The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss and Gabriel Stoian

WINNER OF THE 2013 PULITZER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY General Alex Dumas is a man almost unknown today, yet his story is strikingly familiar—because his son, the novelist Alexandre Dumas, used his larger-than-life feats as inspiration for such classics as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. But, hidden behind General Dumas's swashbuckling adventures was an even more incredible secret: he 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 made his way to Paris, where he rose to command armies at the height of the Revolution—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. TIME magazine called The Black Count "one of those quintessentially human stories of strength and courage that sheds light on the historical moment that made it possible." But it is also a heartbreaking story of the enduring bonds of love between a father and son.

3.5 stars. I didn't love the narrator for this one, and it felt a bit long for the amount of material it covered.

I ventured into a new genre, Biography. I expected to hate it, and so I did.

I considered this book because I loved The Count of Monte Cristo, but where one is a novel, which purpose is to entertain the reader, this a history book, which purpose is to be precise and accurate with names, dates and sequencing of events.

The prologue was interesting, it tells about the authors difficulties obtaining the documents for his research.

read 1:38 / 13:30 12%

Great biography of Alex Dumas, the father of [a:Alexandre Dumas 4785 Alexandre Dumas https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1279049943p2/4785.jpg]. This is the best work of non-fiction I've read since [b:Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln 2199 Team of Rivals The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Doris Kearns Goodwin https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347278868s/2199.jpg 2861004].I've always been a fan of Alexandre Dumas and have read a great deal of his work. It was interesting to read about the family history and the amazing things the his father accomplished. The biography starts with Alex Dumas' grandfather a minor son of a noble in France who took off to the new world to make his fortune. It continues through Alex's childhood in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) and return to France. His participation in the France Revolution and following campaigns. His eventual capture, imprisonment and life after his release. Truly, a rags to riches to rags story. The book is told in an easy to read voice. The footnotes are plentiful and particularly helpful. I'm going to have to check out more by [a:Tom Reiss 63278 Tom Reiss https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1354292860p2/63278.jpg]. If you enjoy a good biography, French History, or the writing of Alexandre Dumas you really should read this book.