The Black Count

Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo

By: Tom Reiss

Narrated by: Paul Michael

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY • ONE OF ESQUIRE’S BEST BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL TIME

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.

©2012 Tom Reiss (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"From pike-wielding mobs to prisoners locked in a fortress tower, The Black Count, a fascinating, detailed account of the life of Alexandre Dumas' father, is as action packed as The Count of Monte Cristo. Unlike Dumas' famous adventure novel, however, Reiss' incredible tale is true." (Candice Millard, New York Times best-selling author of The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic)

2013, NAACP Image Award, Nominated

2012, National Book Critics Circle Awards, Finalist

2013, PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, Short-listed

2013, Phillis Wheatley Book Award, Short-listed

2012, Plutarch Award, Finalist

2013, Pulitzer Prize, Winner

“Rousing and thought-provoking, The Black Count is an adventure like no other. I marveled at every twist and turn of this remarkable true story, brought to life with the charm and personal touch that has become the trademark of Tom Reiss.” (Laurence Bergreen, New York Times bestselling author of Columbus and Over the Edge of the World)

History Discovered

Any additional comments?

Wow! This book opened insights I never had to the "3 Musketeer's" author and his father. I thought the book got off to a slow start, with the author spending a good deal of time as to his gathering of the information, but once it got into the story, it was fascinating.

Wow -- How did I know about this guy???

This is, frankly, a really weird, inspiring, and surprising story. The most surprising thing is .. HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS GUY?? A real life swashbuckler, born a slave, raised an aristocrat, a superhero soldier, a commander of armies, a key player in some of the most important events in French History and father to one of the most famous authors.

Extraordinary

The author did a wonderful job in telling the story of Alex Dumas through the lenses of his son and certain historical counts. I loved the way the author provided a history lesson of certain events in France, Haiti, Egypt, et.Wonderfully read. This book is a must. Learn history of aa great figure in black history.

Simply remarkable

I never thought a non-fiction book could make me cry. This one moved me more deeply than any other I’ve read.

The count

One of the best I have ever read proving truth is stranger and more powerful than fiction

Great

This is a very good story about a man who deserves much more credit in France. His treatment after his service was trully heart breaking.

Great book

Would you listen to The Black Count again? Why?

Amazing true stiry

What other book might you compare The Black Count to and why?

The Count of Monti Cristois the only book that can compare.

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

pretty good

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Fabulous

A compelling and fast-paced book that touches on a huge number of topics — the French Revolution, colonialism, the Napoleonic Wars, even capsule histories of Naples, voodoo, and Egypt. Both an adventure story and a devastating account of France’s civic rot under Napoleon. Strong recommendation.

The French Black General Excluded From History

A striking and reveting account of the birth of the French republic, the death and rebirth of race laws and the Black French general who lived, fought and died for his country. A tremendous story showing human nature and how soon nations forget their heros

This was an excellent book.

Any additional comments?

I had just gotten done with "The Count of Monte Cristo" and had just learned about Dumas' interesting ancestry when this came out so it was perfect timing. I liked learning about the history of the time period in France and the Caribbean as well as the biographical details. Dumas' time spent in Egypt with the French forces was especially interesting to me. Very interesting and narrated expertly.