Serge Golon French geochemist, writer, artist Date of Birth: 23.08.1903 Country: France

1. Early Life and Education
2. Geological Explorations and Wartime Service
3. Africa and the Genesis of 'Angélique'
4. Later Career and Painting
5. Return to Russia and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Vsevolod Goloubinoff was born on August 23, 1903, in Bukhara (or Urumia, Persia, according to some sources). He grew up in Isfahan, Iran, where his father served as a Russian consul.

Amidst the Russian Revolution, Goloubinoff studied at the Sevastopol Gymnasium and later made a perilous journey across the country during the Civil War, unsuccessfully attempting to join the White Army. In 1920, he emigrated to France via Constantinople.

He pursued higher education at the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Nancy, graduating with a degree in chemistry.

Geological Explorations and Wartime Service

Goloubinoff embarked on a career as a geological surveyor, working for major companies and the French government in Africa and various Asian countries. During World War II, he joined General de Gaulle's Free French Forces.

Africa and the Genesis of 'Angélique'

In the 1940s, Goloubinoff worked in French Congo, managing cement and leather factories as well as gold mining operations. It was there that he met Simone Changeux, his future wife and literary collaborator. Together, they penned the memoir, "Au Cœur bêtes sauvages" (1954), recounting their experiences in Africa.

Under the joint pseudonym "Anne and Serge Golon," they co-authored nine historical novels centered around the adventures of Angélique, a beautiful and resourceful 17th-century aristocrat and adventurer.

Later Career and Painting

After their return to France, Goloubinoff's husband, according to Anne Golon, became the inspiration for Angélique's husband, Joffrey de Peyrac. From 1961 onwards, he pursued his passion for painting, holding his first solo exhibition in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in 1968.

Return to Russia and Legacy

In 1965, Goloubinoff and his wife visited the Soviet Union, finding it surprisingly open and welcoming. Despite his fluency in Russian, however, he passed away from a stroke in Quebec in July 1972, while preparing for an exhibition.

Vsevolod Goloubinoff's legacy lies in both his contributions to the field of geochemistry and the enduring popularity of the "Angélique" series, which has captivated generations of readers worldwide.