Alexandre Dumas

NAME Alexandre Dumas

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Alexandre Dumas was a celebrated French writer known for his adventure novels, including The Three Musketeers (1844) and The Count of Monte Cristo (1844–1846). His works are among the most widely read in world literature, and many have been adapted into films, television series, and plays.

BIRTH Alexandre Dumas was born on July 24, 1802, in Villers-Cotterêts, Picardy, France

FAMILY BACKGROUND His family history was complex and diverse, marked by both nobility and the legacy of slavery.  His father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a commanding officer in Napoleon's army, who became the first Black person to become a general in the French Army in 1793. Dumas served as commander-in-chief of several armies, including the Army of the Western Pyrenees, the Army of the Alps, and the Army of the West. 

General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, father of Alexandre Dumas by Oliver Pichat

His mother, Marie-Louise Élisabeth Labouret, was the daughter of an innkeeper. Dumas had two older sisters, Marie-Alexandrine and Louise-Alexandrine.  

His paternal grandparents were Alexandre Antoine Davy de la Pailleterie, a French nobleman and général commissaire in the artillery of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), and Marie-Cessette Dumas, an enslaved woman of Afro-Caribbean ancestry.  

Dumas's paternal grandfather, the Marquis Alexandre-Antoine, purchased Marie-Cessette Dumas and made her his concubine.  Their relationship resulted in the birth of Thomas-Alexandre in Saint-Domingue.  Thomas-Alexandre later adopted the Dumas name from his grandmother.  Alexandre Dumas was proud of his mixed-race heritage. He famously declared, "My father was a mulatto, my grandfather was a Negro, and my great-grandfather a monkey. You see, Sir, my family starts where yours ends."

CHILDHOOD Dumas grew up in a France still influenced by the upheaval of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. His father, a war hero, died when Dumas was only four years old, leaving his family in financial difficulties. Despite these struggles, Dumas developed a love for literature and storytelling at an early age.

EDUCATION Alexandre Dumas's formal education was limited due to his family's financial struggles following his father's death.  His early learning was largely informal and self-directed. He received basic instruction from a local priest in Villers-Cotterêts.  From a young age, Dumas was a voracious reader, devouring any book he could find and even teaching himself Spanish.  His formal schooling was brief, including a short period at Abbé Grégoire's school, which he left to work as a notary clerk.

Despite this limited formal education, Dumas proved to be a dedicated student through self-study.  His mother's stories about his father's bravery were a significant influence, igniting his lifelong passion for storytelling.  His early Latin education, under the tutelage of an Abbé Grégoire, focused on Virgil and Tacitus.  Dumas particularly admired Virgil, memorizing entire passages of his work.

CAREER RECORD Dumas began his career as a notary clerk but soon turned to writing. He wrote plays, novels, and numerous articles.  His prolific output made him a literary celebrity. He also briefly served as a secretary to the Duc d'Orléans.

APPEARANCE Alexandre Dumas's appearance underwent a dramatic transformation throughout his life.  As a child, he presented a striking contrast to what might be expected of someone with his mixed-race heritage.  In his memoirs, he described himself as having long, curly blond hair, large blue eyes, a straight nose, and a "brilliant white" complexion. This fair appearance persisted until he was around fifteen years old.

Around that age, Dumas's appearance changed significantly.  His hair became frizzy and kinky, his skin tone darkened to brown, and his eyes turned from blue to brown.  By adulthood, Dumas was a tall, well-built man with a striking presence. He had large brown eyes, a dark complexion, and prominent African features, which were often noted and sometimes caricatured.  He was described as having the stature of a "drum major," a muscular build with limbs likened to Hercules, prominent lips, an "African nose," frizzy, kinky hair, and tanned or dark skin.

Dumas himself acknowledged the clear evidence of his African heritage in his appearance, stating that his origin was "written all over his person."  While he didn't consider himself conventionally handsome, he believed his appearance possessed "character."  His unique look became part of his public persona as his fame as a writer grew, with some even attributing his passionate nature and writing style to his African ancestry.

Portrait of Alexandre Dumas by William Henry Powell (1855)

FASHION Dumas had a flamboyant sense of fashion, often dressing in elegant and richly colored clothing. He enjoyed making a statement with his attire, reflecting his larger-than-life personality.

CHARACTER Dumas was known for his charisma, generosity, and boundless energy. He was a social man who loved engaging in conversations, storytelling, and enjoying the company of artists, writers, and intellectuals. Despite financial success, he was often extravagant with his wealth and lived beyond his means.

SPEAKING VOICE Alexandre Dumas possessed a lively and engaging speaking voice, an integral part of his larger-than-life personality.  His contemporaries often commented on his verbal prowess and its impact on listeners. Dumas was described as having a tongue "like a windmill," implying he was a rapid and enthusiastic speaker, and once he began talking, particularly about himself, it was hard to say when he would stop. (1)

His speech was characterized by wit and charm.  He had such a talent for conversation that he seemed to create an atmosphere of wit around him, making others feel witty in turn. 

As a member of the upper class, he would have spoken with cultured tones and courtesy, qualities that were considered markers of education and social standing in his era.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Dumas had a lively wit and a great sense of humor, which often came through in his storytelling and daily life. He was known for his playful, adventurous spirit and love of entertaining those around him. His humorous side was also evident in his personal anecdotes and exchanges with friends.

RELATIONSHIPS Alexandre Dumas married actress Ida Ferrier (born Marguerite-Joséphine Ferrand) on February 1, 1840, in Paris. The circumstances surrounding their marriage are noteworthy.  Dumas began an affair with Ida Ferrier in February 1832.  After presenting her to the Duke of Orleans, the Duke reportedly suggested that Alexandre should only present someone who is his wife, a comment that apparently prompted Dumas to marry Ida.

Their marriage, however, proved to be short-lived and unhappy.  The couple did not have any children together and separated in 1846, just six years after their wedding.  

His relationship with Ida Ferrier was just one of many romantic entanglements in his life.  He was known to have had at least 40 mistresses and fathered several children out of wedlock. Dumas's attitude towards marriage and fidelity was notably casual, often engaging in multiple affairs simultaneously.

Dumas' most famous illegitimate child, Alexandre Dumas fils (July 27, 1824 – November 27, 1895), became a successful writer in his own right, penning La Dame aux Camélias, which inspired Verdi’s opera La Traviata.

Alexandre Dumas fils

MONEY AND FAME Dumas achieved massive fame and wealth due to his literary success, but he was equally known for his extravagant spending. He built a luxurious mansion, the Château de Monte-Cristo, but his lavish lifestyle and poor financial management left him frequently in debt. Despite this, he continued to write prolifically to sustain his lifestyle.

FOOD AND DRINK A devoted gourmet, Dumas loved cooking and enjoyed preparing meals himself. He often made elaborate salads, which he seasoned with almond milk, a liqueur, or champagne. 

Dumas loved melons and when in 1864, when the newly established Cavaillon library reached out to French writers for book donations, Dumas responded with a unique proposal. He offered to donate all of his published works, as well as future publications, in exchange for "a life annuity of twelve Cavaillon melons per year."  The town council of Cavaillon happily accepted this arrangement and even passed a by-law to formalize the agreement. Dumas enjoyed this annual delivery of 12 Cavaillon melons from 1864 until his death in 1870, receiving over 72 melons in total. (2)

His love for food extended to his literary work, and a few weeks before his death, he completed his Grand Dictionnaire de Cuisine, an impressive 1,152-page encyclopedia of culinary knowledge.

WRITING CAREER Alexandre Dumas was, in literary terms, a force of nature. He wrote with the enthusiasm of a man who believed the ink might run out at any moment, producing a truly absurd amount of words—about 100,000 pages, to be imprecise. That’s not a typo. He wrote roughly 650 books, which is either a remarkable feat or a cry for help.

Dumas’ journey as a writer began in 1822 when he moved to Paris and landed a job as a scribe for the duc d’Orléans (who later upgraded his title to King Louis Philippe). Being a scribe wasn’t quite the romantic life of letters he had in mind, so he turned to playwriting—because why not?

His first play, Henry III and His Court (1829), was a roaring success. This led to more plays, both comedies and dramas, proving that he was as versatile as he was prolific.

By the mid-1830s, Dumas had discovered that novels—especially serialized ones—were where the real money was. He got started with La Comtesse de Salisbury; Édouard III (1836), a title that suggests he wasn’t afraid of colons. Then he took an old play, Le Capitaine Paul, and rewrote it as a historical novel in 1838, a move that worked out rather well.

And then, of course, came the blockbusters.

The Three Musketeers (1844), which introduced us to d’Artagnan and his overly dramatic friends.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (illustration of the Calmann-Lévy edition, Paris, 1894).

The Count of Monte Cristo (1844-45), in which a man takes pettiness to an art form.

Twenty Years After (1845), because the Musketeers weren’t done yet.

The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later, which is best remembered for the Man in the Iron Mask storyline.

These books made him famous. They also made him rich, though not for long (Dumas had the financial habits of a man who assumed money was a renewable resource).

Dumas wrote in a sweeping, romantic style, often compared to Victor Hugo, though he had far less interest in weeping beggars and crumbling barricades. His historical settings—usually the 16th or 17th century—were more of a suggestion than a commitment to accuracy. If historical details got in the way of a good sword fight, they were promptly discarded.

Writing 650 books is, obviously, impossible for a single human, so Dumas did what any sensible person would do—he founded a production studio. With a team of assistants and ghostwriters, most notably Auguste Maquet, he churned out novel after novel at a terrifying pace.

He even dabbled in true crime with Celebrated Crimes, an eight-volume collection of essays on famous criminals—because, again, why not?

Dumas’ ability to tell a gripping story was unparalleled, and his marketing instincts were just as sharp. He understood what readers wanted—action, adventure, and intrigue wrapped in a swashbuckling package. While his reputation faded towards the end of his life, his books have never really gone out of style.

Today, The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo remain some of the most widely read and adapted works in literary history. Not bad for a man who, at one point, was writing so much that he may not have remembered what he had written the week before.

MUSIC AND ARTS While primarily known for his literary works, Dumas had a deep appreciation for the arts. His theatrical plays contributed significantly to his early success, and he collaborated with composers and artists of his time. His dramatic flair made his stories perfect for adaptation into plays and, later, films.

LITERATURE Dumas is considered "the father of the great swashbuckling historical epic," revolutionizing historical fiction with his gripping narratives. 

NATURE Dumas had a strong connection to nature, which is evident in the settings of his novels. He often described landscapes and natural elements in vivid detail, bringing his stories to life with a sense of adventure and wonder.

PETS Dumas adored animals and had several pets, including his beloved cats, Mysouff I and Mysouff II. The second Mysouff, a black and white cat, was his favorite—despite once eating all of Dumas’ exotic birds. His affection for animals added to his eccentric and endearing personality.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Beyond writing, Dumas had a passion for cooking, and engaging in lively social gatherings. 

Dumas had a strong interest in swordsmanship, collaborating with his fencing master Augustin Grisier on the novel The Fencing Master.

He also had an adventurous spirit, mirroring the heroic characters in his books. His travels inspired many of his stories, bringing exotic locations and historical adventures to life.

SCIENCE AND MATHS While Dumas was primarily a man of letters, he was also a member of the Club des Hashischins (Hashish Club), a group of French intellectuals who experimented with hashish to explore altered states of consciousness. He was fascinated by the effects of substances on creativity, which reflected the 19th-century curiosity about science and mind-altering experiences.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Dumas held progressive views on social justice and personal freedom, often reflecting them in his novels. His works championed heroism, loyalty, and the triumph of justice over oppression. Despite being deeply engaged in worldly pleasures, his writing often explored themes of fate, morality, and divine justice, particularly in The Count of Monte Cristo.

POLITICS Dumas was an ardent supporter of national unity and freedom, both in France and abroad. In 1861, when the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed under Victor Emmanuel II, Dumas traveled there and actively participated in the Italian unification movement. He founded and led the newspaper Indipendente, advocating for the cause of a unified Italy.

SCANDAL Dumas led a flamboyant and often scandalous personal life. His numerous affairs and illegitimate children were well known, and he was frequently embroiled in financial troubles due to his extravagant lifestyle. He also faced criticism for his mixed-race heritage, despite his immense literary success.

MILITARY RECORD Though not a soldier like his father, the celebrated General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, Alexandre Dumas had his own taste of combat. At 23, he fought his first duel as a young dandy, emerging without injury—except for the embarrassing moment when his trousers fell down during the fight.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Dumas had a robust appetite for life, particularly in food and drink, which contributed to his eventual health decline. Though not known for athleticism, he was energetic in his youth, and his physical presence—broad-shouldered and commanding—was as bold as his personality.

HOMES Dumas' most extravagant home was the Château de Monte-Cristo, a grand estate near Paris, built with the wealth from his literary success. The château was filled with exotic artifacts and luxurious decorations, embodying his love for adventure and grandeur. However, his lavish spending led to financial troubles, and he was eventually forced to sell the property.

Château de Monte-Cristo by JPGO Wikipedia

TRAVEL Alexandre Dumas was a passionate traveler who explored numerous countries throughout his life. These journeys were not only personally enriching but also significantly influenced his writing.  He traveled extensively throughout Europe, visiting Spain, where he documented his experiences in cities like Burgos, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, and Seville in Impressions de voyage – De Paris à Cadix.  His travels also took him to Italy, where he spent three years, including Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, and even participated in the Italian unification movement.  Germany, England, and Belgium, where he fled to Brussels in 1851 to escape creditors and political persecution, were also part of his European explorations.

Dumas's travels extended beyond Europe.  In 1859, he spent two years in Russia, visiting cities like St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, Astrakhan, Baku, and Tbilisi.  His warm reception in Russia was partly due to the popularity of the French language among the Russian elite.  He also published travel books documenting his Russian experiences.  North Africa was another destination, with visits to French Algeria and Tunisia, including Carthage, which he wrote about in Le Véloce ou Tanger, Alger et Tunis.

DEATH Alexandre Dumas died on December 5, 1870, at the age of 68, in Puys, near Dieppe, France. His death was likely due to natural causes, possibly a heart attack. The Franco-Prussian War overshadowed his passing, and changing literary fashions had decreased his popularity at the time.

Initially, Dumas was buried in the cemetery of his birthplace, Villers-Cotterêts, in the department of Aisne. This was in accordance with his wishes, as expressed in his memoirs.

However, in 2002, for the bicentenary of Dumas's birth, French President Jacques Chirac ordered the transfer of Dumas's remains to the Panthéon in Paris, the mausoleum where French luminaries are interred8. This decision initially faced opposition from the villagers of Villers-Cotterêts, but they eventually agree

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Alexandre Dumas’ stories have been adapted, referenced, and reinvented so many times that even he might have lost track. His larger-than-life characters, swashbuckling plots, and sheer storytelling flair have made him a fixture in popular culture—appearing in everything from classic films to cartoons, video games, and even anime.

1. Film and Television Dumas’ novels have been adapted into films since the silent era, with The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo leading the pack. There have been at least 50 film versions of The Three Musketeers alone, including:

The 1921 silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks, one of Hollywood’s first great action heroes.

The 1973 version with Michael York, which leaned into comedy and swashbuckling in equal measure.

The 1993 Disney adaptation, where Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland traded gunfights for swordplay.

The 2011 steampunk-ish 3D adaptation, which featured airships (because why not?).

Meanwhile, The Count of Monte Cristo has had at least 30 screen adaptations, including:

The 1934 version starring Robert Donat, which became the blueprint for revenge thrillers.

The 2002 film with Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce, adding extra action and a smirk-filled villain.

Also The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, loosely adapts Dumas’ novel and throws in some extra melodrama.

2. Anime, Video Games and Comics Dumas’ influence stretches beyond traditional media into modern pop culture:

The Fate/Grand Order video game series features Dumas as a character.

Gankutsuou (2004) reimagines The Count of Monte Cristo as a futuristic revenge opera.

Various Musketeers comics, manga, and even graphic novels have reinvented his stories.

3. Books Dumas himself has been fictionalized in numerous works, including:

The Club Dumas (1993) by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, a literary thriller full of secret societies and rare books.

The Black Count (2012) by Tom Reiss, which tells the true story of Dumas’ father, a real-life inspiration for his adventures.

ACHIEVEMENTS Dumas' greatest achievement was his vast body of work, which continues to entertain and inspire readers around the world. He popularized the historical adventure novel and left a lasting legacy in French literature.

Sources (1) Interlude (2) Food For Thought by Ed Pearce