Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

50285

Title

Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In Weimar-era Berlin, a mysterious stranger named Balling manipulates a wealthy gambler, Hull, into a catastrophic loss at a high-stakes card game. As Hull spirals into madness, the narrative expands to reveal a web of international espionage, a criminal mastermind known as Dr. Mabuse, and a daring rescue involving a hijacked aircraft. A gripping tale of psychological manipulation, crime, and suspense.

Summary up to 500 words

In Norbert Jacques' *Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler*, the narrative unfolds in Weimar-era Berlin, centering on the enigmatic criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse, a figure described as having no fixed name or face, capable of controlling minds and orchestrating complex crimes. The story opens in a Berlin club where a young industrialist, Hull, is introduced to a charming stranger named Balling. During a game of Twenty-One, Balling manipulates Hull into losing his fortune despite holding a winning hand. Driven into a frenzy of gambling and despair, Hull eventually loses everything. Balling calmly accepts a partial debt, leaving Hull bewildered and obsessed with the stranger's identity. The plot thickens as the narrative shifts to a criminal underworld involving a woman named Carozza and a nobleman, Graf Told. Meanwhile, prosecutor Wenk investigates a gang led by the elusive Dr. Mabuse. Wenk tracks a suspect to a train station, coordinating with police to intercept a group of men heading to Offenburg, suspecting they are being recruited for the French Foreign Legion. The tension culminates in a dramatic confrontation aboard a hijacked aircraft. During a tense standoff, Wenk is captured by Mabuse, who threatens to kill him. However, the Graf's wife, the Gräfin, intervenes. Inspired by Wenk's final shout identifying Mabuse as the murderer of her husband, she overcomes her fear, strikes the criminal with a wrench, and saves Wenk. Mabuse falls from the plane, and Wenk manages to land the aircraft safely on the coast of East Friesland. The story concludes with Wenk and the Gräfin surviving the ordeal, their lives changed by the encounter. The novel explores themes of psychological manipulation, the loss of individual will, and the struggle between order and chaos, set against the backdrop of a society crumbling under the influence of a demonic force.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg50285.epub

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Categories

• Psychology
• Fiction
• Crime