Alexandre Dumas was a French writer who was born in 1802 in Villers-Cotterêts, France. His parents were Marie-Louise Élisabeth Labouret and Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. He began his career by writing plays, which were successfully produced. Dumas is one of the most widely read French authors who has contributed distinguished work in several genres. His work has also been translated into many languages. Being of aristocratic rank, his father helped him to secure work with Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans. It was after the election of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in 1851 that Dumas fell from favor and left France. Though Dumas was successful, he had to face a lot of discrimination on account of his mixed-race ancestry. Later, owing to his personal journey, he also wrote a book about the issues of race and the effects of colonialism. He died in the year 1870 and was buried in his birthplace Villers-Coterets.