“The Golovlyovs” by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin is a grim portrayal of a declining aristocratic family in 19th-century Russia. The novel follows the Golovlyov family, particularly focusing on Porfiry Golovlyov, nicknamed “Little Judas,” whose hypocritical piety and manipulative nature contribute to the family’s moral and physical decay. Through the disintegration of the Golovlyovs, Saltykov-Shchedrin offers a scathing critique of the Russian nobility, highlighting the destructive effects of greed, hypocrisy, and the lack of genuine human connection.

Note: there is some warping in the text but it is clear print and readable.

You can get the book here and here