A fascinating and shocking non-fiction work on the scandals and atrocities committed in the royal chambers of the Russian Imperial court. Alexandre Dumas (also known as Dumas pere) (1802-1870) was one of the most famous French writers of the 19th century. Dumas is best known for the historical novels The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both written within the space of two years, 1844-45, and which belong to the foundation works of popular culture. Dumas' works are fast-paced adventure tales that blend history and fiction.