Pseudo-translations may not actually be translations in the strict sense of the word. They must, however, reproduce all the characteristics of a translation, and the deception on which they are based causes them to reveal many of the (preconceived) ideas on translation of a given time. The overall literary topos of pseudo-translation merits the attention of translation scholars because it gives expression to translation principles relating to the meaning of translation, to translation issues and the importance attached to translation, while invariably questioning many translation axioms. This contribution will recontextualize two specific cases of pseudo-translation, Andrei Makine’s first two novels, La fille d’un héros de l’Union soviétique and Confession d’un porte-drapeau déchu (1992), with a view to studying the reasons for their production, characteristics and effects.