Maquet was born in Paris in 1813. He studied at the Lycée Charlemagne where he became a professor at the age of 18. Trained as a historian, he turned to literature, and became close with such literary figures as Théophile Gautier and Gérard de Nerval. Through Nerval, he became acquainted with the already famous Dumas in 1838. Gérard de Nerval introduced Maquet to Dumas and asked the famous author to rewrite a play of Maquet's and publish it under his own name.[2] Dumas was then given a manuscript by Maquet which Dumas went on to publish under his own name as Le Chevalier d'Harmental.[3]
The two started writing historical romances together, with Maquet outlining the plot and characters in draft form and Dumas adding colourful dialogue and details.[2] At the insistence of and upon payment by the publisher, Maquet's name was left off the title page.[2]
The collaboration with Dumas ended in 1851. Maquet had earlier sued Dumas demanding co-authorship and royalties, but the court found in favour of Dumas, on the grounds that "Dumas without Maquet would have been Dumas: what would Maquet have been without Dumas?"[4] Maquet went on to produce a large solo body of work: historical romances, plays and an opera libretto. In 1861, he became an officer of the Légion d'honneur. Maquet died comfortably well-off. He is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
His brothers Charles and Hector Maquet were the founders of the luxury stationery manufacturer Maison Maquet.
Legacy
Many devotees of Dumas claim that "Maquet was merely a dogsbody whose capacity for hard work was his greatest talent."[3] Others, such as French Dumas expert Claude Schopp have claimed that Maquet was the real "fourth musketeer,"[2] responsible for the plots of The d'Artagnan Romances.[2] Author Bernard Fillaire says "There is a tendency to dismiss [Maquet] as a drudge and that's just wrong...Of course he wasn't a Balzac or a Dickens...but he definitely had talent."[3]
