Trained as a historian, he turned to literature, and became close with such literary figures as Théophile Gautier and Gérard de Nerval.

[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.

"[4][5] Maquet went on to produce a large solo body of work: historical romances, plays and an opera libretto.

"[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.