Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/297

 universal writer! Here are historical studies by the teens of volumes—a presentment of old facts from a refreshingly new point of view. "Gaule et France," a concise sketch of French history, began the series, being written, it is said, to divert Dumas's mind from the cholera epidemic. Its author is accused of having borrowed passages from Thierry and others; and this is quite possible. On the other hand, the form, design, and aim of the work were Dumas's own, and the closing passages which so faithfully prophesy the Second Republic of fifteen years later—with a president, elected by the people for five years, and so forth—is quoted by Blaze de Bury in full, as proof of the romancer's political foresight. Then came "Napoléon" (1839); "Les Stuarts" (1840)—in which Dumas largely availed himself of Scott's "Abbot"; "Jehanne la Pucelle," (1842), which is half a romance; "Louis XIV. et son Siècle" (1844), his most important history; "Les Médicis" (1845); "La Régence" and "Louis XV. et sa Cour" (1849); "Louis XVI. et la Révolution" (1850); "'93" (1851); and a "Histoire de Louis-Philippe" (1852). A series of portraits in undress, "Grands Hommes en Robe-de-Chambre," was sketched, but only "César" (1857), "Henri IV." (1866), and "Louis XIII. et Richelieu" (1866) appeared. "Perhaps." added Dumas, "if these studies meet with suc-