Dostoevsky's The Gambler: An Autobiographical Novel *In-Person* *NEW*

Fyodor Dostoevsky's autobiographical novel The Gambler (1866) vividly reflects his gambling struggles and complex relationship with his beloved Polina Suslova. Polina, a highly emancipated and educated woman, was the Sister of Nadezhda Suslova, The First Female Medical Doctor in the nineteenth-century Russian Empire. In the novel, Dostoevsky bids farewell to Polina, concluding a relationship marked by intense and exhausting dynamics for both. This farewell sets the stage for his last marriage to Anna G. Snitkina, who also served as the stenographer for The Gambler and was aware of this problematic relationship. Unlike his turbulent times with Polina, Anna brought Dostoevsky peace and a sense of stability, greatly helping him to overcome his gambling addiction. Anna's loving support continued throughout Dostoevsky's creation of later masterpieces, most notably The Brothers Karamazov (1880). When writing The Gambler, Dostoevsky was deeply in debt and under immense pressure to complete the novel quickly. Despite these challenges, the work remains a testament to his exploration of human nature and contribution to the feminist impulse and women's independence, which he always highly esteemed. Instructor: Elena V. Shabliy

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