages in this book will remain with me for many years (like the corporeal punishment chapter), as will some of the apparently simple but inherently poetic sentences in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2025
either lot of things happened in soviet prison over 20 years or it just felt that way, the gambler was a little more exciting but with this author you need to know his history. Lots of historical context and not that hard to read
January 6, 2018
First book of 2018. Brutal, harrowing and essential.
February 9, 2020
The House of the Dead was extraordinary.
The Gambler so-so, although I liked how the Germans were described. Spot on, even 150+ years later.
The Gambler so-so, although I liked how the Germans were described. Spot on, even 150+ years later.
October 14, 2022
notes from a dead house — 2 stars. there’s not much plot and it seems all over the place…
the gambler — 3.5 stars! bloody wicked. literally intriguing storyline and atmosphere.
the gambler — 3.5 stars! bloody wicked. literally intriguing storyline and atmosphere.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews