Collections of Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was a prolific mid-19th century French writer who is best known for his thrilling adventure stories like The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.

 

However, Dumas authored several non-fiction works as well.  For example, his Grand Dictionnaire de Cuisine, first published posthumously in 1873, is a dictionary/cookbook/gastronomic history mash-up with appeal to foodies, wordies, and Dumas fans alike.  Note: our copy is an abridged 1958 American edition called Alexandre Dumas’ Dictionary of Cuisine.  Look for the hot-pink pig on the cover.

 

Not only was Dumas a word collector, but he also loved to collect animals.  At his “Chateau de Monte Cristo” in France, Dumas kept a vulture, a cat, two parrots, three monkeys, a pheasant, five dogs, and various other birds.

 

In our 1909 edition of My Pets (originally published as Histoire de mes Betes), Dumas gives us a window into his private life at the Chateau de Monte Cristo, and his adventures there with his various pets.  Though the above illustration from page 150 shows Dumas in a duel that recalls the author’s more popular work, the book isn’t all violent.  In one chapter, Dumas’ sensitive recollections of his faithful cat Mysouff will choke you up in a completely different way.

 

For these and more books by Alexandre Dumas, check out our catalog at slpl.org