For hundreds of centuries, one of Europe’s great powers was the stage for untold death and destruction.

In "The Massacres of the South", Alexandre Dumas leads us through the many bloody events that shaped modern France. He begins in the 1500s with the Wars of Religion, which pitted Catholics against Protestants. And he ends with the Second White Terror, when thousands of Napoleon’s supporters by killed following the return of King Louis XVIII. The period in between is a ghastly catalogue of assassinations, mob violence, and merciless monarchs.

This entry in the "Celebrated Crimes" series is a recommended read for scholars, Dumas fans, or anyone with an interest in grisly historical facts.

Alexandre Dumas (1802 - 1870) was a hugely popular 19th century French writer. Born of mixed French and Haitian heritage, Dumas first rose to prominence in Paris as a playwright, but later gained international fame with his historical fiction.

Often co-authored with other writers, these stories wove together swashbuckling adventure, romance, and real events from France’s past. Among the best known are "The Three Musketeers", and its sequels "Twenty Years After", and "Le Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten Years Later". Set across four decades, this trilogy follows the rise of the dashing D’Artagnan—from hot-headed soldier to trusted captain under Louis XIV.

Dumas’ other novels include "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Black Tulip". His works have been adapted into more than 200 movies, including The Man in the Iron Mask starring Leonardo DiCaprio.