Who has not heard of the adventures of the Three Musketeers? The author of an immortal work, which tells about historical events in France, was no less passionate in life and in business than the brave d'Artagnan. Alexander Dumas Sr. has become a classic of world literature. He is also known as the author of talented theatrical plays and a great heartthrob.
From the biography of Alexandre Dumas
The future famous classic of French literature was born on July 24, 1802 in the north of France, in the commune of Villers-Cotrets. Alexander's father served in Napoleon's army and was even a close friend of the emperor. But later, friendly relations went wrong: the reason was the rejection by the commander of Napoleon's decision regarding the introduction of troops into Egypt.
Dumas's father was in captivity and returned home sick. The commander's star was rapidly extinguished. He was deaf and blind in one eye. In 1806, my father died. The family was left without a livelihood. The childhood of the future writer was spent in need. The mother tried in vain to procure a scholarship for her son to study at the lyceum. She introduced Alexander to the basics of grammar and reading herself.
Nevertheless, Dumas eventually went to college, mastered Latin and even developed a calligraphic handwriting.
The first place of work for the future writer was a notary office, where he was a simple clerk. The earnings were stable, but he did not like the routine work. Dumas hated a heap of business papers. In the end, the young man left for Paris. Here he got a job as a scribe in the secretariat of the future King Louis Philippe. The recommendations of my father's friends helped.
At about the same time, Dumas met local writers and began to write independently. In 1829 his play about Henry III was published. After staging this work, fame came to the author of the play.
Dumas tried to take part in all significant social events. He was a participant in the July Revolution of 1830 and even led the excavations of the legendary Pompeii. At one time he lived in Switzerland.
Dumas' creativity
Having conquered the theater, Dumas plunged into literary creativity. He made his debut as a writer in 1838. His novel "Chevalier d'Armantal" was published in the newspaper. The reader appreciated the swiftness of the action and the fascinating plot of the work, which was printed in excerpts from issue to issue. Later it became known that the feuilleton novel was created in collaboration with Auguste Macke.
In the following years, Dumas and Macke released several significant works together. Among them are "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Three Musketeers", "Queen Margot", "The Countess de Monsoro" and others.
Dumas traveled around the world a lot. He also visited Russia. The writer was surprised to learn that the Russian public is well versed in French literature. During his wanderings around Russia, Dumas managed to visit the capital cities, Kalmykia, Astrakhan. He also visited the Caucasus. As a result, Dumas's travel notes appeared, which were popular with the reader.
Personal life of Alexandre Dumas
His biographers consider the weak point of Dumas to be a passion for the female sex. Legends were made about his adventures and success with women. Biographers have calculated that for all the time Dumas-father had about five hundred mistresses.
His first love affair was the dressmaker Laure Labe. She lived with him in the same house and was several years older than Dumas. Alexander managed to win the heart of a woman without difficulty. In 1824 she gave him a son, who was named Alexander. Dumas Sr. recognized his son only seven years after his birth.
Alexander Dumas Sr. passed away on December 5, 1870.
