Alexandre Dumas peré was born July 24th, 1802 in the small town of Villers-Cotterêtes, France. He soon became one of the most noted French authors of the 19th century.
His life story begins with his Father, a French noblemen who quickly ascended the ranks of Napolean's army. When the late Father passed away in 1806, Dumas' family was left in poverty. He found work in Villers-Cotterêtes, but when he reached the age of 21, he traveled to Paris for better opportunities.He secured a position with the Duc d'Orléans, who later became King Louis Philipe. He also found himself very interested in the works of theatre, which signaled the start of his novelist career. An illegitimate son was born in 1824 by Marie-Catherine Labay, of whom took on his Father's name of Alexandre Dumas (fils) and would later take on his career.
Dumas was very interested in literature, but took a general liking to plays. His first drama (worked with Adolphe de Leuven and P.J. Rosseau) was released on September 22, 1835 with the title of LA CHASSE ET L'AMOUR. His first real breakthrough happened in 1829 with HENRI III ET SA COUR, a romantic tale about love and power. LA TOUR DE NESLE (1832, The Tower of Nesle) was considered the greatest masterpiece in French melodrama, witten by Dumas with the help of Frédéric Gaullardet. MADEMOISELLE DE BELLE ISLE (1839) had 500 performances.
Dumas' general lifestyle found him writing most of the day away, 14 hours were dedicated to this alone. He is credited with being the man who rejuvinated the French historicial novels in his time period. Before 1843 hit, he had already created fifteen plays. He produced over 250 books with his 73 assistants. The one he worked with the most was his best friend, Auguste Maquet. Some of his most popular works were LES TROIS MOUSQUETAIRES (1844, The Three Musketeers), and LE COMTE DE MONTE-CRISTO (1844-45, The Count of Monte-Cristo). Many people criticized Dumas for his constant ill-fortunes brought about to main characters in his writings, particularly in the latter.
Dumas lived as willfully as the characters in his books. He took part of the Revolution of 1832, became a Captain, caught cholera, and traveled to Italy to recuperate. He married his mistress in 1840, Ida Ferrier, but soon divorced her after spending her entire dowry. In this way, Dumas was compared to Le Comte de Monte-Cristo. He was a money hungry man who earned 200,000 francs yearly and an annual sum of 63,000 francs. With this money, he would use it to please friends, buy art and mistresses. He built the magnificent château de Monte-Cristo in 1846. As expected, he soon went into debt and escaped his creditors by fleeing to Brussels.
He was reported to spend ten years in Russia and Italy, and stayed in Naples for four of those years as a museum keeper. When he returned to France, his debts continued to mount.
Alexandre Dumas peré died December 5th, 1870 at Puys, near Dieppe, France. He was penniless but cheerful, saying of death: "I shall tell her a story, and she will be kind to me." One hundred years later, a biography was released by André Maurois with the following tribute:
"Dumas was a hero out of Dumas. As strong as Porthos, as adroit as d'Artagnan, as generous as Edmond Dantès, this superb giant strode across the nineteenth century breaking down doors with his shoulder, sweeping women away in his arms, and earning fortunes only to squander them promptly in dissipation. For forty years, he filled the newspapers with his prose, the stage with his dramas, the world with his clamor. Never did he know a moment of doubt or an instant of dispair. He turned his own existence into the finest of his novels."
Although Alexandre Dumas faded away from existence in 1870, it was to be expected that he would never truly leave French society. His novels still live on today as some of the best literature created, not only in France but in various countries as well. Generations will continue to pass down these lessons taught in the many novels by Dumas, and they will, with no doubt, not sway from their true stance on classical lists today.
Although Alexandre Dumas faded away from existence in 1870, it was to be expected that he would never truly leave French society. His novels still live on today as some of the best literature created, not only in France but in various countries as well. Generations will continue to pass down these lessons taught in the many novels by Dumas, and they will, with no doubt, not sway from their true stance on classical lists today.
Written in my own words, information found @ http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/adumas1.htm
