Mark Aldanov (Mark Alexandrovich Landau) (Russian: Алданов Марк Александрович) (7 November [O.S. 26 October] 1886, 1888, or 1889–February 25, 1957) was a Russian emigrant writer, known for his historical novels.

Mark Landau (Aldanov) was born in Kiev in the family of a rich Jewish industrialist. He graduated the physical-mathematical and law departments of Kiev University. He published serious research papers in chemistry. In 1919 he emigrated to France. During 1922-1924 he lived in Berlin and during 1941-1946, in the United States.

Aldanov's first book about Vladimir Lenin, translated into several languages, immediately gained him popularity. Then followed a trilogy of novels attempting to trace the roots of the Russian Revolution. He also wrote a tetralogy of novels about Napoleonic wars. All in all, he published 16 larger literary works and a great number of articles and essays.

Mark Aldanov died in Nice, France. His extensive correspondence with Vladimir Nabokov, Ivan Bunin, Alexander Kerensky and other emigre celebrities was published posthumously.

[edit] Bibliography

The Thinker, a tetralogy:

• The Ninth Thermidor
• The Devil's Bridge
• The Conspiracy
• St. Helena: Little Island

A list of all of Aldanov's novels.

Punch Vodka
The Ninth Thermidor
The Devil's Bridge
Conspiracy
The Tenth Symphony
Saint Helena, Little Island
For Thee the Best
A Story About Death
Before the Deluge
Suicide
The Key
Escape
The Cave
The Fifth Seal
Live As You Please
Nightmare and Dawn