Galitsyn, his father, his older brother Vladimir, one brother-in-law and numerous cousins.
Written in secret and published only in 1990, after his death it describes the impact of the revolution upon his family, whilst also painting a picture of life in Russia as Bolshevism turned to Stalinism.
Although his first children stories were published in the 1930s in various journals, he could not support himself from writing and worked as a topographer including to the building of the Moscow Canal.
He is best known in the former USSR as an author of children's books inspired by the life of Soviet Pioneers ("I want to be a topographer" (1953), "Forty Explorers" (1959) etc.)
He also wrote children's books on historical themes and biographies of Russian Painters (V.A.