Dumas, Alexandre: - Prolific French author Alexandre Dumas lived an adventuresome life that rivaled the excitement of his fictional tales. He was born in 1802 in Villers-Cotterêts, France. His grandmother was an Afro-Caribbean slave and his grandfather was a French nobleman and general in Napoleon's army.After a brief military career, Dumas began writing plays and later turned to historical fiction. He is best known for his exciting adventure novels, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. His swashbuckling heroes and intricate plots that combined history, action, and romance brought him much success with readers across Europe.His lavish lifestyle took its toll, and Dumas died in poverty in 1870. He left behind more than 300 works that defined romantic historical fiction in his era and remain beloved classics still appreciated by readers today.