Tony takes a deep interest in the family, and maintaining its respectability. Thomas, drawn to the family business, wishes to follow in his father's footsteps. Christian, erratic and irresponsible, cares for neither.  They are the three children of [*] Jean, the patriarch of—for 10 points—what titular merchant family from Lübeck in a novel by Thomas Mann?
Tony takes a deep interest in the family, and maintaining its respectability. Thomas, drawn to the family business, wishes to follow in his father's footsteps. Christian, erratic and irresponsible, cares for neither.  They are the three children of [*] Jean, the patriarch of—for 10 points—what titular merchant family from Lübeck in a novel by Thomas Mann?
Tony takes a deep interest in the family, and maintaining its respectability.
Die Buddenbrooks or Buddenbrooks [accept clear-knowledge equivalents]