Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/89

 existence of this unfashionable quality; but it was destined to show itself henceforth first in his books of travel, and afterwards in his comedies and romances; and, in short, more or less in everything he wrote or spoke.

Dumas's gaiety does not, perhaps, appear in his first romance—if we can call it so—of "Isabel de Bavière." Four of his friends had previously scraped together a little money, and started the world-famous Revue des Deux Mondes, and Dumas agreed to assist the new-born with his pen. The "Histoire des Ducs de Bourgoyne" of Barante made a powerful impression upon him at this time, "finishing," he says, "the work begun by Scott." Still, the young author did not feel strong enough to write an entirely original romance; and he therefore put into a picturesque form, and into dialogue, selected scenes from Barante, which he first called "Scènes Historiques," and which proved a great success in the pages of the Revue. This decided the ambitious author to write forthwith the history of France from the days of Charles VI. to his own. It is hardly credible —and yet Dumas confesses to it—his ignorance of history at this period was so profound that he was studying it by the aid of poetic tags!—