When writing his novella The Gambler in 1866, Fyodor Dostoevsky remained true to the old adage write what you know. Critically acclaimed for its insight into the mind of a gambling addict, the book offers a fascinating glimpse into Dostoevsky's personal struggle with gambling. The manuscript, in fact, was written to pay off a debt he owed to his publisher. A decade of Dostoevsky's adult life was consumed by gambling, yet the reason behind his...