Alexandre Dumas (24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870) was a French novelist and playwright who is celebrated for historical adventure fiction. His best-known works include The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. The son of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, he began his career writing successful plays before turning to novels and travel books. Exceptionally prolific, Dumas produced about 100,000 pages and founded Paris's Théâtre Historique. He also wrote many plays, his works have inspired film adaptations, and in 2002 his remains were reinterred alongside other French luminaries in the Panthéon. This portrait of Dumas was created by the French photographer Nadar in 1855.

Photograph credit: Nadar