Luciano Duarte

When one has some experience with gambling and casinos, and knows firsthand the atmosphere, the sensations, and the characters that typically surround a roulette table, the analogous scenes in Dostoevsky, whether in his fiction or his biography, are appreciated on a whole new level. The Dostoevsky who theorized and made very serious notes on strategy and probability is one of the most fascinating figures one can encounter in a casino. It is impossible not to empathize with him, and impossible not to be entertained by seeing him immersed in this fierce battle between reason and emotion, struggling to draw some conclusions. One is tempted to want him as a friend. And perhaps there is no trait that more clearly demonstrates the courage and sincerity that resided in his heart.

For those of a similar disposition, days spent like Bernardo Soares are so satisfying that it is impossible not to long for days that are always like this. From that longing, however, springs the seed of sorrow, since it is not possible to have them always. Sometimes, it is not even possible to have them. And when one allows the absence to linger, the mind, recalling the indescribable sensation of that fertile, creative, imaginative placidity, laments the impossibility of producing it at will. Action is required. But may Mr. Bernardo be eternally blessed for having taught us a sure path to satisfaction!