The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)

The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims, Volume 2, written by Andrew Steinmetz and first published in 1870, offers a historical examination of gambling culture in the mid-19th century. The narrative explores the lives of gamblers and con artists, particularly focusing on the 'chevaliers d'industrie'—polite sharpers who manipulate their victims. Through the story of Olivier, a young man drawn into the treacherous world of gambling, Steinmetz highlights the devastating societal consequences of this vice, including despair and social decay.