Levon Asian Torosian

Henri Troyat or Levon Asian Torosian was born in Moscow in 1911. He moved to Paris in 1920 following the Bolshevik Revolution. When he was 24, he received his first literary award—Le prix du roman populaire. Three years later he won another award (Prix Goncourt). Among the 100 books he wrote are biographies of Anton Chekov, Catherin the Great, Rasputin, Ivan the Terrible, and Leo Tolstoy. He was the longest serving member of the French Academy. He died in 2007.

Henri Troyat or Levon Asian Torosian was born in Moscow in 1911. He moved to Paris in 1920 following the Bolshevik Revolution. When he was 24, he received his first literary award—Le prix du roman populaire. Three years later he won another award (Prix Goncourt). Among the 100 books he wrote are biographies of Anton Chekov, Catherin the Great, Rasputin, Ivan the Terrible, and Leo Tolstoy. He was the longest serving member of the French Academy. He died in 2007.