Достоевский: отдамъ долгъ танцемъ

Первые полтора года («Бесы» писались едва ли не дольше всехъ остальныхъ произведений Достоевского) онъ писалъ романъ за границей, въ Дрездене. Семейная жизнь шла своимъ чередомъ, жена стойко переносила «припадки» игромании Достоевского и занималась ребёнкомъ. Но уже къ началу 1871 года стало очевидно, что заграничный ихъ «вояжъ» сильно затянулся. Уезжали изъ России въ 1867 году на несколько месяцевъ, сбежать отъ кредиторовъ ненадолго и наладить семейную жизнь. А долги за 4 года вместо того, чтобы сократиться, всё росли и росли – жить за границей, даже очень скромно, оказалось дороже, чемъ дома.

Въ общемъ – решено было возвращаться. Въ последний разъ онъ съездилъ на рулетку, проигрался, какъ обычно, вдрызгъ. И вдругъ как-то неожиданно почувствовалъ себя свободнымъ отъ одержимости игровымъ столомъ. Больше къ рулетке онъ въ жизни не подходилъ и въ азартные игры не игралъ. Передъ отъездомъ Достоевский сжёгъ въ камине все черновики первой части «Бесовъ», опасаясь, чтобы не придрались на таможенномъ досмотре. Въ июле 1871 года после 4 летъ и 3 месяцевъ странствий они вернулись въ Россию.

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Dostoevsky: I will repay my debt by dancing

For the first year and a half (the process of creating “Demons” took longer than practically any other Dostoevsky’s work) he was writing the novel abroad, in Dresden. His family life went on, his wife enduring Dostoevsky’s gambling addiction ‘seizures’ and taking care of their child. But by the beginning of 1871 it became obvious that their ‘voyage’ abroad had been taking too long. They left Russia in 1867 for a few months to escape the creditors for a while and settle their family life. But the debts instead of decreasing were only increasing over these four years – living abroad, even very modestly, turned out to be more expensive than living at home.

So, the decision was made to get back. He took to roulette for the one last time and lost big as usual. And suddenly he felt somehow free from his obsession with gaming. He never played roulette again in his life and never gambled anymore. Before leaving Dostoevsky burned all his drafts of the first part of “Demons” in a fireplace, fearing that they would find fault with the customs inspection. In July 1871, after 4 years and 3 months of wandering, they returned to Russia.