Anne Golon

Anne Golon (born Simone Changeux) was a French author. She is possibly better known to English-speaking readers as Sergeanne Golon. When originally published in France, the books were credited to Serge and Anne Golon, Anne being the author and husband Serge having done much of the historical research. The two names were merged into Sergeanne Golon by the British publishers when the books were translated. Her earliest books were written under the pseudonym Joëlle Danterne. She is known for a series of novels about a heroine called Angelique. Between Serge's death and 1985, Anne wrote four more volumes, beginning with the second half of Ghosts (both portions published in French as a single volume, Angelique in Quebec) and proceeding through Angelique's Victory. Anne Golon was reduced to a state close to poverty and filed a lawsuit against the French publisher Hachette for abuse of copyright and for her unpaid royalties. She won her battle over the publishing rights to her Angelique stories. After a legal battle in France lasting nearly a decade, she reached an agreement which left her the sole owner of the works.