From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: A prose drama in five acts and eight tableaux.
This was signed by Paul Meurice alone ; Lecomte associates Dumas with him ; Glinel says it was produced from Dumas' romance "Ascanio," in which Meurice is usually credited with having had a small share. Dumas protested against its production, as this letter shows :—
"I hear they are rehearsing 'Ascanio' at the Porte Saint Martin without my authorisation. Kindly announce in 'Le Pays' that I positively oppose the production of my drama, by placing it in rehearsal ; one thing they have forgotten concerning it—that is to consult me."
Despite Dumas' opposition, the piece was played for the first time at the Porte Saint Martin Theatre on the 1st of April, 1852, with brilliant success, Mélingue, in the title role, being greatly acclaimed.
Original edition : Parish, Michel Lévy Frères, 1852.
Re-issue : Paris, Calmann-Lévy, 1891.
References :— Glinel: "A. Dumas et Son Œuvre," pp. 429-30. Glinel: "Théâtre Inconnu."—"Revue Biblio-Iconographique," Year 1898, pp. 514-15. Gautier: "Art Dramatique," Série VI., pp. 327-29.
Truffier: "Mélingue," pp. 60-64.
