/lit/ - Literature

[Anonymous No.22897363]

>"Desperate for more money to avoid debtors' prison and to support his brother's family, Dostoevsky gambled one more time: this time with a predatory publisher named Fyodor Stellovsky. In return for Stellovsky settling his debts of 3,000 rubles (approx. $80,000), Dostoevsky would produce a new novel within the year. If he did not meet the deadline of November 1, 1866, Dostoyevsky would lose all publishing rights to his past and future works for nine years."

>"As a friend suggested, Dostoevsky hired a stenographer named Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina, and dictated the book for her to type. Anna, despite her great admiration for his writing, had mixed feelings about him personally: “I didn't like him; he made me feel depressed.” He would often tell her that he should simply abscond to Constantinople or Jerusalem, or go all-in on roulette instead of writing. But they made it.The Gambler was completed in just 26 days and ready for submission - but the unscrupulous Stellovsky had since closed his offices and fled to the provinces. At Anna's suggestion, Dostoevsky ran to a local notary to submit his manuscript - just two hours before the deadline. The courts would later find in Dostoevsky's favor - and also win him the wager."

>"Dostoevsky married Anna a few weeks later at Trinity Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. During their honeymoon, they spent five weeks at Baden-Baden, where Dostoevsky lost all his money once again at the roulette tables. They were forced to pawn Anna's wedding ring, earrings, brooch and then finally, Dostoevsky's overcoat and Anna's lace shawl and spare frock. Not for the last time, Dostoevsky swore to Anna that he would never gamble again. They could not return to Russia for fear that Dostoevsky would be arrested at the border and sent to debtors' prison. So the two continued their tour across Europe, with almost daily trips to pawnbrokers to fund Dostoevsky's gambling."

What the fuck was his problem?

[Anonymous No.22897379]

>What the fuck was his problem?
gambling, clearly

[Anonymous No.22897387]

>>22897363
Gambling

[Anonymous No.22897442]

>>22897363

[Anonymous No.22897473]

>>22897363
i suggest you read the gambler, it's the best of his i've read.

[Anonymous No.22897517]

>>22897363
Addiction is crazy, people can do incredible things (for better and for worse) to fuel it.

[Anonymous No.22897830]

>>22897363
Wow, I didn't know it was that bad.