Introduction

The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel. But it is an art in itself. To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task. Many try and many fail. In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers. Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say. In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Alexandre Dumas.

About Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas was 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. 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. In his late 30s, came the books he is so well known for: The Three Musketeers and The Count Of Monte Cristo. With these and others, his fame was set both in France and across the world. Dumas was a great wanderer, spending years in Belgium, Russia, and Italy. A prolific writer on politics and travel, we look here at his short work: Martin Guerre.

About His Work

It is a work of great power, holding the attention and asking questions about what is real and what if… These stories are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Word Of Mouth. Many samples are at our YouTube channel. The full volume can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon, and other digital stores and read for you by Richard Mitchley.