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Alexandre Dumas fils was born in Paris, France, the illegitimate child of Marie-Catherine Labay, a dressmaker, and novelist Alexandre Dumas. In 1831 his father legally recognized him and ensured the young Dumas received the best education possible at the Institution Goubaux and the Collége Bourbon . Laws at that time allowed Dumas Sr. to take the child away from his mother and her agony inspired Dumas fils to write about tragic female characters. In almost all of his writings, he emphasized the moral purpose of literature and in his 1858 play, "The Natural Son," he espoused the theory that if someone brings an illegitimate child into the world, then they have an obligation to legitimize the child and marry the woman.

In addition to the stigma of illegitimacy, Dumas fils was part black, his father the mulatto descendant of a white French nobleman and a black Haitian girl. In the boarding schools, Dumas fils was constantly taunted by his classmates. These issues all profoundly influenced his thoughts, behaviour, and writing.

In 1844 Dumas fils moved to Saint-Germain-en-Laye to live with his father. There, he met Marie Duplessis, a young courtesan who would be the inspiration for his romantic novel, La dame aux camélias (The Lady of the CamelliaCamellia Camellia japonica Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Theaceae Genus Camellia Species about 120, including ''C. chrysantha Golden camellia C. granthamiana ''C. hiemalis 's). Adapted into a play, it was titled in English as Camille and is the basis for Verdi'sGiovanni Boldini, 1886 (National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome) Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( October 10, 1813 January 27, 1901) was one of the great composers of Italian opera. His work was already very popular during his lifetime and remains so tod 1853Events January 19 Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il Trovatore premieres in Rome January 21 Russell L. Hawes patents the envelope folding machine January 29 Napoleon III marries the Spanish Countess Eugenie at the Tuileries March 4 Inauguration of US president Fra opera, La TraviataLa Traviata is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Its text by Francesco Maria Piave is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils, La dame aux Camelias and it was first produced in Venice in 1853. The title means literally The Woman who Strayed or.

In 1864Events January March January 21 Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign starts. February 27 American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. March 1- Alejandro Mon Menendez takes office as Prime Minist, Alexandre Dumas fils married Nadeja Naryschkine, with whom he had a daughter. After her passing he married Henriette Régnier.

During his lifetime, Dumas fils wrote twelve other novels and several plays. In 1867Events January 8 African-American men granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia January 11 Benito Juarez becomes Mexican president again January 30 Emperor Komei of Japan dies. Crown Prince Mutsuhito is expected to become the next Emperor of J he published his semi-autobiographical novel, "L'affaire Clémenceau," considered by many to be one of his best works. In 1874Events January 1 New York City annexes The Bronx January 23 Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, only daughter of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. January Signing of the Pangkor Tr, he was admitted to the Académie françaiseThe Academie francaise (French Academy) is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Academie, limited to forty members, has the task of acting as an official authority on the language, even though it has no enf and in 1894 he was awarded the Légion d'Honneur.

Alexandre Dumas fils died at Marly-le-Roi , Yvelines, on November 27, 1895 and was interred in the Cimetière de Montmartre, Paris, France.