Nikolai Nikolaevich Alekseev (1871–1905) - writer, descended from the nobility of the St. Petersburg province; son of a staff captain. He graduated from the St. Petersburg Vvedensky Gymnasium. Studied at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University. He lived in poverty all his life, periodically earning money by tutoring and literary work. Committed suicide. In 1896, he published his first story, “Among Troubles and Misfortunes,” in the Birzhevye Vedomosti newspaper. Later he was published in the magazines “Picturesque Review”, “Conversation”, “Historical Bulletin”, “New World”, “Russian Pilgrim”. Author of numerous, mainly historical, works: “Tatar Scion” (1896), “Among Troubles” (1897), “Roses and Thorns” (1898), “False Tsarevich” (1899), “Overseas Immigrant” (1900), “ In the People's Storm" (1902), the stories "Vladyka Fedoseevsky" (1903), "Fire Heretic" (1905), etc. Contents: 1. Overseas immigrant2. False Tsarevich3. Tatar scion4. Brother against brother5. Roses and thorns6. Game of fate