From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: A picturesque and realistic account of adventures in California in the days of the gold rush. Though written in the first person, it is hardly necessary to state that Dumas was not at any time in America. None the less this work is excellent ; how he obtained his information is not known, but, written in his great years, it is another example of his wonderful ability to "project" himself into the scenes or the times he wished to describe.
Original edition: "Un Gil-Blas en Californie;" Paris, Cadot, 2 vols., 8vo., 1852. Glinel notes that some copies are mistakenly dated 1854, as regards the first volume. (1). Pp. 319, 296.
(1) We have handled two copies of this work, identical in every respect, even to the advertisements, yet of which in one case both volumes are dated 1852, while in the other, Vol. I. bears the figures 1855 and Vol. II. 1854. These mistakes are so common as to have become expected.
As "Californie : Un An sur les Bords du San-Joaquin et du Sacramento;" Brussels (publisher not stated), 2 vols., 1852.
It fills one volume in the standard Calmann-Lévy edition, and one in their "Musée Littéraire."
In Le Vasseur's "Alexandre Dumas Illustré" it forms part of Vol. XXIII.
References :— Parran: "Bibliographie d'Alex. Dumas," page 59. Glinel: "Alexandre Dumas et Son Œuvre," page 428.
English Translations :—
"A Gil Blas in California" forms one of the pieces included in "A Bird of Fate"; London, Methuen, sewed, 1906 Reprinted, same firm, 18mo., 1922.
