The Three Musketeers | About the Author

Alexandre Dumas was born on July 24, 1802, in Villers-Cotterets, a small village in France. His grandfather was a nobleman, the Marquis de la Pailleterie, and his grandmother was a black slave, Marie-Cessette Dumas. After quarreling with the marquis, Alexandre's father renounced the family and enlisted in the army as Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, using his mother's name. In a remarkable career, Thomas- Alexandre rose from the rank of lieutenant to general under Napoleon in less than two years. His boldness in battle prompted the enemy to nickname him "the Black Devil." While serving in the...

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