Alexandre Dumas, also known as Alexandre Dumas père, was a celebrated French novelist and playwright born on July 24, 1802, and passed away on December 5, 1870. Renowned for his captivating works, he authored numerous historical novels that became immensely popular, such as The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Twenty Years After. His writings, translated into numerous languages, gained widespread readership, and his novels were adapted into nearly 200 films from the early 20th century onwards. Dumas began his career as a playwright, achieving immediate success with his plays and later delving into writing articles, travel books, and founding the Théâtre Historique in Paris in the 1840s. Born to General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie and an African slave, Marie-Cessette Dumas, in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, he ventured into a military career after being educated in France. He later transitioned to writing, gaining early recognition. During political shifts, Dumas experienced a decline in favor and relocated, spending time in Belgium, Russia, and Italy. In 1861, he founded L'Indépendent, a newspaper supporting Italian unification, before returning to Paris in 1864. Described by English playwright Watts Phillips as a remarkably generous and entertaining individual with a penchant for self-expression, Dumas left an indelible mark on literature and the arts.

Alexandre Dumas - Wikipedia