French writer Francois Mauriac is one of the most prominent figures in the literature of the 20th century. A Nobel Prize winner, he created his own special, Mauriacian, type of novel. Continuing the tradition established by O. de Balzac and E. Zola, Mauriac explores the subtlest nuances of human psychology. In the center of the narrative of most of his works are relationships within the family. Life constantly tests Mauriac's heroes for strength, and few of them withstand these tests with honor. The novel presents to the reader the confession of the main character - Gobsek and Harpagon of the early 20th century - a 68-year-old man, a millionaire lawyer, trying to explain his actions . Proud, suspicious, calculating and unwilling to accept what he does not want to believe. A ball of snakes entwines his heart, which stings painfully and mercilessly. Who sent them against him? Or did he raise them himself? Or maybe there are a ball of snakes in the souls of people close to him?