jadejoosten's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sydneyedens's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gotta love a russian black comedy!
david_rhee's review against another edition
5.0
The Golovliov Family, also titled A Family of Noblemen, is a stunning portrait of a family estate where death reigns over life, where a family is impoverished by the pursuit of riches, and where children are given a stone instead of bread. A sinister devouring evil leaves a steady wake throughout the whole narration, and vile humor buoys the reader's attention as if Saltykov were intentionally setting him up for what turns out to be a brilliant denouement.
Many forms of evil take root in most of the characters. No one is considered remotely likable. The despotic Arina Petrovna Golovliov even emerges as an object of pity (sometimes) and the reader can catch himself rooting for her...but that only comes about because of how horrible everyone else is. Porphyry Golovliov, the aptly nicknamed "Bloodsucker," is probably the most demonic personality I have ever come across in all of literature. He possesses an unrivaled ability to sense the approaching death of someone from whom he can extract property. His mind never stops calculating potential gain of even the smallest increment. The worst of it all is that he attempts to justify everything he does with a woefully warped conception of God and providence.
The trail of destruction is so continual and pronounced that the reader all the while might suspect Saltykov is trying only to challenge himself to paint the most disgusting portrait imaginable. This is far from the truth, however. The conclusion is the reason why I ranked this novel among the best I've read. The final discovery made by Porphyry of where all his calculation, gorging, hoarding, and neglect of his brothers and sisters ultimately leads and how it is expressed by the author greatly shook me. I have mentioned to others not a few times that I consider the best literature to be parables of philosophy and divine conceptions, and though I don't remember it ever being quoted this book can serve as a masterful expression of the Lord Jesus' words,
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Matthew 8:36)
Many forms of evil take root in most of the characters. No one is considered remotely likable. The despotic Arina Petrovna Golovliov even emerges as an object of pity (sometimes) and the reader can catch himself rooting for her...but that only comes about because of how horrible everyone else is. Porphyry Golovliov, the aptly nicknamed "Bloodsucker," is probably the most demonic personality I have ever come across in all of literature. He possesses an unrivaled ability to sense the approaching death of someone from whom he can extract property. His mind never stops calculating potential gain of even the smallest increment. The worst of it all is that he attempts to justify everything he does with a woefully warped conception of God and providence.
The trail of destruction is so continual and pronounced that the reader all the while might suspect Saltykov is trying only to challenge himself to paint the most disgusting portrait imaginable. This is far from the truth, however. The conclusion is the reason why I ranked this novel among the best I've read. The final discovery made by Porphyry of where all his calculation, gorging, hoarding, and neglect of his brothers and sisters ultimately leads and how it is expressed by the author greatly shook me. I have mentioned to others not a few times that I consider the best literature to be parables of philosophy and divine conceptions, and though I don't remember it ever being quoted this book can serve as a masterful expression of the Lord Jesus' words,
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Matthew 8:36)
jasonfurman's review against another edition
4.0
The most bleak Russian novel I have read by a very long shot. Every character in the book dies, mostly by suicide and alcohol poisoning. In many cases these deaths are abetted or encouraged by the character's mother or father. Most of them come back to the Golovlyov estate to die, but one commits suicide by the side of the road while her sister watches and another die on the road to Siberia, where they have been de facto exiled by his father. Oh, and did I mention, all of them dislike each other, cheat each other, and are indifferent to each other's suffering. To say that betrayal runs in the family Golovlyov would be inaccurate -- the predicate of betrayal is trust.
It is also a very odd "novel." Each of the seven or so chapters features only two or three characters, not counting servants/serfs. At first you think that Anna Petrovna, the matriarch, is the main character. But then she's cheated out of the estate she cheated others out of by her son, Porphyry (also known as little Judas, bloodsucker and candid boy), and goes off to die. Then he becomes the main character for the rest of the book.
Porphyry is a very odd character. At times he seems like a hypocrite in the mold of Tartuffe, but he has none of his humor and he believes his own religious praddle, to the point where he can sincerely berate a servant he impregnated for her sin while forgetting entirely his part in it. (Oh, and if you're wondering, he sends the child off to an anonymous orphanage after he is born.) One of the more interesting discussions in the book is one where Saltykov-Shchedrin explains the differences between Porphyry and a miser/hypocrite in the tradition of Moliere.
I didn't particularly love reading this book. But after finishing it I read James Wood's excellent introduction which made me appreciate it much more -- and at least retrospectively glad I read it.
It is also a very odd "novel." Each of the seven or so chapters features only two or three characters, not counting servants/serfs. At first you think that Anna Petrovna, the matriarch, is the main character. But then she's cheated out of the estate she cheated others out of by her son, Porphyry (also known as little Judas, bloodsucker and candid boy), and goes off to die. Then he becomes the main character for the rest of the book.
Porphyry is a very odd character. At times he seems like a hypocrite in the mold of Tartuffe, but he has none of his humor and he believes his own religious praddle, to the point where he can sincerely berate a servant he impregnated for her sin while forgetting entirely his part in it. (Oh, and if you're wondering, he sends the child off to an anonymous orphanage after he is born.) One of the more interesting discussions in the book is one where Saltykov-Shchedrin explains the differences between Porphyry and a miser/hypocrite in the tradition of Moliere.
I didn't particularly love reading this book. But after finishing it I read James Wood's excellent introduction which made me appreciate it much more -- and at least retrospectively glad I read it.
lagrangian54's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
roxananav's review against another edition
1.0
It was my type of book, but I really didn't like it. I'm actually pretty disappointed.
msgtdameron's review against another edition
4.0
Published in 1880 "The Golovlyov Family is a mirror to the current GOP here in the U.S.. The two main family members, mother Petrovna and youngest son Iudushka, are self centered and ice cold to all. Petronva spends her time collecting property and wealth for the sole purpose of collecting property and wealth. She gives her children a bare minimum to live and when she falls on hard times is left at Iuduska's board. A place that he grants her only with great reluctance. She dies alone emotionally although Iudshka is physically with her. He is more concerned with inventorying her goods and getting what is his.
Iuduska spends his time mouthing prayers to the icons, paying for requiem masses, holding court on Holly Days and dreaming about collecting more money and property. He does this originally by trickery of the peasants and then bringing them to court. To the point where no one locally ever visits. Afraid they will get caught in one of his schemes and have to pay him, some form of damages. AS time goes by and he ages he stops actually collecting property and money and starts to dream about collecting property and money. He continues to mindlessly recite prayers to the icons and holding service in his dinning room but, all his prayers are empty mouthing of words. He continually berates his children, telling them that they come and ask for bread but he will only give them stones. He won't part with one ruble to help his family. He dreams ridiculous dreams: "How much will I make if all the district cows but mine die?" and them calculating the profit. How much can I make if " I give the peasants permission to cut my timber. But I give it to them in secret and then bring the magistrate in and have him arrest the peasants for illegally cutting my timber. I then have them fined one ruble for the logs but they bring the logs to me so I won't have to pay for the cutting of wood." Schemes like this drive him mad. Not the mad of Raskonlikof but the plain old mad of a man who has no life because he has no friends or family to look after him. The mad of a man who has cut off all contact with those he see's a les than him. The mad of the lonely. Iudushka dies in a March snow storm on the side of the road on his way to his mothers grave to ask forgiveness for being such a miser and skin flint.
Compare his actions to the GOP. Cut health care, poison the water and air, harass all who don't look like us, WASP Men. This last list includes women, Hispanics, blacks, children, Muslims. All while spending several hours in church blindly reciting prayers and hymns with out practicing any of the precepts of the faith. One can only hope that the GOP leadership will die politically and leave us with a new master.
Historically Golovlyov was written just after the serfs were emancipated and Russia was in the midst of huge social and political upheaval. An upheaval that the Tsars so badly mismanaged that they ended up with a civil war. A civil war that was totally avoidable if Sloypins reforms had been put in place. I don't see any Sloypins in the Republican party. The upheaval is here folks one can either continue with reforming the system and including ALL or one will get swept aside in the cyclone of history. Other wise the GOP will die like Iudushka.
Iuduska spends his time mouthing prayers to the icons, paying for requiem masses, holding court on Holly Days and dreaming about collecting more money and property. He does this originally by trickery of the peasants and then bringing them to court. To the point where no one locally ever visits. Afraid they will get caught in one of his schemes and have to pay him, some form of damages. AS time goes by and he ages he stops actually collecting property and money and starts to dream about collecting property and money. He continues to mindlessly recite prayers to the icons and holding service in his dinning room but, all his prayers are empty mouthing of words. He continually berates his children, telling them that they come and ask for bread but he will only give them stones. He won't part with one ruble to help his family. He dreams ridiculous dreams: "How much will I make if all the district cows but mine die?" and them calculating the profit. How much can I make if " I give the peasants permission to cut my timber. But I give it to them in secret and then bring the magistrate in and have him arrest the peasants for illegally cutting my timber. I then have them fined one ruble for the logs but they bring the logs to me so I won't have to pay for the cutting of wood." Schemes like this drive him mad. Not the mad of Raskonlikof but the plain old mad of a man who has no life because he has no friends or family to look after him. The mad of a man who has cut off all contact with those he see's a les than him. The mad of the lonely. Iudushka dies in a March snow storm on the side of the road on his way to his mothers grave to ask forgiveness for being such a miser and skin flint.
Compare his actions to the GOP. Cut health care, poison the water and air, harass all who don't look like us, WASP Men. This last list includes women, Hispanics, blacks, children, Muslims. All while spending several hours in church blindly reciting prayers and hymns with out practicing any of the precepts of the faith. One can only hope that the GOP leadership will die politically and leave us with a new master.
Historically Golovlyov was written just after the serfs were emancipated and Russia was in the midst of huge social and political upheaval. An upheaval that the Tsars so badly mismanaged that they ended up with a civil war. A civil war that was totally avoidable if Sloypins reforms had been put in place. I don't see any Sloypins in the Republican party. The upheaval is here folks one can either continue with reforming the system and including ALL or one will get swept aside in the cyclone of history. Other wise the GOP will die like Iudushka.
abookishtype's review against another edition
2.0
At the end of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s biting satire, The Golovlyov Family, the narrator meditates on the random fates of families. Some reverse their declines and rebuild the family fortunes. Others are at the top of fortune’s wheel before precipitously falling to the bottom within generations. Personality has much to do with the rise and fall of fortunes, but there is also an element of luck. At the beginning of The Golovlyov Family, published as a serial between 1875 and 1876 but set some years before serfdom was abolished in 1861, the eponymous family controls a growing estate in the Russian country side. By the end, three generations are ruined and the estate passes to another branch of the family...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
vetathebooksurfer's review against another edition
4.0
Reminds me of Oblomov, actually. Enjoyed this very much
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