The Writer & the Actor: Alexandre Dumas Pere & Francois-Joseph Talma

Talma was already famous when Dumas was no more than a poor, but ambitious, young man. The great actor was then one of the idols of the future writer who managed to meet him in 1822. From then on and until the death of the actor (in 1826) the two men kept a regular acquaintance. Later when he had become a successful author Alexandre Dumas devoted a book to Talma's life, published in 1849-1850 by Hippolyte Souverain. The private agreement signed at the time, which has recently been found again, is most telling of Alexandre Dumas' work methods, concerns, and dispositions.