The Cenci Annotated

Alexandre Dumas was a French novelist and playwright, author of the books The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, classics of the swashbuckling novel of great popular acceptance.
Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie Dumas, known as Alexandre Dumas, was born in Villers-Cotterêts, Aisne, France, on July 24, 1802.
In 1818, experiencing financial difficulties, he worked in a notary office in the city. He met Adolphe von Leuven, a Swedish nobleman who had taken refuge in France. In 1821, together with his friend Leuven, he wrote the play The Major of Strasbourg.
In 1823, he went to live in Paris. In search of a job, he was received by General Foy, a friend of his father, who, upon seeing his beautiful handwriting, concluded that Dumas could be secretary to the Duke of Orléans, the future King Louis Philippe. The job guaranteed him a livelihood and opened the way for him to the Comédie Française.