Novel or Counterfeit?

05-24-2005, 07:03 PM

Dostoyevsky's enigmatic work, "The Gambler" is neither a novel nor not a novel. It is a counterfeit novel and it is intended to be read as such. I come to that conclusion because it is clear from his other works that this author knows exactly how to write a novel and has done so on many other occasions --- so if in this case he wrote something very strange that starts out as if it were a novel and then collapses in on itself I have to assume he did so on purpose...Does anyone else read the story like this besides Peter Hodgson and myself?

Asim · 07-11-2005, 11:38 AM

well, ain't it beautiful?

Dulcinea · 08-02-2006, 06:10 AM

Considering he only had a month to write this, I don't think he started writing The Gambler as a long novel.

dukadenis · 09-24-2008, 11:12 PM

I read the story its very beautiful,specialy when he describle the old princes loosing her rubla after she was lucky the first time.

bazarov · 09-25-2008, 06:47 AM

It's his description of his feelings he had while he was gambling, so he didn't need that much time or inspiration to write it.

Gladys · 09-27-2008, 01:25 AM

I read 'The Gambler' a decade ago and I still remember my shock when Alexei Ivanovich runs off to Paris with Mademoiselle Blanche De Cominges.

*Classic*Charm* · 12-20-2008, 01:47 AM

I'm actually a touch confused about her (Blanche de Cominges)- what exactly does she do? Is she a prostitute or a paid companion or just a huge mooch?

Gladys · 12-22-2008, 02:50 AM

Blanche de Cominges is a femme fatale who uses her seductive powers to survive comfortably in a hard world. Her victims, including young Alexei Ivanovich, are invariably complicit in her seduction.

bazarov · 12-22-2008, 10:57 AM

Young starlet is now days term; I believe.

weltanschauung · 12-22-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Classic*Charm*

I'm actually a touch confused about her (Blanche de Cominges)- what exactly does she do? Is she a prostitute or a paid companion or just a huge mooch?

to quote machado de assis:
"marcela amou-me durante quinze meses e onze contos de reis"
(marcela loved me for 15 months and 11 thousand quid)

*Classic*Charm* · 12-24-2008, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weltanschauung

to quote machado de assis:
"marcela amou-me durante quinze meses e onze contos de reis"
(marcela loved me for 15 months and 11 thousand quid)

Hahaha

Thanks everyone, that's what I thought but I wanted to make sure!

Red-Headed · 06-06-2009, 05:20 PM

I bought a second-hand hardback copy of Poor Folk & The Gambler (one volume) nearly a decade ago. It has an introduction by C.J. Hogarth & was published by Everyman's Library, J.M. Dent & Sons. It is in good condition. I have no idea who the translator was though. Many of the early translations of Dostoyevsky into English were by Constance Garnett. Has anyone seen a copy like this? It is a brown (cloth) hardback 17.4 centimetres long by 11 wide & a couple of cm thick.

05-24-2005, 07:03 PM	#1
Richard Winston Guest Posts: n/a	Novel or Counterfeit? Dostoyevsky's enigmatic work, "The Gambler" is neither a novel nor not a novel. It is a counterfeit novel and it is intended to be read as such. I come to that conclusion because it is clear from his other works that this author knows exactly how to write a novel and has done so on many other occasions --- so if in this case he wrote something very strange that starts out as if it were a novel and then collapses in on itself I have to assume he did so on purpose...Does anyone else read the story like this besides Peter Hodgson and myself?

09-25-2008, 06:47 AM	#5
bazarov Ataraxia Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In spleen Posts: 2,188	It's his description of his feelings he had while he was gambling, so he didn't need that much time or inspiration to write it. __________________ At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness, During times of heavy loss And when you're sad The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay. To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong. If you need me urgent, send me a PM

12-20-2008, 01:47 AM	#7
ClassicCharm* Procrastinator General Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Leaning on this broken fence, between Past and Present tense Posts: 3,830 Blog Entries: 12	I'm actually a touch confused about her (Blanche de Cominges)- what exactly does she do? Is she a prostitute or a paid companion or just a huge mooch? __________________ I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight, Waiting for a winter to be done. Why do I still see you in every mirrored window, In all that I could never overcome? $C:\Documents and Settings\Lindsay\My Documents\My Pictures\Metamorphosis of Narcissus.jpg$ It's a Hard Parade, just Be Courageous

12-22-2008, 10:57 AM	#9
bazarov Ataraxia Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In spleen Posts: 2,188	Young starlet is now days term; I believe. __________________ At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness, During times of heavy loss And when you're sad The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay. To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong. If you need me urgent, send me a PM

06-06-2009, 05:20 PM	#12
Red-Headed A Sudden Scholar Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: In Orbit... Posts: 200 Blog Entries: 82	I bought a second-hand hardback copy of Poor Folk & The Gambler (one volume) nearly a decade ago. It has an introduction by C.J. Hogarth & was published by Everyman's Library, J.M. Dent & Sons. It is in good condition. I have no idea who the translator was though. Many of the early translations of Dostoyevsky into English were by Constance Garnett. Has anyone seen a copy like this? It is a brown (cloth) hardback 17.4 centimetres long by 11 wide & a couple of cm thick. __________________ "See the value of imagination" Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Silver Blaze Last edited by Red-Headed; 06-06-2009 at 05:22 PM.

07-11-2005, 11:38 AM	#2
Asim Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2	well, ain't it beautiful?

08-02-2006, 06:10 AM	#3
Dulcinea Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5	Considering he only had a month to write this, I don't think he started writing The Gambler as a long novel.

09-24-2008, 11:12 PM	#4
dukadenis Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2	I read the story its very beautiful,specialy when he describle the old princes loosing her rubla after she was lucky the first time.

09-27-2008, 01:25 AM	#6
Gladys the beloved: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 825	I read 'The Gambler' a decade ago and I still remember my shock when Alexei Ivanovich runs off to Paris with Mademoiselle Blanche De Cominges.

12-22-2008, 02:50 AM	#8
Gladys the beloved: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 825	Blanche de Cominges is a femme fatale who uses her seductive powers to survive comfortably in a hard world. Her victims, including young Alexei Ivanovich, are invariably complicit in her seduction.

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