Russian Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian writer, publicist, classic of world literature, and one of the most famous and widely read Russian authors abroad. He had a tremendous impact on world culture and philosophy. The Gambler, first published in 1866, is probably Dostoevsky's most autobiographical book. A story of excitement and madness, in which the game becomes not only an all-consuming passion, but the only essence of existence and the only possible meaning of existence. The main character, Alexei Ivanovich, a home teacher who lives with the family of a retired general in a luxury hotel in the German resort of Rouletenburg, is in love with Polina, the general's stepdaughter. Trying to help Polina, Alexey Ivanovich wins a huge amount of money for her. Later on, he becomes a gambler himself and tries his luck at roulette.