The Gambler S Dream A Novel

"Travelling in the retinue of an impoverished Russian General, young teacher Alexei seeks solace in the dream of a life-changing win at the roulette table. As the general sinks deeper into debt and the long-awaited inheritance from his ailing grandmother fails to materialise, Alexei's frustrated financial and sentimental aspirations gain momentum. When Grandmama herself turns up at Roulettenburg and starts gambling away her family possessions with Alexei's assistance, all those who seek to gain from her death look on with ill-concealed horror. And as passion, hatred and unadulterated greed rise to the surface, Dostoevsky creates a darkly psychological novel of truly extraordinary vision." "Based on Dostoevsky's own troubled experiences at the gaming tables, The Gambler is a telling portrayal of a man crippled by the overwhelming powers of addiction and obsession." --Book Jacket.

Everyone thinks they know the history of the Las Vegas Strip. But the real story is both fascinating and not well known. What was there before the Bellagio, the Wynn, the Venetian, or those empty plots of land that look out of place? Why is the Flamingo one of the oldest and most surviving hotels on the boulevard? From conception to implosion, you get the detailed histories of the hotels built during those formative years, including the El Rancho Vegas, Hotel Last Frontier, Flamingo, Thunderbird, Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn, Sahara, Sands, Royal Nevada, Riviera, and the Dunes. Included in these histories are architectural designs, the neon signage, and how each of the hotels evolved. This book also includes rarely seen, historic imagery. The dreamers, who saw the future like few others and who built these hotels, helped turn a five-mile stretch of blacktop highway into the Entertainment Capital of the World. This is the story of the first twenty-five years of the Classic Las Vegas Strip--how it began, and how it grew.

This book explores the rise and increased acceptance of gambling in America, particularly the growth of the game of poker, as a means for examining changes to the American Dream and the risk society. Poker both critiques and reinterprets the myth of the American Dream, putting greater emphasis on the importance of luck and risk management while deemphasizing the importance of honesty and hard work. Duncan discusses the history of gambling in America, changes to the rhetoric surrounding gambling, the depiction of poker in the Wild West as portrayed in film, its recent rise in popularity on television, its current place in post-modern America on the internet, and future implications.

Ubiquitous illegal lotteries known as policy flourished in Chicago’s Black community during the overlapping waves of the Great Migration. Policy “queens” owned stakes in lucrative operations while women writers and clerks canvased the neighborhood, passed out winnings, and kept the books. Elizabeth Schroeder Schlabach examines the complexities of Black women’s work in policy gambling. Policy provided Black women with a livelihood for themselves and their families. At the same time, navigating gender expectations, aggressive policing, and other hazards of the infromal economy led them to refashion ideas about Black womanhood and respectability. Policy earnings also funded above-board enterprises ranging from neighborhood businesses to philanthropic institutions, and Schlabach delves into the various ways Black women straddled the illegal policy business and reputable community involvement. Vivid and revealing, Dream Books and Gamblers tells the stories of Black women in the underground economy and how they used their work to balance the demands of living and laboring in Black Chicago.

Meet Kim, a fairly ordinary, middle-aged woman with a job, two adult children, and a difficult husband. For enjoyment, she plays the stock market, buys expensive handbags and sneaks an occasional cigarette. But when a casino opens within driving distance of her house, her life as she knows it will soon be over. This is a story of addiction. This is a story of one woman's descent into gambling hell, where the compulsion to play slots and power machines is so great, she will risk it all in order to place just one more bet.

The Gambler and Other Stories is Fyodor Dostoyevsky's collection of one novella and six short stories reflecting his own life - indeed, 'The Gambler', a story of a young tutor in the employment of a formerly wealthy Russian General, was written under a strict deadline so he could pay off his roulette debts. This volume includes 'Bobok', the tale of a frustrated writer visiting a cemetery and enjoying the gossip of the dead; 'The Dream of a Ridiculous Man', the story of one man's plan to commit suicide and the troubling dream that follows, as well as 'A Christmas Party and a Wedding', 'A Nasty Story' and 'The Meek One'.

"The Gambler" by way of Katherine Cecil Thurston is a compelling novel that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the unpredictable nature of destiny. At the coronary heart of the story is the enigmatic man or woman of the gambler, whose lifestyles turns into a captivating exploration of danger, passion, and effect. Set in opposition to the backdrop of a society inquisitive about threat and success, Thurston weaves a narrative that takes readers into the glamorous yet perilous world of playing. The protagonist's adventure is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, mirroring the uncertainties that come with the pursuit of fortune. Thurston's storytelling prowess shines as she skillfully portrays the characters' vulnerabilities and dreams. Themes of love, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of fulfillment are intricately intertwined, creating a wealthy tapestry that maintains readers engaged from begin to finish. As the gambler navigates the challenges of each the gaming table and private relationships, Thurston masterfully explores the human circumstance and the results of alternatives made in the warmness of ardour.