The novel by Alexandre Dumas (son) was first published in 1848 and a few years later was adapted for the theater. It premiered on stage in 1852, achieving great success and marking the beginning of its author's theatrical career. The inspiration for Dumas's heroine, Marguerite Gautier, and her tragic story was Marie Duplessis, one of the most famous courtesans in Paris, who died in 1847 at the age of just twenty-three from tuberculosis, steeped in the debts of her luxurious life. The author himself had a romantic relationship with her, which he soon ended. Dumas's heroine is heartbreaking, and although her past is sinful, she is willing to sacrifice everything for her love with Armand, but their love will be shattered on the rocks of social conventions. The Lady of the Camellias was the inspiration for Verdi's La Traviata and was adapted for the cinema in more than twenty countries. The role of Marguerite Gautier was portrayed on screen by legendary actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt and Greta Garbo, among many others. Garbo's performance, although not honored with an Oscar, is considered legendary, while George Cukor's film titled Camille was included in the list of the best romantic films of all time by the American Film Institute.