Which Dostoevsky novel centers on the gambler Alexey Ivanovich?

Dostoevsky’s novel centered on the gambler Alexey Ivanovich is The Gambler.

Published in 1867, the novel is narrated by Alexey Ivanovich, a young tutor employed by a financially troubled Russian general. Much of the action takes place in the fictional German resort of Roulettenburg, where roulette becomes both a literal game and a symbol of obsession.

The book reflects Dostoevsky’s own severe gambling problems, especially his experiences at European casinos. He wrote it under financial pressure for the publisher Fyodor Stellovsky, using a stenographer who later became his wife, Anna Snitkina.

The Gambler is sometimes mistaken for a novella because of its compact length, but it is generally classified as a novel. Its fast composition and gambling theme also distinguish it from Dostoevsky’s larger psychological novels.