Alexandre Dumas was a famous French writer born in 1802 who was known for historical fiction such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. He had a mixed racial background, as his grandfather was Black and a slave. Dumas frequently struggled financially due to lavish spending. One of his most famous works, The Man in the Iron Mask, was a sequel to The Three Musketeers involving a plot to overthrow the King of France by replacing him with his twin brother. The story involved characters wearing masks to conceal identities and dramatic events. Dumas collaborated with others on his stories, which were fast-paced adventure tales loosely based on real historical figures and events.

1. Alexandre Dumas“All For One and One For All”

2. Life and TimesBorn July 24, 1802, Died December 5, 1870Grandfather had married a slave girl while in San Domingo (Haiti) and took her last name, DumasWorked as a scribe for King Louise Philippe before making it big with novelsParticipated in ousting King Charles X from the throneFrequently broke from lavishly spending on women and high livingFathered at least 4 illegitimate children …while married“My father was a mulatto, my grandfather a Negro, and my great-grandfather a monkey. You see, Sir, my family starts where yours ends.”

3. Quotes“Happiness is like those palaces in fairytales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.”“How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.”“If God were suddenly condemned to live the life which He has inflicted upon men, He would kill Himself.”

4. The StoriesDumas had several collaborators while working on his novelsMany characters loosely based on real French menFast-paced adventure talesAccomplished playwright and novelistFamous for writing historical fictionMan in the Iron MaskCount of Monte CristoThe Three Musketeers

5. Man in the Iron MaskSequel to the Three Musketeers with the characters Aramis, Porthos, D’Artagnan, and AthosAramis plots to overthrow the unfit King Louis XIV and swap him with his imprisoned twin brother PhilippeThe swap is successful until Aramis boasts about his success

6. Man in the Iron Mask…ContinuedAramisis forced to flee, dragging an unaware Porthos with himPhilippe is taken to prison and must wear an iron mask to conceal his identityPorthos is crushed by boulders and killedAramis escapes to SpainAthos learns of his son Raoul’s death and dies

7. MovieStars Leonardo Dicaprio and Jeremy IronsStrays from plotline of novel“Hollywoodified” Incorporation of Dumas’ language, not integrated wellEntertaining and cheesy

8. SolangeAn aristocrat is hiding under the false name SolangeA man, who she calls Albert saves her from being discovered and he helps her father escape to England“Solange” and “Albert” fall in love and stay in ParisAlbert works at the cemetary as a scientist, experimenting with heads and bodiesGrave diggers leave a sack in his “lab”The guillotined head of Solange