Auguste Maquet

Auguste Maquet (French: [oɡyst makɛ]; 13 September 1813, Paris – 8 January 1888) was a French author, best known as the chief collaborator of French novelist Alexandre Dumas, père, co-writing such works as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Biography

Maquet was born in Paris in 1813. He studied at the Lycée Charlemagne where he became a professor at the age of 18. Trained as a historian, he turned to literature, and became close with such literary figures as Théophile Gautier and Gérard de Nerval. Through Nerval, he became acquainted with the already famous Dumas in 1838. Dumas was given a play by Maquet and rewrote it, producing the successful drama Bathilde.

The two started writing historical romances together, with Maquet outlining the plot and characters in draft form and Dumas adding colorful dialogue and details. At the insistence of the publisher, Maquet's name was left off the title page, and in return he received generous fees.

The collaboration with Dumas ended in 1851. Maquet went on to produce a large solo body of work in terms of historical romances, plays and an opera. In 1861, he became an officer of the Légion d'honneur. Maquet died comfortably well-off. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Works

With Dumas

Maquet collaborated with Dumas on eighteen novels, and many plays. Among the works he co-authored with Dumas are:

• Le Chevalier d'Harmental — Maquet's outline was called Bonhomme Buvat.
• Sylvandire (1843) — Based on Les Mémoires de Madame la Marquise de Fresne by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras.
• La Fille du régent (1844)
• The Three Musketeers (1844)
• The Count of Monte-Cristo (1844)
• Twenty Years After (1845)
• La Guerre des femmes (1845)
• Queen Margot (1845)
• Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge (1845)
• La dame de Monsoreau (1845)
• Les Quarante-Cinq (1847)
• Le Bâtard de Mauléon (1847)
• Les Mémoires d'un Médecin:Joseph Balsamo (1848)
• Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (1848–1850)
• The Queen's Necklace (1850)
• The Black Tulip (1850)
• Olympe de Clèves (1852)
• Ange Pitou (1853)
• Ingénue (1853)
• Bathilde (play, 1839) — Maquet's original play was called Soir de carnaval.
• Queen Margot (play, 1847)

Novels by Maquet

• De La Fontaine comparé comme fabuliste à Ésope et à Phèdre, 1832
• Le Beau d'Angennes, 1843
• Deux Trahisons, 1844
• Histoire de la Bastille, 1844
• Le Comte de Lavernie, 1852
• La Chute de Satan, 1854
• La Belle Gabrielle, 1854-1855
• Dettes de cœur, 1857
• La Maison du baigneur, 1857
• La Rose blanche, 1858
• L'Envers et l'Endroit, épisode de la fin du règne de Louis XIV, 1858
• Les Vertes Feuilles, 1862
• Paris sous Louis XIV. Monuments et vues, 1883

Plays by Maquet

• Le Château de Grantier, 1852
• Le Comte de Lavernie, 1854
• La Belle Gabrielle, 1857
• Dettes de cœur, 1859
• La Maison du baigneur, 1864
• Le Hussard de Bercheny, 1865
• Valéria, 1851 (with Jules Lacroix)
• La Fronde, 1853 (with Jules Lacroix and music by Louis Niedermeyer)
• La Chambre rouge, 1852 (with Théodore Anne)
• L'Enfant du régiment, 1854 (with Théodore Anne)