Early Life

Alexandre Dumas born into poverty in 1802. Complicating his life was his African ancestry which gave rise to much racist behaviour against him despite being seven eighths French. Raised by his mother after his father's death by age 4 he was a voracious reader.

Career Beginnings

At age 20, with the restoration of the French Monarchy he went to Paris to attend on The Duke of Orleans. Thereafter he began to write plays and two early successes allowed him to write full time. Dumas helped in the revolution of 1830 which installed his former employer as the new King.

Literary Fame

In his late 30s came the books he is so well known for “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count Of Monte Cristo” and with these and others his fame was set both in France and across the World.

Later Life and Works

Dumas was a great wanderer spending years in Belgium, Russia and Italy. A prolific writer on politics and travel we look here at The Forty Five Guardsmen. It is a work of great power holding the attention and asking questions.