The Gambler Wife by Andrew D. Kaufman

Release: August 31, 2021
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

A revealing new portrait of the courageous woman who became a pioneer in Russian literary history

In the fall of 1866, stenographer Anna Snitkina applied for a position with a writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Snitkina had come of age during Russia’s first feminist movement. And Dostoyevsky, a notorious radical turned acclaimed novelist had impressed her with his visionary fiction. Yet in person she found the writer terribly unhappy, epileptic , and a gambling addict. Alarmed by his condition, Anna became his trusted confidante, and then his wife. Finally she became his business manager launching one of literature’s most turbulent and fascinating marriages.

The Gambler Wife offers a fresh and captivating portrait of Anna Dostoyevskaya. She reversed the novelist’s freefall and cleared the way for two of the most notable careers in Russian letters ,her husband’s and her own. Drawing on diaries, and other little-known archival sources, Andrew Kaufman reveals how Anna warded off creditors, family members, and her greatest romantic rival. And she kept the young family afloat through years of poverty and exile. In a series of dramatic set pieces, we watch as she navigates the writer’s self-destructive binges in the casinos of Europe until he conquers his addiction. Finally, Anna frees her husband from predatory contracts by founding her own publishing house. As such, Anna is the first solo female publisher in Russian history.

About the Author:

Andrew D. Kaufman is an associate professor, in Slavic Languages and Literatures. He is also an assistant director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia. A PhD in Slavic languages and literatures from Stanford University, Kaufman is the author of Give War and Peace a Chance, Tolstoyan Wisdom for Troubled Times and Understanding Tolstoy.

Besides, his work has been featured on Today, NPR, and in The Washington Post. And he has served as a Russian literature expert for Oprah’s Book Club. Also, Kaufman is the creator of Books Behind Bars, introducing incarcerated youth to the writings of Dostoyevsky and other authors.

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The Gambler Wife Review:

Firstly, kudos to the author for executing this great book. The author went through a lot of research to put all the information together and tell the story remarkably.

I loved reading about Anna’s tale from the beginning; how she looked forward to reading Dostoyevsky’s novels in “Time” and how she became his employee and later a publisher. I was fascinated with her storyline and how she got swept in Dostoyevsky’s world, not knowing much about Anna. Moments that stood out for me were when she declined his proposal and how his family members treated her. Some moments even shocked me, like the incident at Baden-Baden. As I read this book, I got swept into Anna’s life, and I loved how the author covered her lifespan and highlighted the notable events. Even characters like Polina Suslova added well.

Moreover, I also adored how the author narrated the story. Hr writes the story in a fluid and simplistic manner that personally makes you feel connected with Anna and Dostoyevsky. The book also feels larger than life because of their journey from Russia to Germany and the publishing world. Moreover, we also get vintage photographs of Anna and Fyodor and significant places where the story takes place, giving the book a classic touch.

I also enjoyed the book because the author doesn’t focus just on Anna but also on Dostoyevsky. It was fascinating to see how he reacted to his ups and downs, for instance, after witnessing that “The Idiot” was a failure. I was in awe at Dostoyevsky’s life, and after reading this book, I want to read The Brothers Karamazov, The Gambler, and Crime and Punishment with a high sense of appreciation.

Overall, “The Gambler Wife” is a beautiful biography and read about Anna’s life.