An ambitious fusion of two sprawling Russian novels that juxtaposes a tormented family saga—marked by greed, rivalry, patricide, and a courtroom's search for truth—with the tragic tale of an innocent, Christlike nobleman whose transparency and compassion unsettle a corrupt society; through intense emotional confrontations, spiritual questioning, love and jealousy, the work probes faith and doubt, moral responsibility, and the destructive consequences of passion and pride.

The 17009th greatest book of all time