DUMAS (dii-ma'), ALEXANDRE, the Elder, a celebrated French romancist and dramatist; born in Villers-Cotterets, Aisne, July 24, 1802. He was grandson of a French marquis and a San Domin go negress. In 1823 he went to Paris and obtained an assistant-secretaryship from the Duke of Orleans, afterward Louis Philippe. In 1829 he scored his first success with his drama "Henry III." The same year appeared his "Christine," and in quick succession "Antony," "Richard d'Arlington," "Te resa," "Le Tour de Nesle," "Catharine Howard," etc. Dumas had now become a noted Parisian character. The critics fought over the merits of his pieces, and the scandalmongers over his prodigality and galanteries. Turning his attention to romance, he produced a series of his torical romances.
A few of the great multitude of his famous romances are: "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1844) ; "The Three Mus keteers" (1844) ; "Twenty Years After" (1845) ; "The Knight of Maison-Rouge" (1846) ; "Viscount de Bragelonne" (1847) ; "Queen Margot" (1847). Many
of his stories were of great length, 6 to 12 volumes. Besides pure fiction he wrote a number of historical romances, as "Joan of Arc" (1842) ; "Michelangelo and Raffaelle" 1846) ; "Louis XIV. and His Age" (1847). His plays, which had extraordinary success, include: "Henri III. and His Court" (1829) ; "Antony" (1831) ; "Charles VII. with His Gra d Vassals" (1831), "Mlle. de Belle Isle" (1839) ; "Marriage Under Louis XV." (1841) ; "The Misses St. Cyr" (1843). Nearly all his novels were put on the stage also. He wrote entertaining narratives of his travels in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain, north Africa, Egypt, Syria, etc. The works which bear his name amount to some 1,200 vol umes, including about 60 dramas. He died near Dieppe, Dec. 5, 1870.