Alexandre Dumas captivates the beauty behind an elegant and captivating mind. Born in 1802, of mixed racial heritage, Dumas lived a life obsessed to the pen. Though you may not recognize his name, if you’ve ever watched The Three Musketeers, you’ve witnessed Dumas’ incredible novel adapted into a Disney production. Furthermore, as English students at East, we all should have read arguably his most famous work, The Count of Monte Cristo, a mildly cliche yet simultaneously captivating plot that follows the revenge sequence of a man framed and locked up in prison for treason.

Though most people are unaware of this fact, Dumas broke grounds with his race coupled with his success among the French aristocracy. As a black man in the 19th century, racist ideology permeated throughout many different parts of the world, yet people became shocked when they learned that a black man penned their favorite novels of the time.

Any film nerds reading this may know the reference to Dumas in Quentin Tarantino’s stunning film, Django Unchained, where Calvin Candy (Leonardo Dicaprio), the racist plantation owner, tells Dr. Schultz of his love for the Three Musketeers. Schultz, shocked by the ignorance of Candy, reveals to the racist plantation owner that the author of his famous book, was a black man. Though a fictional story, this scene portrays the influence and groundbreaking role Dumas’ race played in such a time.

Dumas would eventually pass away in 1870, and his stunning work and influence in the world landed him a spot in the Parisian Pantheon of France, right in the midst of Paris, a beautiful landmark that marked his influence in the world.