Book Review - The Black Count

The Black Count - Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss (2012) - If you are at all familiar with French literature you know the name Dumas.  Alexandre Dumas (pere) and Alexandre Dumas (fils).  Father and son, and two of the great names of French writing.  Unknown to me, and I'd wager a fair number of you as well, is that there was an Alexandre Duma (grand pere).

His preference was to be known simply as Alex.  The eldest Dumas was the son of a minor French aristocrat and a Haitian slave woman who would rise to nearly rival Napoleon in his day.  Bonaparte would eventually turn his back on his fellow general and let him suffer in an Italian prison while Napoleon became emperor.  Because Dumas was persona non grata Reiss works hard to find background on the character.  The middle Dumas wrote a hagiographic biography of his father.  At the same time the general appears to have been an amazing person.  Brilliant general, outstanding swordsman and horseman, beloved by his troops as well as his wife and children.

I've always wondered at the rather rabid reaction to the Bonaparte name you sometimes find in European, especially English, histories.  He is generally treated rather warmly in American schools (at least when I went through) as something of French freedom fighter who goes a little wrong at the end.  I came away with a very different view of him after this book.  Nasty little man.

Dumas pere based one of his most popular books "The Count of Monte Christo" on his father's time in an Italian prison following the betrayal by Bonaparte.  The two year ordeal shortened the elder Dumas's life and he died at just 43 years old.

This is a fascinating piece of French history that I never knew and Riess does a wonderful job telling the story.  If you'd like a little adventure with your history I think you'll like this one.

Rating - **** Recommended