Sternwood is a fictional estate featured in the novel "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler. It serves as the residence of the wealthy and elderly character, General Sternwood. The estate is depicted as grand and opulent, reflecting the wealth and status of its owner. The story unfolds in 1930s Los Angeles, where private detective Philip Marlowe is hired to resolve a blackmail case involving the Sternwood family. The estate symbolizes the complexities of wealth, power, and moral ambiguity that are central themes in Chandler's work.