Vladimir Volkoff (7 November 1932 in Paris â€" 14 September 2005 in
Bourdeilles, Dordogne), was a French writer of Russian extraction. He
produced both literary works for adults and spy novels for young
readers under the pseudonym Lieutenant X. His works are characterised
by themes of the Cold War, intelligence and manipulation, but also by
metaphysical and spiritual elements.Of Russian descent with Tatar
roots on his paternal side,[1] Volkoff was the son of a Russian
émigré who earned his living in France washing cars. Vladimir grew
up with his family's memories of the lost motherland and loyalty to
their new homeland. He was a great grandnephew of the composer Piotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky.After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris and the
university of Liège, Volkoff taught English at Amiens from 1955-57.
He served as an intelligence officer in the French army during the
Algerian War, where he learnt how war is fought as much in the shadows
and the embassies as in the open air of the battlefield.After his
demobilisation, Volkoff travelled to the United States to teach French
and Russian literature. He worked as a translator (1963â€"65), and a
professor of French and Russian from 1966-77. Fascinated by the
powerful country teeming with contradictions, he remained there for
almost three decades, returning to France in 1992. Among his
"American" works are L'Agent triple (1962), Métro pour l'enfer
(1963), Les Mousquetaires de la République (1964) and Vers une
métrique française (1977).
Bourdeilles, Dordogne), was a French writer of Russian extraction. He
produced both literary works for adults and spy novels for young
readers under the pseudonym Lieutenant X. His works are characterised
by themes of the Cold War, intelligence and manipulation, but also by
metaphysical and spiritual elements.Of Russian descent with Tatar
roots on his paternal side,[1] Volkoff was the son of a Russian
émigré who earned his living in France washing cars. Vladimir grew
up with his family's memories of the lost motherland and loyalty to
their new homeland. He was a great grandnephew of the composer Piotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky.After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris and the
university of Liège, Volkoff taught English at Amiens from 1955-57.
He served as an intelligence officer in the French army during the
Algerian War, where he learnt how war is fought as much in the shadows
and the embassies as in the open air of the battlefield.After his
demobilisation, Volkoff travelled to the United States to teach French
and Russian literature. He worked as a translator (1963â€"65), and a
professor of French and Russian from 1966-77. Fascinated by the
powerful country teeming with contradictions, he remained there for
almost three decades, returning to France in 1992. Among his
"American" works are L'Agent triple (1962), Métro pour l'enfer
(1963), Les Mousquetaires de la République (1964) and Vers une
métrique française (1977).
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