The French author Alfred Louis Charles de Musset-Pathay was born on December 11, 1810, and died on May 2, 1857. He wrote plays, poems, and novels. He is known for both his poetry and the autobiographical book La Confession d'un enfant du siècle. The artist was born in Paris. His family was wealthy but poor. His father held important government jobs but never gave his son any money. Musset's mother came from a similar background, and as a society hostess, she made an effect on young Alfred through her drawing-room parties, luncheons, and dinners held in the Musset home. While he was still a child, he liked to act out scenes from old romance novels in short shows that he would put together on the spot. Following many years, Paul de Musset, the older brother, would write a history of his famous younger brother that would include these and other important facts. The July Monarchy put him in charge of the library at the French Ministry of the Interior. He believed in liberal ideas and got along well with King Louis Philippe's family.