Russian writer, translator, author and singer-songwriter Mark Freidkin, aged 60, died on Tuesday after a long illness.

      Mark Freidkin was born in Leninabad (now Khujand, Tajikistan) and studied at an English magnet school in Moscow. He specialized in translating English and French poetry. He became mostly known for his translations of Georges Brassens, as well as children’s books by Hugh John Lofting (about Doctor Dolittle) and Roald Dahl.

      The translator also wrote prose, including memoirs. A three-volume collection of his works published in 2013. He headed the Carte Blanche publishing house, and was the director and owner of Moscow’s first private bookshop October 19.

      Mark Freidkin also wrote songs set to his own lyrics and others’ verses. He had six albums released starting from 1997.

      In 2003 the Russian rock star Andrei Makarevich initiated recording an album of Freidkin’s songs performed by the frontman of Time Machine himself, Maxim Leonidov, Alena Sviridova, Eugene Margulis, and Tatyana Lazareva.