Reminded me of Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander. Brrr!!!

One of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m just a bit at a loss for words to be honest. There’s no way I could fully discuss this novel without writing a true essay-length-verging-on-dissertation exploration on this story’s depth and richness, but… I’m gobsmacked at the rawness and reality of this novel written in 1870s. Just breathtaking. ( )

This may be a book for you if (lots of "ifs" coming) some conditions are met. They include:

* You are comfortable with the 19th century "classic" writing style.

* You are patient.

* You aren't addicted to "action-packed, page-turning thrillers".

* You have some modicum of interest in Russian history / culture.

With those caveats in place, I would recommend "The Golovlyov Family". The first sentence of the introduction states that the work "is one of world literature's most depressing books." [Given my reading preferences, that alone was a hook.] The novel is an unrelenting look at an intergenerational family's disintegration. The characters seem at times stereotypical but the frustration and sadness they create is palpable.

The novel gets off to a somewhat slow start as the characters are introduced and the family dynamics are sketched out. But as the novel progresses, the author does include some fascinating descriptions of the characters' slow mental deterioration. In addition, the author's juxtaposition of a hypocritical versus a simply vile person is certainly salient for our times.

Certainly not every reader's cup of tea but a rewarding read for patient readers. ( )

The introduction to my edition ascribes this quote to a contemporaneous critic named Dobrolyubov (surely a pseudonym):

Add a drop of venom to Oblomovism, and you get Golovlyovism.

I can't say it better than that. If you know Oblomov then you know the questions of nihilism and idiocy and tragedy in the state of 19th century Russia. The Golovlyov Family, more nihilistic, more tragic, is perhaps one of the gloomiest novels I've read. (Even for Russia.) What is the point of life for the landed gentry? Nothing. The satire here is to give each character an exaggeration of a common Russian trait then twist the knife.

Many readers will find this to be too much, and perhaps instead turn to Goncharov for commentary or Gogol for satire. While understandable, that choice won't satisfy the literary Russophile. It's a hard read but I'm utterly glad I did it. Saltykov and Dostoyevsky considered themselves literary and political enemies, so we should all know Saltykov just for that.

Translation note: I loved the Cioran translation. He truly captured/differentiated the characters' voices. ( )

I came across this author and book in a footnote in Svetlana Alexievich's 'Second Hand Time'. Her book is one of almost verbatim records of conversations with Russians from all over the country in the period following the break up of the Soviet Union. She makes almost no commentary herself and so inserts footnotes from time to time to explain Russian cultural references for non Russian speakers.

The footnote explained that Mr Saltykov and 'The Golovlyov Family' is well known in Russia. So well known that the characters are used as representatives of cultural traits. Similar to the way that Dickens characters are used in English to characterise common traits in Britain. The book itself is the generational story of a minor rural aristocratic family in the late imperial times. Mr Saltykov was a well known writer in his day. A contemporary and friend of Turgenev and in fact buried in the plot next to him. The Golovlyov Family is a savage satire of contemporary Russian life. It's characters are exaggerated. They range from alcoholics to extreme penny pinching matriarch's, to hypocritically pious landlords to free spirited but naive young women. Not one of them has a redeeming feature. Everyone comes to a bad end.

Mr Saltykov was a radical writer at a time when the fading imperial system was repressively trying to keep a grip on society. Serfs had been freed but other liberalising influence from Europe were being resisted. Although no a prolific writer of novels he was a frequent contributor and founder of radical magazines and journals. To such an extent that he was eventually forced out of his senior civil service post.

Something that surprised me was that though Mr Saltykov is well known and remains popular in Russia the short footnote in Second Hand Time was the first time I had come across him. In the English speaking world at least he is by no means as well remembered as other contemporary figures of Russian literature. Why would that be so I wonder? The setting and intergenerational device of the book in a minor aristocratic rural situation is familiar enough from other writers. Some of the key characteristics are also familiar. The extreme boredom of rural life. The devotional but confrontational relationship with the church. The dependence on but suspicion of a whole host of servants and labourers. But possibly the satire is aimed mainly at an audience more familiar with Russian culture of the time. The individuals portrayed evoke little or no sympathy. Their doom is largely well deserved. So whereas Dickens often contrived a happy ending Mr Saltykov did the opposite as he condemned the Golovlyov Family to a desperate conclusion. ( )