Here is the remarkable true story of the real Count of Monte Cristo — a stunning feat of historical sleuthing that brings to life the forgotten hero who inspired such classics as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
The real-life protagonist of The Black Count, General Alex Dumas, is a man almost unknown today yet with a story that is strikingly familiar, because his son, the … strikingly familiar, because his son, the novelist Alexandre Dumas, used it to create some of the best loved heroes of literature.
Yet, hidden behind these swashbuckling adventures was an even more incredible secret: the real hero was the son of a black slave — who rose higher in the white world than any man of his race would before our own time.
Born in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), Alex Dumas was briefly sold into bondage but made his way to Paris where he was schooled as a sword-fighting member of the French aristocracy. Enlisting as a private, he rose to command armies at the height of the Revolution, in an audacious campaign across Europe and the Middle East – until he met an implacable enemy he could not defeat.
The Black Count is simultaneously a riveting adventure story, a lushly textured evocation of 18th-century France, and a window into the modern world’s first multi-racial society. But it is also a heartbreaking story of the enduring bonds of love between a father and son.
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Incredible research to produce it
FASCINATING CHARACTER STUDIES AS WELL AS DEPICTION OF RACISM IN FRANCE. I READ IT FOR A BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP A FEW YEARS AGO SO CAN’T RECALL MANY DETAILS HOWEVER IT WAS A TOTALLY ENGROSSING HISTORY OF A CERTAIN TIME IN HISTORY OF WHICH I WAS UNAWARE.
Well researched and a fascinating perspective on a bit of history that I haven’t heard much about. The military campaigns are very detailed, and a bit dry to my liking – but I’m sure will be captivating to those who are interested in military history. I loved learning about the man, Alex Dumas, and the institution of slavery outside of the United …
Tells a historical story that few would know anything about. It shines a light on French racism and imperialism in the time of Napoleon.
This book was so interesting (and made me want to watch The Count of Monte Cristo again!). After reading a lot of Dumas’s books, and finding them increasingly depressing (do not read The Knight of Maison-Rouge if you like happy endings), I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. But I didn’t know that Dumas (the son of the titular Black Count) …
This book is about a heretofore unknown historical figure – – a black Frenchman who became one of the finest generals involved in the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. Great story of a dramatic life.
Very interesting historical account of the father of Alexander Dumas, the writer of The three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.
This is the biography of Alexander Dumas’ father, who emigrated from Haiti to France. He eventually became one of Napoleon’s important generals.
This is a great book and makes me want to read a Dumas book, too.
Great information on background events and people that influenced Alex Dumas in writing the Count of Monte Cristo and the 3 Musketeers. Great background of how the French Revolution played out and its impact on European events. Relates how events that occurred 200 years ago in a countries history still has an impact on the social, economic and …
A scholarly survey of the life of Grandpere Dumas. All the flare and imagination of the fils, but in real life. A great depiction of Napoleon as the twisted dictator he really was, vacillating and conniving.
A great book to curl up with.
I love history, loved this book and plan to read it again.
too detailed to make a good read, unless you’re a real french history buff
I have always been a fan of Alexander Dumas. Often reading his less famous books. This one tells about his father Alex and what was done to him.
Thank you for your pround revelation of a strong courageous educated black man.
A great book if you like French history and The Count of Monte Cristo. Well written and about something and someone I knew nothing about.
This is a fabulous story! I really wish more people knew about it. It’s amazing that this really happened and really should be taught in school.
I love Alexander Dumas’ books and this history really shows so much that Europe is not the center of the earth, but just a part of it. We are all connected and there are good people and bad people. It …
An interesting perspective on the French Revolution and the years leading up to it.
Well written and interesting.
A sad reminder that progress (in this case freedom for black people under French rule) can’t be taken for granted.
The limitations of source material inevitably (but appropriately) make the details of the story thin.