The Sternwood family is a fictional family featured in Raymond Chandler's novel, "The Big Sleep." The family is wealthy and influential, residing in Los Angeles during the 1930s. The patriarch, General Sternwood, is an elderly and ailing man who seeks help to resolve issues related to his daughters. The two daughters, Carmen and Vivian, are central to the story's plot. Carmen is portrayed as troubled and reckless, while Vivian is more composed but has her own complexities. The family's dynamics and secrets drive the narrative, intertwining with themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in the story.