Joan of Naples

Alexandre Dumas, peer French for "father", akin to Senior in English, born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie 1802-1870 was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of his novels, including The Count of Monte Cristo 1845, The Three Musketeers 1844, and The Man in the Iron Mask 1848 were serialized, and he also wrote plays and magazine articles and was a prolific correspondent. Though best known now as a novelist, He earned his first fame as a dramatist. His Henri III et sa Cour 1829 was the first of the great Romantic historical dramas produced on the Paris stage, preceding Victor Hugo's more famous Hernani 1830. He was also a well known travel writer, writing such books as From Paris to Cadiz 1847, and Travel Impressions: In Russia 1860. His other works include Twenty Years After 1845, The Two Dianas 1846, Queen Margot 1845, The Black Tulip 1850, The Wolf-Leader 1857, and The Knight of Sainte-Hermine 1869.