Alexandre Dumas fils Alexandre Dumas fils Alexandre Dumas (; 27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel "La Dame aux Camélias" ("The Lady of the Camellias"), published in 1848, which was adapted into Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La traviata" ("The Fallen Woman"), as well as numerous stage and film productions, usually titled "Camille" in English-language versions. Dumas (French for 'son') was the son of Alexandre Dumas ('father'), also a well-known playwright and author of classic works such as "The Three Musketeers". Dumas was admitted to the (French Academy) in 1874 and awarded the
Giuseppe Verdi with Boito, produced in 1881, and a revision of "Don Carlos". Even when "Otello" was virtually completed, Verdi teased "Shall I finish it? Shall I have it performed? Hard to tell, even for me." As news leaked out, Verdi was pressed by opera houses across Europe with enquiries; eventually the opera was triumphantly premiered at La Scala in February 1887. Following the success of "Otello" Verdi commented, "After having relentlessly massacred so many heroes and heroines, I have at last the right to laugh a little." He had considered a variety of comic subjects but had found none of them