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Literary
November 1, 1894
Connecticut Western News
North Canaan, Salisbury, Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Article detailing 1865 correspondence between Alexandre Dumas père and fils, where the father proposes co-writing a five-act drama, and the son enthusiastically agrees, though the project never came to fruition.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A PLAY THAT WAS NOT WRITTEN
Dramatic Plans of the Elder and Younger Dumas That Miscarried.
A curious and interesting bit of correspondence between Alexandre Dumas, father, and Alexandre Dumas, son, has been published in Paris by Georges Boyer, showing the two eminent French men had planned to write a theatrical piece together. Unfortunately the plan was not carried out, and the literary world was deprived maybe of a brilliant production. The letters read as follows:
PARIS, Oct. 7, 1865.
Alexandre Dumas, father, to Alexandre Dumas, son:
DEAR MASTER—After 90 years of struggle, defeats and victories, of failures and successes, I believe that, if not a great celebrity, I have at least the reputation of being a fruitful novelist. Only yesterday I received from Victor Hugo, in Guernsey, a letter full of encouragement and congratulations. I have the honor to belong to the Society of Authors and the Society of Dramatists. My modest claims to the first are: (Here follows a list of his most successful works.) Now, I beg, dear master, the honor of writing with you a drama in five acts, the ideas for which I shall discuss with you at our first meeting. The ideas are, I believe, in accordance with the tastes of the day.
Will you agree?
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, Father.
The reply of the son was:
Alexandre Dumas, son, to Alexandre Dumas, father:
DEAR MASTER—Your letter came to the correct address. The friendship, the love, the respect, the admiration which I have for my father make it my duty and pleasure to accept blindly your amiable offer. Be it so, therefore, we shall work together on some piece in five acts. To work with you, let me say, between us, will be no bad piece of business for me.
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SON.
Dramatic Plans of the Elder and Younger Dumas That Miscarried.
A curious and interesting bit of correspondence between Alexandre Dumas, father, and Alexandre Dumas, son, has been published in Paris by Georges Boyer, showing the two eminent French men had planned to write a theatrical piece together. Unfortunately the plan was not carried out, and the literary world was deprived maybe of a brilliant production. The letters read as follows:
PARIS, Oct. 7, 1865.
Alexandre Dumas, father, to Alexandre Dumas, son:
DEAR MASTER—After 90 years of struggle, defeats and victories, of failures and successes, I believe that, if not a great celebrity, I have at least the reputation of being a fruitful novelist. Only yesterday I received from Victor Hugo, in Guernsey, a letter full of encouragement and congratulations. I have the honor to belong to the Society of Authors and the Society of Dramatists. My modest claims to the first are: (Here follows a list of his most successful works.) Now, I beg, dear master, the honor of writing with you a drama in five acts, the ideas for which I shall discuss with you at our first meeting. The ideas are, I believe, in accordance with the tastes of the day.
Will you agree?
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, Father.
The reply of the son was:
Alexandre Dumas, son, to Alexandre Dumas, father:
DEAR MASTER—Your letter came to the correct address. The friendship, the love, the respect, the admiration which I have for my father make it my duty and pleasure to accept blindly your amiable offer. Be it so, therefore, we shall work together on some piece in five acts. To work with you, let me say, between us, will be no bad piece of business for me.
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SON.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Epistolary
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
What keywords are associated?
Dumas Correspondence
Unwritten Drama
Father Son Collaboration
Literary Plans
1865 Letters
Literary Details
Title
A Play That Was Not Written
Subject
Dramatic Plans Of The Elder And Younger Dumas That Miscarried.
Key Lines
Dear Master—After 90 Years Of Struggle, Defeats And Victories, Of Failures And Successes, I Believe That, If Not A Great Celebrity, I Have At Least The Reputation Of Being A Fruitful Novelist.
Now, I Beg, Dear Master, The Honor Of Writing With You A Drama In Five Acts, The Ideas For Which I Shall Discuss With You At Our First Meeting.
Dear Master—Your Letter Came To The Correct Address. The Friendship, The Love, The Respect, The Admiration Which I Have For My Father Make It My Duty And Pleasure To Accept Blindly Your Amiable Offer.