Alexandre Dumas

Introduction for essay about Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas was a French writer who is best known for his historical novels. He was born in 1802 and died in 1870. Dumas was a prolific writer and his novels have been translated into many languages. His most famous works include The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Structure of essay papers on Alexandre Dumas

1. Childhood and Family
2. Dumas was born in Paris, France, on July 24, 1802, the son of general Alexandre Dumas and Marie-Louise Labouret. His grandfather, Antoine-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie, was a nobleman who served as an officer in the royal guard under King Louis XV. His father was also an accomplished military man, rising to the rank of general during the French Revolutionary Wars. Dumas’ mother died when he was just four years old, and his father abandoned him soon after. He was raised by his grandmother, Marie Louise Henriette Antoinette Caron de Beaumarchais.
3. Education
4. Dumas did not receive a formal education beyond primary school. However, he was an avid reader from a young age and educated himself through voracious reading. He particularly loved history and adventure stories.
5. Early Writing Career
6. Dumas began writing plays in the 1820s, but it was not until 1830 that one of his plays was actually produced. His first success came with the play Henry III and His Court (1829), which was staged at the Comédie-Française. This was followed by a string of other hits, including The Corsican Brothers (1830), Christine (1831), and Antony (1831). Dumas’ plays were very popular with Parisian audiences and helped to make him a wealthy man.
7. The Three Musketeers
8. In 1844, Dumas published The Three Musketeers, one of his most famous works. The novel tells the story of d’Artagnan, a young man who travels to Paris to join the king’s musketeers. Along the way, he meets Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, three other musketeers who become his close friends. Together, they embark on a series of adventures involving duels, intrigue, and romance. The novel was an instant bestseller and has been adapted for stage and screen numerous times over the years.
9. The Count of Monte Cristo
10. Another of Dumas’ most popular novels is The Count of Monte Cristo (1844), which tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned without trial for 14 years. When he finally escapes from prison, he uses his newfound wealth and power to take revenge on those who wronged him. The novel is considered one of the great works of French literature and has been adapted for film and television numerous times over the years.
11. Later Life and Career
12. In addition to his novels, Dumas also wrote plays, essays, travel books, histories, and biographies. He continued to be prolific throughout his life; in all, he is estimated to have written more than 400 works during his career. In 1850, Dumas founded his own newspaper called Le Mousquetaire (The Musketeer), which featured serialized stories similar to those found in his novels. However, the paper was not successful and folded after just two years. In 1851, Dumas traveled to Russia at the invitation of Tsar Nicholas I; while there he wrote a series of articles about his experiences that were later collected into a book called Impressions de voyage: En Russie (Travel Impressions: In Russia). He also wrote a number of other travel books about Italy (1852-53) and Spain (1858). In 1862-63 Dumas undertook perhaps his most ambitious writing project: a massive historical novel about Napoleon Bonaparte called La Comédie Humaine (The Human Comedy). This work would remain unfinished at his death; however much of it was later published posthumously by his son Alexandre Dumas fils under the title Les Memoirs de la Vie Privée de Napoleon Bonaparte (The Private Life of Napoleon Bonaparte).
14. In later life Dumas became increasingly interested in politics and even ran unsuccessfully for office on several occasions. He also became involved in various social causes such as women’s rights and abolitionism; he even met with Abraham Lincoln to discuss ways to end slavery in America. Dumas’ health began to decline in 1870 due to heart problems; he died on December 5th of that year at his estate in Puys near Dieppe at the age of 68..

Conclusion

Alexandre Dumas was a French writer who wrote some of the most popular novels of his time. His novels were often historical romances, full of adventure and suspense. Dumas was a master storyteller, and his novels continue to be enjoyed by readers today.

The most popular works of this author

1. The Three Musketeers
2. The Count of Monte Cristo
3. The Man in the Iron Mask
4. Twenty Years After
5. The Vicomte de Bragelonne
6. The Black Tulip
7. The Queen’s Necklace
8. Louise de la Valliere
9. Ten Years Later
10. The Chevalier d’Harmental