Alexandre dumas
Alexandre dumasAlexandre Dumas
The novels of 19th century French author Alexandre Dumas continue to intrigue millions of readers around the world, 150 years after their creation. One of his works, The Three Musketeers, have inspired more than 100 of the 200 films based on Dumas's works. Few people know, however, that the author was the grandson of a Haitian slave, or that Dumas's mulatto father rose rapidly through the ranks of the French Army to become a legendary general by the age of 31. His father died when Dumas was only four. General Dumas, having fallen out of favor with Napoleon, not being sympathetic with Bonaparte's imperial ambitions. Though the general died young, leaving his son without an inheritance, Dumas overcame poverty, the lack of formal education, and the constant wear and tear of 19th-century racism to become one of the world's most popular writers. Fortunately, considering his heritage, Dumas never mentioned encountering any racial discrimination. He was accepted by the highest classes of society and received honors from kings and queens. And of course, from his father’s experience, he wanted no war and was a liberal.
During the hectic days of the revolution of 1830, in which he participated with enthusiasm, he nonetheless managed to work on new plays and works.
By the time Dumas was 35, he had laid the foundations of drama, helped stage a Romantic revolution in theater, and helped create a new kind of Romantic novel. In his book The Three Musketters, he described the adventures of three swashbuckling Frenchmen in the 1600’s.