Young Dumas. Biography of Alexander Dumas

Alexandre Dumas (father) - French writer, journalist, playwright, author of popular adventure novels, which made him one of the most famous and widely read French writers in the world. The word “father” is added to his name, because... the son’s name was also Alexander, and he also gained fame in the literary field. Alexandre Dumas's homeland was the small town of Villers-Cotterets near Paris, where he was born on July 24, 1802 into the family of a famous cavalry general in the Napoleonic army. Alexander was a Quaternonian on his father's side: his grandmother was black. His father died in 1806, leaving the family in a rather deplorable situation; in any case, his mother did not have enough money for a quality education, and Alexander replenished his knowledge by reading a lot.

Dumas met his youth in his hometown. Alexander's friend, who loved to visit Parisian theaters, strengthened his intention to become a playwright. Thanks to their father, their family still had some connections in Paris, and the young man who moved to the capital in 1822 was able to get a job in the office of the Duke of Orleans and at the same time began to fill the gaps in education.

The first published works of Alexandre Dumas the Father were vaudeville plays, plays and magazine articles. The debut vaudeville “Hunt for Love” was immediately accepted for production, which inspired the writing of the drama. “Henry III and His Court” was received very warmly by the public, and its subsequent ones were also successful. dramatic works, thanks to which creativity turned into a source of good income for Dumas. To call his plays perfect from an artistic point of view would be an exaggeration, but the young playwright had the gift of holding attention until the end of the performance, even frankly weak plays with his co-authorship acquired a new, successful life, packed the halls.

The July Revolution of 1830 involved Dumas in active social activities. Taking the side of the opposition, he was forced to flee to Switzerland due to the threat of arrest. The year 1835 was marked in his biography by the release of his first historical novel, “Isabella of Bavaria,” which, according to the writer’s idea, was to mark the beginning of a large cycle of works covering a long period in the life of his country. In 1840, he married actress Ida Ferrier, but this did not stop him from having affairs on the side. In 1844, the couple, without further filing for divorce, actually ended their relationship.

Inspired by the success of Isabella of Bavaria, in the 40s. Alexandre Dumas publishes historical adventure novels in newspapers, thanks to which he became a world-famous writer: “The Three Musketeers” (1844) and two sequels to the trilogy – “Twenty Years Later” (1845), “The Vicomte de Bragelonne, or Ten Years Later” (1848-1850), “The Count of Monte Cristo” (1844-1845), “Queen Margot” (1846), “Madame de Monsoreau” (1846), “The Two Dianas” (1846), “Forty-Five” (1848 ). Literary activity brought Dumas very good income, but the writer spent all his money, not wanting to deny himself luxury. In 1851, he even had to hide from creditors in Belgium.

Throughout 1858-1859. Dumas traveled around Russia, and his impressions from his trips formed the basis of a five-volume travelogue, “From Paris to Astrakhan.” Being acquainted with Garibaldi, Dumas the father was a participant in the Italian national liberation movement for three years, and in 1860 he went on a campaign to Sicily. When there was war between Austria and Prussia, in 1866 he was a war correspondent. IN last years life was on the verge of poverty and subsisted on the support of children. Almost no attention was paid to his death on December 5, 1870 in Puy: at that time Prussian troops occupied France. In 2002, the ashes of Dumas the Father were reburied in the Paris Pantheon.

The writer’s literary heritage is amazing: in full meeting his works included more than a thousand volumes. In this regard, they often talk about co-authors, assistants, and literary blacks who worked under the “Dumas brand,” although the writer himself was famous for his very high efficiency and enormous diligence. Be that as it may, no one has yet been able to dislodge his name from the first line of the world ranking of the most prolific writers.

He was a man who not only had incredible talent and creative genius, but also an amazingly hardworking disposition. During his life (1802-1870) he gave the world over half a thousand volumes. This man's contribution to literature is truly admirable.

The list of works by Alexandre Dumas, his father, is so long that envious people said that a whole team of “literary slaves” was working for the author. However, there has never been confirmation of this. And his contemporaries spoke of him as an incredibly efficient person.

In addition to the number of published works, Dumas the Father was far ahead of most writers in the quality of his creations. And the variety of genres in which the author worked is truly impressive.

The list of works by Alexandre Dumas the Father can be divided into several main ones: cycles, historical novels, travel notes, plays. The author's main focus was writing historical and adventure novels.

Cycles

Perhaps the most famous of the list of works by Dumas the Father can rightfully be considered the cycle "Three Musketeers". Who hasn’t read the adventures of the brave friends D’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis?

The first book was published in 1844, and the last in 1847. The cycle consists of three works:

1844 - a novel about the adventures of friends “The Three Musketeers”;

1845 - continuation of the novel “Twenty Years Later”;

1847 - last piece Dumas the Father about the brave four "The Vicomte de Bragelonne, or Ten Years After."

The story of Henry of Navarre is a classic trilogy and includes:

1845 - the first novel “Queen Margot”;

1846 - the second part of the trilogy “The Countess de Monsoreau”;

1847 - the final part of the “Forty-Five” cycle.

The cycle that fans dubbed "Regency", consists of two novels:

1842 - “Chevalier D'Harmental”;

1845 - “The Regent’s Daughter.”

The list of works by Dumas continues in a cycle "French revolution", or as it is also called, "Memoirs of a Doctor". It consists of the following novels:

"Joseph Balsamo", published in 1846-48;

"Necklace for the Queen" (probably 1849-50);

"The Countess de Charny" (published from 1853 to 1855);

"Ange Pitou" (saw the world in 1853);

"Chevalier de Maisons-Rouge" was published in 1845 and is the final one in the series.

the novel “The Page of the Duke of Savoy” appeared in 1852;

the work “The Two Dianas” was published back in 1846;

“Prediction” ends the list of works by Dumas the Father from the “16th Century” cycle.

Series about the Great french revolution was started by the author as historical. Dumas had a weakness for great achievements and people, and simply could not ignore the revolutionary movement.

1867 - “White and Blue”;

1863 - “Volunteer of the ninety-second year”;

1858 - “Conspiracy”;

1859 - “She-Wolves from Mashkul”.

Historical adventure novels

Each of Dumas's works is a literary pearl. The most famous:

• "Actea";
• "Ashbourne Pastor";
• "Black";
• "Last payment";
• "God disposes";
• "Dove";
• "Sylvandir";
• "Countess of Salisbury";
• "Charlemagne";
• "Giovanna of Naples";
• "Princess of Monaco";
• "Captain Paul";
• "Don Bernardo de Zúñiga";
• "The Marquis's Daughter";
• "The Marriage of Father Oliphus";
• "Women's War";
• "Gabriel Lambert";
• "Epstein Castle"
• "Yakov Bezukhy";
• "Isabella of Bavaria";
• "The Queen of Voluptuousness";
• "Isaac Lakedem";
• "Two Queens";
• "Confession of a Favorite";
• "Waters of Aix";
• "Captain Arena";
• "Night in Florence";
• "Captain La Jonquière";
• "The Mysterious Doctor";
• "Captain Pamphil";
• "Notes of a Policeman";
• "Catilina";
• "Black Tulip";
• "Louise San Felice";
• "The story of my animals";
• "Ingenue";
• "Madame de Chamblay";
• "Monseigneur Gaston Phoebus";
• "Mohicans from Paris";
• "Hope is the last to die";
• "Fire Island";
• "The Poison of Jealousy";
• "Olympia of Cleves";
• "Madame Lafargue";
• "Otho the Archer";
• "Leader of the Wolves";
• "Waterfowl Hunter";
• "Red Sphinx";
• "Pascal Bruno";
• "Confession of the Marquise";
• "Emma Lyonne";
• "Invitation to a Waltz";
• "Thousands";
• "The Adventures of Captain Marion";
• "Pauline";
• "Pierre de Giac";
• "Parisians and Provincials";
• "Young Musketeers";
• "Cecile";
• "Conscience Blessed";
• "The convict's son";
• "Marquise d'Eskoman";
• "Pippin the Short";
• "Fernanda";
• "The Romance of Violetta";
• "Dad";
• "Edward the Third";
• "Corsican Brothers";
• "Prussian Terror";
• "Richard Darlington";
• "Bastard de Mauleon";
• and Richelieu";
• "The Adventures of Liderik";
• "Garibaldians";
• "Robin Hood - King of Robbers."

Chronological works

The list of works by Dumas the Father is rich in chronological works about historical events France. The author passionately explored history and the role of man in it. He was especially fascinated by important political figures.

Among the works you can find scientific research such as:

• "Karl the Bold";
• "The Last King of the French";
• "Gaul and France";
• "Louis XIV and his century";
• "Henry IV";
• "The Road to Varennes";
• "Drama of '93";
• "Joan of Arc";
• and revolution";
• "Medici"
• "Robin Hood in Exile";
• "Stuarts";
• "Caesar";
• "Robin Hood";
• "Napoleon";
• "Louis XV and his court";
• "Regency".

Travel notes

In the list of works by Dumas, readers often ignore magnificent works travel author. But it is these stories that seem especially alive, because they were written by the author under the impression of his own wanderings.

Works from the series of travel notes are presented below:

• "In Russia";
• "Happy Arabia";
• "Fifteen days in Sinai";
• "Fast";
• "From Paris to Cadiz";
• "Corricolo";
• "Speronara";
• "In Switzerland";
• "South of France";
• "Wallachia";
• "Vila Palmieri"
• "Caucasus";
• "A Year in Florence";
• "Walking along the banks of the Rhine."

As mentioned earlier, the author did not focus on a specific genre. From the memoirs of contemporaries it becomes clear that the writer was in continuous creative search. A worthy place in the list of Dumas’s works is occupied by the following plays:

• "Angela";
• "Anthony";
• "Pupils of the House of Saint-Cyr";
• "Kin, genius and dissipation";
• "Foresters";
• "Musketeers";
• "Napoleon, or 30 years of French history";
• "Nelskaya Tower";
• "Hunting and Love";
• "Christina";
• "Teresa Teresa";
• "Caligula".

Alexander Dumas son

The list of works by Dumas the Son is somewhat smaller than his famous ancestor. However, it is worth noting that he is no less valuable for his contribution to world, and especially French, literature.

Younger Alexandre Dumas early age starts his writing career, and already at the age of 18 his famous collection of poems, called “Sins of Youth,” was published. At the beginning of his career, he wanted to be different from his father. But later he returns to his work, and this influence can be seen in the prose.

Stories and plays

However, later the young man released a series of small plays, stories, novellas and novels in prose:

• "One Woman's Novel";
• "Doctor Servan";
• "The Adventures of 4 Women and a Parrot";
• "The Lady with Pearls."

But real popularity came to to the young author, when the list of works by Dumas the son was replenished famous work"Lady with Camellias"

The work was originally conceived as a novel, but in the process it became a famous play. It was a stunning success, after which other similar creations of Dumas were not called anything other than psychological and social.

It was not long before “The Lady with Camellias” appeared on stage. Having met with heated rebuff from the censorship, Alexandre Dumas the son was forced to defend the play in front of a whole meeting of censors. She was called immoral, not meeting the high standards of social norms and morality.

In 1852, Alexandre Dumas still managed to gain the upper hand, and the play became a theatrical production for the first time, winning applause and success from the audience. Giuseppe Verdi wrote his famous opera, La Traviata, based on it. It is also known that the character main character was taken from life by Alexandre Dumas, the prototype was his beloved Marie.

Famous works

After the stunning success of “Ladies of the Camellias,” no less famous and popular plays by Alexandre Dumas the Son are published:

• "Diana de Lys";
• "Half-light";
• "Money issue";
• "Illegitimate son";
• "Prodigal Father";
• "Women's Friend"
• "The Views of Madame Aubray";
• "Princess Georges";
• "Claudius' Wife"
• "Mr. Alphonse"
• "Princess of Baghdad";
• "Denise";
• "Marquis de Villemer."

To the great regret of his many fans, A. Dumas did not have time to finish two plays, and they remained unfinished.

Journalism

Also, Alexandre Dumas the son was very fascinated by the field of journalism and social problems in society. Impressed by what was happening around him, he published his famous brochures and pamphlets:

• "Divorce";
• “Letters on the topic of the day”;
• “Women who kill and women who vote” and others.

Thus, a pamphlet in which Dumas supported a young aristocrat who beat his wife after she cheated on him with her lover received wide publicity. The author expressed his position on the need to punish unfaithful spouses.

It's no secret that artists at all times have tried to spiritualize dead matter. Sculptors carved statues bursting with life from marble, the crushed mixture of minerals under the brush of artists turned into picturesque paintings, and writers, ahead of the works of scientists and philosophers, not only described the world of the future in their works, but also helped ordinary people look at the events of bygone years “differently.” eyes."

The works of one of the most widely read French authors - Alexandre Dumas - to this day turn people's worldviews upside down.

Childhood and youth

On July 24, 1802, the “black devil” of Napoleonic army Thomas Dumas and his wife Marie-Louise Labouret had a son, who was named Alexander. A privileged family lived in a commune in northern France - Villers-Cotterets.

The father of the future novelist was in the service of and was considered a close friend of the emperor. Their tandem broke up at the moment when the commander, who unquestioningly carried out any orders of the ambitious ruler of France, did not support his decision to send troops to Egypt.

Napoleon, who could not tolerate criticism, took revenge on his comrade in his characteristic manner. In 1801, when the general was captured, his high-ranking friend did nothing to free his comrade from prison. Only after two years of torture and torment was Tom exchanged for the Austrian General Mack.

The man returned home exhausted and sick. In addition to stomach cancer, deafness and blindness in one eye were added. His star faded as quickly as it lit up. Dumas the elder died in 1806, and the family, which had fallen out of favor with the emperor, was left without a livelihood.

For this reason, the childhood of the future is worldwide famous writer passed in an atmosphere of devastation and poverty. His mother, who tried in vain to get a scholarship from the state to study at the lyceum, introduced her beloved child to the basics of grammar and reading, and his sister instilled a love of dance.

Fate had mercy on the young genius, and in the end Alexander still managed to enter Abbot Gregoire’s college, where the guy mastered Latin and developed calligraphic handwriting.

Dumas's first place of work was a notary's office, where the young man tried on the role of a clerk. Despite the stable income, young man I soon became tired of the same type of instructions and the tirelessly growing pile of papers. The young man packed his things and left for the capital of France. There, under the patronage of his father's former comrade-in-arms, he got a job as a scribe in the secretariat of the Duke of Orleans (the future king Louis Philippe).

At the same time, Alexander met local writers and began to create his first works of art. In 1829, the play “Henry III and His Court” was published, after the production of which the writer gained fame. Three years later, at the Port-Saint-Martin theater, the premiere of “The Tower of Nels” was sold out. In less than 16 months, seven performances were staged on stage.

The biography of the eminent journalist developed in such a way that Dumas took every possible part in the life of society. In addition to the fact that the writer led the excavations of the city of Pompeii, he was also a participant in the Great July Revolution (1830), during which the creator even managed to be “buried.” After another riot among the population, a false report appeared in the press that the writer had been shot. In fact, the creator of the trilogy about The Three Musketeers, on the advice of friends, then left Paris and went to Switzerland, where he prepared the essay “Gaul and France” for publication.

Literature

With Dumas’s theater everything happened as with women: ardent passion at the beginning and indifference later. When the stage was conquered, Alexander plunged headlong into literature.

In 1838, Dumas made his debut as a writer. The feuilleton novel “Chevalier d'Harmental” was published in a newspaper that required exciting intrigue, swift action, strong passions, and most importantly - such an arrangement of chapters in which the passage printed in each issue would promise an even more exciting continuation in the next issue.

Few people know, but the author of “The Chevalier d'Harmental” was the young writer Macquet, but the work, modified by Alexander, acquired literary brilliance and was published under the name of Dumas alone, not at all at his request, but at the obligatory demand of the customer, who believed that the real success of the novel would be ensured only famous name.

Over the course of four years, Dumas, together with his “colleague,” published nine cult works: “The Three Musketeers,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “The Vicomte de Bragelonne,” “Queen Margot,” “Twenty Years Later,” “Cavaliere de la Maison Rouge", "Countess de Monsoreau", "Joseph Balsam", "Two Dianas" and "Forty-Five".

The historian traveled a lot in Europe and dreamed of getting to Russia. In 1840, his novel “The Fencing Teacher” was published, the main character of which was the Decembrist Annenkov. Despite the fact that in the territory Russian Empire the work did not pass censorship, a scandalous masterpiece secret from her husband, even the resigned empress read it.

When he died, the playwright was allowed to enter the empire. Once in his homeland, the writer was pleasantly surprised that the local audience knew firsthand what French literature and has an idea of ​​his work. Wandering famous writer visited both Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in Kalmykia, and in Astrakhan, and even in the Caucasus. In the novelist's homeland, Travel Notes had big success.

The publicist was also a cook. In many of his works, he describes in detail the preparation of certain dishes.

In 1870, he submitted a manuscript containing 800 short stories on a culinary theme to print. The Great Culinary Dictionary was published in 1873, after the death of the writer. Later, an abridged copy of it was published - “Small Culinary Dictionary”. Dumas was neither a gourmet nor a glutton. The man just stuck with it healthy image life without drinking alcohol, tobacco and coffee.

Personal life

Contrary to popular belief, the eminent writer’s greatest passion was not hunting, not fencing, or even architecture. Greatest love the publicist had feelings for the female sex. Legends were made about the amorous adventures of the temperamental playwright in the literary salons of that time.

Among the great variety of stories related to the mistresses and wives of the artist, one stood out in particular.

Dumas at that time lived on the Rue de Rivoli with Ida Ferrier, an actress famous for her frivolous disposition. The young people were neighbors: the girl occupied an apartment on the second floor, and the aspiring writer - three rooms on the fifth.

One evening the playwright went to a ball in the Tuileries. On the way to an entertainment event, the man slipped and fell into a puddle. An hour later, the disgruntled publicist returned home covered in dirt, went to his wife’s apartment and burst into Ida’s bedroom with curses. In order to forget the unpleasant incident, Alexander threw himself into work.

Less than half an hour had passed when the door leading to the toilet room swung open, and the amazed writer saw a naked Roger de Beauvoir on the threshold, who said: “I’ve had enough, I’m completely chilled!” Dumas jumped up and attacked his wife's lover with furious abuse. In Okontsovo, the eminent journalist changed his anger to mercy, saying that his upbringing does not allow him to put an unexpected guest on the street.

That night Dumas shared his marital bed with a new acquaintance. When morning came and all three had already woken up, Alexander took the would-be gentleman’s hand and placed it on intimate place spouses and solemnly proclaimed:

“Roger, let’s reconcile like the ancient Romans in a public place.”

The historian's first affection was the dressmaker Laure Labe, who lived in the same house with him on the Square of the Italians. The woman was 8 years older than Alexander. It was not difficult for the seducer to win Marie’s heart, and already on July 27, 1824, she gave him a son, Alexander, who is known to many from the novel “The Lady of the Camellias.” Dumas the father recognized the child seven years after his birth.

May 26, 1864 ex-lovers met at the mayor's office at the wedding of their son with Princess Nadezhda Naryshkina. Dumas the son had the idea of ​​marrying his elderly parents, but his desire did not evoke any response from them.

According to biographers, the creator had about 500 mistresses. Dumas himself repeatedly said that he changed women like gloves solely out of love for humanity, because if he had to limit himself to one young lady, the poor thing would have died in a week.

Death

The famous writer died on December 5, 1970. The body was interred at Neuville de Pollet. After the war, the son of a classic of world literature reburied his father’s remains in Villers-Cotterets next to his parents.

After the death of the publicist, biographers put forward a sensational hypothesis that the Frenchman Dumas and the Russian “prophet” Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin are one and the same person.

Researchers in their works cite a number of facts that cast doubt on the authenticity of the death of the genius of world literature.

Despite the external similarity and the huge number of “blank spots” in the biography of both one creator and the second, there has never been an official statement on this matter.

Memory

Dumas's bestsellers are still being republished to this day. Thus, in 2016, the Azbuka publishing house released a masterpiece of world literature, “The Three Musketeers,” in a limited edition, and in 2017, “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

One of the streets in the city of Lomonosov, Petrodvortsovo district of St. Petersburg, is named after the publicist.

The majestic granite block, on top of which sits a smiling bronze Dumas, is located on Place Malesherbes in Paris.

Bibliography

• "Queen Margot" (1845)
• "Countess de Monsoreau" (1846)
• "Forty-Five" (1847);
• "The Queen's Necklace" (1849-1850);
• "Ange Pitou" (1853);
• "Countess de Charny" (1853-1855);
• "Chevalier de Maisons-Rouge" (1845);
• "Ascanio" (1843);
• "The Two Dianas" (1846);
• "The Duke of Savoy's Page" (1852);
• "Prediction" (1858);
• "White and Blue" (1867);
• "Companions of Jehu" (1857);
• “Volunteer of the Ninety-Second Year” (1862);
• “She-Wolves from Mashkul” (1858).

Together with Levene, who believed that success was easier to achieve in a light genre, Dumas composed the vaudeville " Hunting and love", it was accepted for production by the theater Ambigu.

Once, at one of the exhibitions of the annual Salon, Dumas noticed a bas-relief depicting a murder Giovanni Monaldeschi. Having read articles about Monaldeschi and the Swedish Queen Christina, Dumas decided to write a drama on this topic. At first he proposed cooperation Soulier, however, in the end everyone decided to write their own “Christina”. The Royal Commissioner liked Dumas's play. Comedie Française Baron Taylor, with his help, “Christine” was accepted on the condition that Dumas would finalize it. However, the omnipotent Mademoiselle Mars, whose strong point was classical repertoire. When the young author flatly refused to make corrections to the play at her request, Mademoiselle Mars did everything to prevent “Christine” from appearing on the stage of the Comédie Française.

Dumas, who had to support his mother and his illegitimate son Alexandra, wrote a play on new topic. Drama " Henry III and his court"was created in two months. Actors Comedie Française after the reading of the play in the salon Melanie Waldor, asked to accept her out of turn. The premiere was successful on February 10, 1829, and it was a victory romantics in the theater, which was still considered the mainstay of classicism.

Dumas became a regular at the famous Nodier salon in the Arsenal, where representatives new school - romanticism. He was one of the first to turn to drama from modern life, dared to touch upon the role of passion in modern society. What was also new was that the author endowed modern man such an intensity of feelings, which, according to generally accepted opinion, was more characteristic of the Renaissance. His play " Anthony"was brought to life by personal circumstances - at that time Dumas was experiencing a passion for the poetess Melanie Waldor, which he brought out in the image of Adele d’Herve. The drama premiered May 3 1831 in the theatre Port Saint Martin with Dorval And Bokam starring and “made no less noise than the premiere” Hernani “»

Dumas's plays were not distinguished by artistic perfection, but he, like no one else, had the ability to hold the audience's attention from the first to the last act and to compose effective lines at the end. His name on the poster meant big box office receipts for theater directors, and for other playwrights he became a co-author capable of bringing the most unsuccessful plays to success.

For three years he participated in the struggle for a united Italy, was personally acquainted and close with Garibaldi. News of the first French defeats during Franco-Prussian War Dumas perceived it as a personal grief. Soon the first one overtook him hit. Half-paralyzed, he managed to reach his son’s house, where he died a few months later.

In 2002, Dumas' ashes were transferred to Parisian Pantheon.

His works have been translated into many languages ​​and served as material for numerous theatrical productions and movies.

Creation

My literary activity the writer begins during Restorations when the monarchy triumphed Bourbon, trying to win over representatives bourgeoisie and carried out a policy of eradicating all the most important transformations carried out in France during the period of the bourgeois revolution - 1794. King Louis XVIII, unable to fully restore the pre-revolutionary order, was forced to introduce a constitution. The new French parliament consisted of two chambers: in the Chamber of Peers, high-ranking officials appointed by the king sat, and the Chamber of Deputies was elected by the richest segments of the French population. The most conservative circles of the nobility at that time sought the restoration of former privileges and fought for the complete triumph of monarchical despotism. Here is the future author "The Count of Monte Cristo" quite intelligently perceived the course of public policy, giving an idea about it already in the first chapters of his work.

Was his play historical? No more and no less than the novels of Walter Scott. History is full of secrets. With Dumas everything turned out to be clear and definite. Catherine de Medici held the threads of all intrigues in her hands. Henry III frustrated the plans of the Duke of Guise. However, Dumas himself understood perfectly well that in reality all these adventures were much more complex. But what did this mean to him? He wanted only one thing - violent action. The era of Henry III, with its duels, conspiracies, orgies, and rampant political passions, reminded him of the Napoleonic era. The story in Dumas's treatment was the way the French wanted it to be: cheerful, colorful, built on contrasts, where Good was on one side, Evil on the other. The audience of 1829, filling the stalls, consisted of the very people who committed great revolution and fought in the armies of the empire. She liked it when kings and their deeds were presented in “pictures that are heroic, full of drama and therefore familiar to them.”

After " Henry III» Dumas writes a number of famous dram And comedies, used at one time loud fame. These include: "Christina", "Anthony", "Kin, genius and dissipation", "Secrets Nelskaya Tower » .

Alexandre Dumas expanded his knowledge by studying the works of famous French historians P.Baranta, O. Thierry, J. Michelet. Developing national historical themes in his works, he shared many of the views Augustin Thierry, who in his research sought to trace the natural sequence of events that took place in a certain era, to determine the content of works intended to become true history countries.

Book Dumas "Gaul and France"() testified to the author’s knowledge of the issues national history. Talking about early era formation of the Gallic tribe, struggle Gauls with francs, Dumas cites many works on French history. In the final chapter of the book, the author expressed a critical attitude towards the monarchy of Louis Philippe. He wrote that under the new king, the throne was supported by an elite of manufacturers, landowners, and financiers, and predicted that a Republic would emerge in France in the future as a form of broad popular representation. Positive feedback Thierry inspired the author about this work, and he began to study many works of French historians with even greater zeal.

In the 30s, Dumas had an idea to reproduce the history of France - 19th centuries in an extensive cycle of novels, which began with the novel "Isabella of Bavaria" (). Historical basis served "Chronicle of Froissart", "Chronicle of the Times of Charles VI" Juvenal Yursin , "History of the Dukes of Burgundy" Prospera de Baranta.

He also showed the history of France in two historical novels-biographies: “Louis XIV” and “Napoleon”.

Having returned to the regiment and conveyed to the commander what the situation was with Denisov’s case, Rostov went to Tilsit with a letter to the sovereign.
On June 13, the French and Russian emperors gathered in Tilsit. Boris Drubetskoy asked the important person with whom he was a member to be included in the retinue appointed to be in Tilsit.
“Je voudrais voir le grand homme, [I would like to see a great man," he said, speaking about Napoleon, whom he, like everyone else, had always called Buonaparte.
– Vous parlez de Buonaparte? [Are you talking about Buonaparte?] - the general told him, smiling.
Boris looked questioningly at his general and immediately realized that this was a joke test.
“Mon prince, je parle de l"empereur Napoleon, [Prince, I’m talking about Emperor Napoleon,] he answered. The general patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
“You will go far,” he told him and took him with him.
Boris was one of the few on the Neman on the day of the emperors' meeting; he saw rafts with monograms, Napoleon's passage along the other bank past the French guard, saw the thoughtful face of Emperor Alexander, while he sat silently in a tavern on the bank of the Neman, waiting for Napoleon's arrival; I saw how both emperors got into the boats and how Napoleon, having first landed on the raft, walked forward with quick steps and, meeting Alexander, gave him his hand, and how both disappeared into the pavilion. Since his entry into higher worlds, Boris made a habit of carefully observing what was happening around him and recording it. During a meeting in Tilsit, he asked about the names of those persons who came with Napoleon, about the uniforms that they were wearing, and listened carefully to the words that were said by important persons. At the very time the emperors entered the pavilion, he looked at his watch and did not forget to look again at the time when Alexander left the pavilion. The meeting lasted an hour and fifty-three minutes: he wrote it down that evening among other facts that he believed had historical meaning. Since the emperor’s retinue was very small, for a person who valued success in his service, being in Tilsit during the meeting of the emperors was a very important matter, and Boris, once in Tilsit, felt that from that time his position was completely established. They not only knew him, but they took a closer look at him and got used to him. Twice he carried out orders for the sovereign himself, so that the sovereign knew him by sight, and all those close to him not only did not shy away from him, as before, considering him a new person, but would have been surprised if he had not been there.
Boris lived with another adjutant, the Polish Count Zhilinsky. Zhilinsky, a Pole raised in Paris, was rich, passionately loved the French, and almost every day during his stay in Tilsit, French officers from the guard and the main French headquarters gathered for lunch and breakfast with Zhilinsky and Boris.
On the evening of June 24, Count Zhilinsky, Boris's roommate, arranged a dinner for his French acquaintances. At this dinner there was an honored guest, one of Napoleon's adjutants, several officers of the French Guard and a young boy of the old aristocratic French surname, Napoleon's page. On this very day, Rostov, taking advantage of the darkness so as not to be recognized, in civilian dress, arrived in Tilsit and entered the apartment of Zhilinsky and Boris.
In Rostov, as well as in the entire army from which he came, the revolution that took place in the main apartment and in Boris was still far from taking place in relation to Napoleon and the French, who had become friends from enemies. Everyone in the army still continued to experience the same mixed feelings of anger, contempt and fear towards Bonaparte and the French. Until recently, Rostov, talking with Platovsky Cossack officer, argued that if Napoleon had been captured, he would have been treated not as a sovereign, but as a criminal. Just recently, on the road, having met a wounded French colonel, Rostov became heated, proving to him that there could be no peace between the legitimate sovereign and the criminal Bonaparte. Therefore, Rostov was strangely struck in Boris’s apartment by the sight of French officers in the very uniforms that he was accustomed to look at completely differently from the flanker chain. As soon as he saw the French officer leaning out of the door, that feeling of war, of hostility, which he always experienced at the sight of the enemy, suddenly seized him. He stopped on the threshold and asked in Russian if Drubetskoy lived here. Boris, hearing someone else's voice in the hallway, came out to meet him. His face at the first minute, when he recognized Rostov, expressed annoyance.
“Oh, it’s you, I’m very glad, very glad to see you,” he said, however, smiling and moving towards him. But Rostov noticed his first movement.
“I don’t think I’m on time,” he said, “I wouldn’t have come, but I have something to do,” he said coldly...
- No, I’m just surprised how you came from the regiment. “Dans un moment je suis a vous,” [I am at your service this very minute," he turned to the voice of the one calling him.
“I see that I’m not on time,” Rostov repeated.
The expression of annoyance had already disappeared from Boris's face; Having apparently thought it over and decided what to do, he with particular calm took him by both hands and led him into the next room. Boris's eyes, calmly and firmly looking at Rostov, seemed to be covered with something, as if some kind of screen - blue dormitory glasses - were put on them. So it seemed to Rostov.
“Oh come on, please, can you be out of time,” said Boris. - Boris led him into the room where dinner was served, introduced him to the guests, calling him and explaining that he was not a civilian, but a hussar officer, his old friend. “Count Zhilinsky, le comte N.N., le capitaine S.S., [Count N.N., captain S.S.],” he called the guests. Rostov frowned at the French, bowed reluctantly and was silent.
Zhilinsky, apparently, did not happily accept this new Russian face to his circle and didn’t say anything to Rostov. Boris did not seem to notice the embarrassment that had occurred from the new face and, with the same pleasant calm and cloudiness in the eyes with which he met Rostov, tried to enliven the conversation. One of the French turned with ordinary French courtesy to the stubbornly silent Rostov and told him that he had probably come to Tilsit in order to see the emperor.
“No, I have business,” Rostov answered briefly.
Rostov became out of sorts immediately after he noticed the displeasure on Boris’s face, and, as always happens with people who are out of sorts, it seemed to him that everyone was looking at him with hostility and that he was disturbing everyone. And indeed he interfered with everyone and alone remained outside the newly started general conversation. “And why is he sitting here?” said the looks that the guests cast at him. He stood up and approached Boris.
“However, I’m embarrassing you,” he told him quietly, “let’s go, talk about business, and I’ll leave.”
“No, not at all,” said Boris. And if you are tired, let’s go to my room and lie down and rest.
- Indeed...
They entered the small room where Boris was sleeping. Rostov, without sitting down, immediately with irritation - as if Boris was guilty of something in front of him - began to tell him Denisov’s case, asking if he wanted and could ask about Denisov through his general from the sovereign and through him deliver a letter. When they were left alone, Rostov became convinced for the first time that he was embarrassed to look Boris in the eyes. Boris crossing his legs and stroking with his left hand thin fingers right hand, listened to Rostov, as a general listens to the report of a subordinate, now looking to the side, now with the same clouded gaze, looking directly into Rostov’s eyes. Each time Rostov felt awkward and lowered his eyes.
“I have heard about this kind of thing and I know that the Emperor is very strict in these cases. I think we should not bring it to His Majesty. In my opinion, it would be better to directly ask the corps commander... But in general I think...
- So you don’t want to do anything, just say so! - Rostov almost shouted, without looking into Boris’s eyes.
Boris smiled: “On the contrary, I’ll do what I can, but I thought...
At this time, Zhilinsky’s voice was heard at the door, calling Boris.
“Well, go, go, go...” said Rostov, refusing dinner, and being left alone in a small room, he walked back and forth in it for a long time, and listened to the cheerful French conversation from the next room.

Rostov arrived in Tilsit on a day least convenient for interceding for Denisov. He himself could not go to the general on duty, since he was in a tailcoat and arrived in Tilsit without the permission of his superiors, and Boris, even if he wanted, could not do this the next day after Rostov’s arrival. On this day, June 27, the first peace terms were signed. The emperors exchanged orders: Alexander received the Legion of Honor, and Napoleon Andrei 1st degree, and on this day a lunch was assigned to the Preobrazhensky battalion, which was given to him by the battalion of the French Guard. The sovereigns were supposed to attend this banquet.
Rostov felt so awkward and unpleasant with Boris that when Boris looked at him after dinner, he pretended to be asleep and early the next morning, trying not to see him, he left the house. In a tailcoat and a round hat, Nicholas wandered around the city, looking at the French and their uniforms, looking at the streets and houses where the Russian and French emperors lived. In the square he saw tables being set up and preparations for dinner; on the streets he saw hanging draperies with banners of Russian and French colors and huge monograms of A. and N. There were also banners and monograms in the windows of the houses.
“Boris doesn’t want to help me, and I don’t want to turn to him. This matter is decided - Nikolai thought - everything is over between us, but I will not leave here without doing everything I can for Denisov and, most importantly, without delivering the letter to the sovereign. Emperor?!... He’s here!” thought Rostov, involuntarily approaching again the house occupied by Alexander.
At this house there were riding horses and a retinue had gathered, apparently preparing for the departure of the sovereign.
“I can see him any minute,” thought Rostov. If only I could directly hand him the letter and tell him everything, would I really be arrested for wearing a tailcoat? Can't be! He would understand on whose side justice is. He understands everything, knows everything. Who could be fairer and more generous than him? Well, even if they arrested me for being here, what’s the harm?” he thought, looking at the officer entering the house occupied by the sovereign. “After all, they are sprouting. - Eh! It's all nonsense. I’ll go and submit the letter to the sovereign myself: so much the worse it will be for Drubetskoy, who brought me to this.” And suddenly, with a determination that he himself did not expect from himself, Rostov, feeling the letter in his pocket, went straight to the house occupied by the sovereign.
“No, now I won’t miss the opportunity, like after Austerlitz,” he thought, expecting every second to meet the sovereign and feeling a rush of blood to his heart at this thought. I will fall at my feet and ask him. He will raise me, listen and thank me.” “I am happy when I can do good, but correcting injustice is the greatest happiness,” Rostov imagined the words that the sovereign would say to him. And he walked past those who were looking at him curiously, onto the porch of the house occupied by the sovereign.
From the porch a wide staircase led straight upstairs; to the right a closed door was visible. At the bottom of the stairs there was a door to the lower floor.
-Who do you want? - someone asked.
“Submit a letter, a request to His Majesty,” said Nikolai with a trembling voice.
- Please contact the duty officer, please come here (he was shown the door below). They just won't accept it.
Hearing this indifferent voice, Rostov was afraid of what he was doing; the thought of meeting the sovereign at any moment was so tempting and therefore so terrible for him that he was ready to flee, but the chamberlain Fourier, who met him, opened the door to the duty room for him and Rostov entered.
Low fat man about 30 years old, in white trousers, over the knee boots and one cambric shirt, apparently just put on, stood in this room; the valet was fastening beautiful new silk-embroidered footrests on his back, which for some reason Rostov noticed. This man was talking to someone who was in another room.
“Bien faite et la beaute du diable, [Well-built and the beauty of youth," this man said, and when he saw Rostov he stopped talking and frowned.
-What do you want? Request?…
– Qu"est ce que c"est? [What is this?] - someone asked from another room.
“Encore un petitionnaire, [Another petitioner,”] answered the man with the help.
- Tell him what's next. It's coming out now, we have to go.
- After the day after tomorrow. Late…
Rostov turned and wanted to go out, but the man in the arms stopped him.
- From whom? Who are you?
“From Major Denisov,” Rostov answered.
- Who are you? Officer?
- Lieutenant, Count Rostov.
- What courage! Give it on command. And go, go... - And he began to put on the uniform handed to him by the valet.
Rostov went out again into the hallway and noticed that there were already many officers and generals on the porch in full dress uniform, whom he had to pass by.
Cursing his courage, frozen by the thought that at any moment he could meet the sovereign and in his presence be disgraced and sent under arrest, fully understanding the indecency of his act and repenting of it, Rostov, with downcast eyes, made his way out of the house, surrounded by a crowd of brilliant retinue , when someone's familiar voice called out to him and someone's hand stopped him.
- What are you doing here, father, in a tailcoat? – his bass voice asked.
This was a cavalry general who earned the special favor of the sovereign during this campaign, the former head of the division in which Rostov served.
Rostov fearfully began to make excuses, but seeing the good-naturedly playful face of the general, he moved to the side and in an excited voice conveyed the whole matter to him, asking him to intercede for Denisov, who was known to the general. The general, after listening to Rostov, seriously shook his head.
- It’s a pity, it’s a pity for the fellow; give me a letter.
Rostov barely had time to hand over the letter and tell Denisov’s whole business when quick steps with spurs began to sound from the stairs and the general, moving away from him, moved towards the porch. The gentlemen of the sovereign's retinue ran down the stairs and went to the horses. Bereitor Ene, the same one who was in Austerlitz, brought the sovereign's horse, and a light creaking of steps was heard on the stairs, which Rostov now recognized. Forgetting the danger of being recognized, Rostov moved with several curious residents to the porch itself and again, after two years, he saw the same features he adored, the same face, the same look, the same gait, the same combination of greatness and meekness... And the feeling of delight and love for the sovereign was resurrected with the same strength in Rostov’s soul. The sovereign in the Preobrazhensky uniform, in white leggings and high boots, with a star that Rostov did not know (it was legion d'honneur) [star of the Legion of Honor] went out onto the porch, holding his hat at hand and putting on a glove. He stopped, looking around and that's it illuminating the surroundings with his gaze, he said a few words to some of the generals. He also recognized the former chief of the division, Rostov, smiled at him and called him over.
The entire retinue retreated, and Rostov saw how this general said something to the sovereign for quite a long time.
The Emperor said a few words to him and took a step to approach the horse. Again the crowd of the retinue and the crowd of the street in which Rostov was located moved closer to the sovereign. Stopping by the horse and holding the saddle with his hand, the sovereign turned to the cavalry general and spoke loudly, obviously with the desire for everyone to hear him.
“I can’t, general, and that’s why I can’t because the law is stronger than me,” said the sovereign and raised his foot in the stirrup. The general bowed his head respectfully, the sovereign sat down and galloped down the street. Rostov, beside himself with delight, ran after him with the crowd.

On the square where the sovereign went, a battalion of Preobrazhensky soldiers stood face to face on the right, and a battalion of the French Guard in bearskin hats on the left.
While the sovereign was approaching one flank of the battalions, which were on guard duty, another crowd of horsemen jumped up to the opposite flank and ahead of them Rostov recognized Napoleon. It couldn't be anyone else. He rode at a gallop in a small hat, with a St. Andrew's ribbon over his shoulder, in a blue uniform open over a white camisole, on an unusually thoroughbred Arabian gray horse, on a crimson, gold embroidered saddle cloth. Having approached Alexander, he raised his hat and with this movement, Rostov’s cavalry eye could not help but notice that Napoleon was sitting poorly and not firmly on his horse. The battalions shouted: Hurray and Vive l "Empereur! [Long live the Emperor!] Napoleon said something to Alexander. Both emperors got off their horses and took each other's hands. There was an unpleasantly feigned smile on Napoleon's face. Alexander said something to him with an affectionate expression .
Rostov, without taking his eyes off, despite the trampling of the horses of the French gendarmes besieging the crowd, followed every move of Emperor Alexander and Bonaparte. He was struck as a surprise by the fact that Alexander behaved as an equal with Bonaparte, and that Bonaparte was completely free, as if this closeness with the sovereign was natural and familiar to him, as an equal, he treated the Russian Tsar.
Alexander and Napoleon with a long tail of their retinue approached the right flank of the Preobrazhensky battalion, directly towards the crowd that stood there. The crowd suddenly found itself so close to the emperors that Rostov, who was standing in the front rows, became afraid that they would recognize him.
“Sire, je vous demande la permission de donner la legion d" honneur au plus brave de vos soldats, [Sire, I ask your permission to give the Order of the Legion of Honor to the bravest of your soldiers,] said a sharp, precise voice, finishing each letter It was the short Bonaparte who spoke, looking directly into Alexander’s eyes, Alexander listened attentively to what was being said, and bowed his head, smiling pleasantly.
“A celui qui s"est le plus vaillament conduit dans cette derieniere guerre, [To the one who showed himself bravest during the war],” Napoleon added, emphasizing each syllable, with a calm and confidence outrageous for Rostov, looking around the ranks of Russians stretched out in front of there are soldiers, keeping everything on guard and motionlessly looking into the face of their emperor.
“Votre majeste me permettra t elle de demander l"avis du colonel? [Your Majesty will allow me to ask the colonel’s opinion?] - said Alexander and took several hasty steps towards Prince Kozlovsky, the battalion commander. Meanwhile, Bonaparte began to take off his white glove, small hand and tearing it apart, the Adjutant threw it, hastily rushing forward from behind, and picked it up.
- Who should I give it to? – Emperor Alexander asked Kozlovsky not loudly, in Russian.
- Whom do you order, Your Majesty? “The Emperor winced with displeasure and, looking around, said:
- But you have to answer him.
Kozlovsky looked back at the ranks with a decisive look and in this glance captured Rostov as well.
“Isn’t it me?” thought Rostov.
- Lazarev! – the colonel commanded with a frown; and the first-ranked soldier, Lazarev, smartly stepped forward.
-Where are you going? Stop here! - voices whispered to Lazarev, who did not know where to go. Lazarev stopped, looked sideways in fear at the colonel, and his face trembled, as happens with soldiers called to the front.
Napoleon slightly turned his head back and pulled back his small chubby hand, as if wanting to take something. The faces of his retinue, having guessed at that very second what was going on, began to fuss, whisper, passing something on to one another, and the page, the same one whom Rostov saw yesterday at Boris’s, ran forward and respectfully bent over the outstretched hand and did not make her wait either one second, he put an order on a red ribbon into it. Napoleon, without looking, clenched two fingers. The Order found itself between them. Napoleon approached Lazarev, who, rolling his eyes, stubbornly continued to look only at his sovereign, and looked back at Emperor Alexander, thereby showing that what he was doing now, he was doing for his ally. A small white hand with an order touched the button of soldier Lazarev. It was as if Napoleon knew that in order for this soldier to be happy, rewarded and distinguished from everyone else in the world forever, it was only necessary for him, Napoleon’s hand, to be worthy of touching the soldier’s chest. Napoleon just put the cross to Lazarev's chest and, letting go of his hand, turned to Alexander, as if he knew that the cross should stick to Lazarev's chest. The cross really stuck.
Helpful Russian and French hands instantly picked up the cross and attached it to the uniform. Lazarev looked gloomily at little man, with white hands, who did something above him, and continued to hold motionless on guard, again began to look directly into Alexander’s eyes, as if he was asking Alexander: whether he should still stand, or whether they would order him to walk now, or maybe anything else to do? But he was not ordered to do anything, and he remained in this motionless state for quite a long time.