The Musketeers Project - Dumas Background Information

[Robin P, Moderator]

With our time period, we have few chances to read authors of diverse races. The article below has a general summary of Alexandre Dumas' life and work. As a person who was 1/4 black, he often was insulted by enemies and caricatured in cartoons that exaggerated his features and curly hair. For an excellent nonfiction account of his father, the Napoleonic general who was the son of a slave, see The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo

Article on Dumas - http://www.intermix.org.uk/icons/icon...

[Jenny]

Very interesting! I knew nothing of Dumas’ mixed race heritage.

[Alison]

Thank you. Always good to have context. I look forward to reading the novels.

[Dan]

I am currently reading "The Black Count", and Dumas was inspired by his father his whole life. The Count of Monte Cristo was based on his father, except for the revenge parts which Dumas made up. And the Musketeers each were based on aspects of his father.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Dan wrote: "I am currently reading "The Black Count", and Dumas was inspired by his father his whole life. The Count of Monte Cristo was based on his father, except for the revenge parts which Dumas made up. A..."

Yes, that's an excellent book. It's quite amazing how the time of the Revolution made for an equality that later mostly disappeared.