Alexandre Dumas
The son of a Haitian general who used his boundless imagination to create some of literature's most enduring tales of adventure and revenge.
1802–1870 (age 68)·French writer and dramatist·Birthday: July 24
Biography
Alexandre Dumas's life was as grand and dramatic as his fiction. Born in 1802 to Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a mixed-race general in Napoleon's army, and raised in modest circumstances after his father's fall from grace, young Alexandre moved to Paris to make his name. He first found success writing vibrant historical plays that captivated audiences. But it was his turn to the serialized novel that made him a European superstar. Working at a furious pace, often with collaborators, he produced monumental works like 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo', blending meticulous historical detail with irresistible plots of swordplay, romance, and justice. Dumas lived as lavishly as his characters, building a lavish château and spending fortunes, which led to debt and a later period of exile. More than just an entertainer, he crafted stories that have become a permanent part of the global imagination, ensuring his characters outlived their creator's tumultuous life.
#1 When Alexandre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1802
Alexandre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1802Born
1807Started school
1815Became a teenager
1818Could drive
1820Could vote
1823Turned 21
1832Turned 30
1842Turned 40
1852Turned 50
1862Turned 60
President: Abraham Lincoln
1870Died at 68
President: Ulysses S. Grant
Key Achievements
- Wrote 'The Count of Monte Cristo', one of the most popular and frequently adapted novels of all time.
- Published the beloved adventure novel 'The Three Musketeers', launching the d'Artagnan Romances.
- Produced an enormous literary output, with his complete works comprising over 100,000 pages.
- His 1851 play 'The Tower of Nesle' was a major success and is considered a classic of French melodrama.
Did You Know?
His father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, was the highest-ranking person of color in a European army at the time.
Dumas once fought a duel where the combatants drew lots to see who would die; he lost, but his opponent's shot missed.
He had a pet monkey named Mysouff, who reportedly attended his literary salons.
In 2002, his ashes were transferred to the Panthéon in Paris, France's mausoleum for its national heroes.
“All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope.”
