Alexandre Dumas - Classic Literature Alexandre Dumas
Dumas was born in 1802 in Velles Cotterets France. His grandfather was a French nobleman who had settled in Santo Domingo (Haiti) ad married a black woman of Afro-Caribbean heritage who had been a slave in the colony.
Dumas father had been a general in Napoleons army, but had fallen out of favor. After his death in 1806, the family lived in poverty. As a child and youth, Dumas was a voracious reader.
He took employment s the clerk of a notary in his home village and in 1823, went to Paris to find work. He secured a position with the Duc d’Orleans (later King Louis Phillippe) due to his elegant handwriting.
During this period, he also found a place in the theater. He became the publisher of some obscure magazines. In 1824, a son, Alexandre Dumas fils was born. His mother, with whom Dumas had an affair, was a dressmaker, Marie-Catherine Labaz.
Dumas first produced drama was "La Chasse it L’Amour" produced in 1835. He had made his breakthrough with "Henri III Et Sa Cour" produced in 1829 by Comedie-Francaise. Another play, "La Tour de Mesle" produced in 1832, is considered the greatest masterpiece of French melodrama. From there he wrote constantly, producing plays, novels, and short stories.
Before 1843, Dumas wrote fifteen plays. But it was historical novels that brought him fame and fortune, although he was very easy about spending money. He produced more than 250 books with his 73 assistants. His favorite assistant and one to whom he gave great freedom, was August Maquet, who was a history teacher.
Maquet often proposed topics for Dumas and may even have written initial drafts or outlines for some books. These may include some of his most famous books. "The Three Musketeers" in 1844, and "The Court of Monte-Cristo" written in 1844-1845.
Dumas was strong and someone who developed character traits, and was outstanding as a composer of Chapter-ending scenes – scenes that would keep the readers turning pages. He was a master of dialogue as well.
Never one to let a good story go untold, or a favorite and popular character proceed, Dumas wrote "The Viscourt Bragelonne Louise de la Vallierre" and "The Man in the Iron Mask" over the next few years. These continued the story of the Three Musketeers. Dumas heroes die romantically during the course of these stories.
Much of Dumas’ prominence is owed to coincidence. Press censorship had been lifted in the 1830’s. This gave rise to entertaining serial novels. Dumas capitalized on this trend that was sweeping through France and wrote his own serial novel "Le Captain Paul" in 1838. Along with other prominent French writers like Balzac, he contributed across a variety of literary magazines.
Dumas himself was an adventurer. He spent his money both widely and widely. He took part in the revolution in July 1830 and was a captain in the National Guard. He caught cholera in the epidemic of 1832, but survived. He married his mistress in 1840, but left her soon after, having spent her entire dowry.
While continuing to write prolifically, Dumas spent his money the same way. In 1851, he had to flee his creditors and moved to Brussels for two years, all the while writing his popular books. He returned in 1853 and founded a daily paper, which was successful.
Nonetheless, his debts continued to mount and in 1858 he traveled to Russia where he wrote two books. He then went to Italy in support of Garibadi and his revolution and wrote more. He remained in Naples for four more years, from 1864-1868 as keeper of museums in Naples, then he returned to Paris.
He was known as the "king of Paris" during his times. He earned fortunes and spent them on friends, art and always women. He was rumored to have had dozens of illegitimate children, but only acknowledged three. One, Alexandre Dumas fils, became a writer, dramatist, and moralist in his own right, and always rejected his father’s lifestyle.
Dumas died of a stoke on December 5, 1870, near Dieppe. He did not generally define himself as a black man during his life, and there is no evidence that he encountered racism. His works particularly "The Count of Monte-Cristo" were popular with 19th century African-Americans, as it may be read as a parable for emancipation.
