French writer Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870), born on this day in Paris, was the grandson of a Haitian slave and the son of a mixed-race general who served with distinction in Napoleon’s army. His father died when Dumas was only four, leaving behind stories of rebellion, bravery, and dignity that would shape the imagination of his son forever.

Self-educated and passionate, Dumas rose through the literary world with flair and defiance. “Great is truth,” he once wrote. “Fire cannot burn it, nor water drown it.” That fierce belief in justice, loyalty, and resilience fueled every tale he told.

Best known for The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas crafted historical adventures filled with brotherhood, romance, and swordplay. His swashbuckling heroes lived during the reigns of Louis XIII and XIV, where friendship was sacred and honor worth dying for.

He wrote with astonishing speed and spirit—over 250 books in all. Dumas’ work helped shape the genre of the historical novel, and his flair for blending truth with drama captivated readers around the world.

He wrote boldly about love, wisdom, hope, and friendship. His words were romantic and rebellious, often laced with wit: “The chains of wedlock are so heavy it takes two people to carry them—sometimes three.”

From the plays of Shakespeare to the novels of Sir Walter Scott, Dumas drew inspiration and gave the world something richer in return. His stories endure because they speak to the ideals of youth, the urgency of heroic causes, and the timeless call to live for something greater than oneself.

“Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons,” he declared. “We must fight in order to conquer it.”

And in perhaps his most enduring wisdom: “All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.”