Three Classic Pieces Of Literature About Gambling
The concept of gambling is a great plot hook. It exudes glitz and glamour and makes us root for or against sometimes otherwise unremarkable characters. In the history of literature, this tactic has not gone unnoticed, and many classic books have been written on the subject. Below, we discuss the three best books about gambling.
Casino Royale
Few casino-related books have had the cultural impact of Casino Royale. The first novel featuring Ian Fleming’s spy character James Bond would turn into a global movie franchise. Spanning decades, it is still going strong today. The story is about Bond himself, a British secret service agent. His task is to bankrupt Le Chiffre, a Russian secret service operative who is funding unions backed by the Soviet Union. He does this by playing a baccarat game, which culminates in an assassination attempt and kidnapping.
Casino Royale was not the first outing for Bond on the silver screen, and the most faithful adaptation was the recent adaptation featuring Daniel Craig. Gambling has changed a lot since the book was written, and in this movie, baccarat was switched to poker.
Even since this was made, the iGaming industry has positively boomed, and it would be great to see how another update would tackle a battle via the modern online casino industry. For example, a brief look at the best online slots shows how prolific online casinos are. Online directories like CasinoSmash showcase the best online games from providers and include many table games as well as slots. The question of if Bond could stay cool under pressure while playing online remains to be seen.
The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop is one of Charles Dickens’ lesser-read novels, but no less exciting for it. It follows the fortunes of Nell Trent, a young girl who lives with her grandparents. Nell’s grandfather spends his evenings trying to win money at cards. Borrowing heavily from a moneylender, he loses the Old Curiosity Shop they live in. The novel continues with Nell trying to look after herself and her grandfather. However, in true Dickens fashion, it ends in tragedy. It is a cautionary tale of how gambling, even with noble intent, can go wrong if bankrolls are not managed correctly.
The Gambler
The writer Fyodor Dostoevsky was a regular visitor to some of the earliest casinos built in Europe, such as Baden Baden and Wiesbaden. Many of his most famous books were written on visits to hotels and casinos. His famous book, The Gambler, was a study of those indebted to others, some through gambling and others through investments or misfortune. Alexei Ivanovich works as a tutor for a rich Russian family. Ivanovich is secretly sent to place roulette bets for his love interest, who has little interest in him. The book follows their relationships and the trials and tribulations of their lives.
One of the earliest studies in gambling, the book has a dark streak of humour running through it. Few writers can build characters in the way Dostoevsky can, and play on their interpersonal relationships in absurd situations.
