Alexandre Dumas was born of mixed race in France. He was the son to a general in Napoleon’s Army and the daughter of an innkeeper. His father died when he was young and his mother struggled to provide him a good education. However, the young Dumas was a good reader and devoured every book he could. Stories about his fathers military career inspired his creative works later on which were full of heroes and action.
Dumas Personal Life
Dumas married an actress, Ida Ferrier in 1840. However, he continued relationships with a number of other women and is said to have fathered a number of illegitimate children. One of these children was named after him and went on to become a famous novelist and playwright himself. For distinction the son is known as Alexandre Dumas fils and the elder as père.
Although Dumas earned a comfortable fortune through his writing he found himself frequently in debt and often taken advantage of by passing acquaintances and women.
Dumas was exiled to Brussels following a revolt in 1851 where he fell out of favour. From here he travelled to Russia and to the new kingdom of Italy two years later. During this time he collected more observations and ideas for his writing.
Dumas Writer and Playwright
Dumas moved to Paris when he was twenty years old and began working as a clerk. It was at this time he developed his interest in writing. For the next seven years he produced historical dramas including; Henry III and his Court; Anthony and Richard Darlington. These productions brought him fame, but he fell ill with cholera and had to recuperate in Switzerland. His illness did not stop his writing and he wrote his first travelogue here called Impressions de Voyage.
On his return to Paris, he participated in the revolution against Charles X, a turbulent time which eventually settled and provided Dumas with much inspiration for his works. After his success with plays, Dumas turned his attention to novels. It was as a storyteller of historical themes that he would enjoy his most success and he was a prolific writer. He wanted to tell the history of France through his novels.
Dumas would often use assistants and collaborates to help him with his work. Auguse Maquet was a regular contributor. They worked together with Maquet writing plots and drafts and Dumas adding detail, dialogue and chapters.
Dumas Literary Works
Dumas wrote a number of stories and historical tales of adventure which enthralled the French people. Some of these included:
- The Fencing Master (Le Maitre d’armes, 1840)
- Georges (1843) – the protagonist is of mixed race, like Dumas
- The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires 1844) one of the three D’Artagnan Romances
- The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo 1845-1846)
- The Fourty Five Guardsman – one of three Valois romances
- The Queens Necklace(Le Collier de la Reine 1849- 1850) – one of five Marie Antoinette romances
- The Black Tulip La Tulipe noire, 1850
- The Last Cavalier (Le Chevalier de Sainte-Hermine, 1869) – this was the last major work Dumas worked on and nearly completed.
Dumas was originally buried where he had been born. On the orders of Chirac, the French president he was exhumed and placed in the Panthèon of Paris, alongside other fellow authors. His stories have been translated into a number off different languages and have been the prompt for many motion pictures today.
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