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638 reviews for:
The Black Count: Napoleon's Rival, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo – General Alexandre Dumas
Tom Reiss
4.11 AVERAGE
638 reviews for:
The Black Count: Napoleon's Rival, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo – General Alexandre Dumas
Tom Reiss
4.11 AVERAGE
This was excellent. Well written, compelling, and a fascinating look at a relatively unknown character.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Well-written, fascinating, and the very first book to use some of the primary sources that it does --
who buries that kind of information in an end-note?! I particularly enjoyed the history of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) and the complicated interplay of race, ideals, and economics throughout the French Revolution and into the Empire. I also want to go read The Count of Monte Cristo with an eye to parallels between Dantes and General Dumas.
Some pictures would have been nice. Apparently a film has been in the works for a while now, which I would love to see.
I was hoping that Dr. Larrey would make an appearance in this book, as Dumas briefly did in [b:Larrey: Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard|38191891|Larrey Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard|Robert G. Richardson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1516790350s/38191891.jpg|848352], but sadly, he did not. There doesn't appear to be evidence of the two men interacting, per se, even in the fairly small upper echelons of command on the Egypt campaign, but I'm sure they would have gotten on. #headcanon #historicalcrushes
who buries that kind of information in an end-note?! I particularly enjoyed the history of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) and the complicated interplay of race, ideals, and economics throughout the French Revolution and into the Empire. I also want to go read The Count of Monte Cristo with an eye to parallels between Dantes and General Dumas.
Some pictures would have been nice. Apparently a film has been in the works for a while now, which I would love to see.
I was hoping that Dr. Larrey would make an appearance in this book, as Dumas briefly did in [b:Larrey: Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard|38191891|Larrey Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard|Robert G. Richardson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1516790350s/38191891.jpg|848352], but sadly, he did not. There doesn't appear to be evidence of the two men interacting, per se, even in the fairly small upper echelons of command on the Egypt campaign, but I'm sure they would have gotten on. #headcanon #historicalcrushes
4.5/5
Fascinating person, exciting time period, amazingly well researched writing. The prose could use some work, but hey, this is the uncorrected proof. Taking that into account, the work done so far is simply extraordinary.
I will admit it, I had no idea that the famous author Alexandre Dumas' father was so. Well. Larger than life, really. And the time period that he lived in that enabled him to reach such heights was almost as unbelievable. Before reading this, the extent of my knowledge regarding the French Revolution could be nearly encompassed by books like [b:Les Misérables|24280|Les Misérables|Victor Hugo|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327702573s/24280.jpg|3208463], [b:A Tale of Two Cities|1953|A Tale of Two Cities|Charles Dickens|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344922523s/1953.jpg|2956372], [b:The Eight: A Novel|113310|The Eight|Katherine Neville|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320533696s/113310.jpg|268923], and other historical fiction that loved to mention the guillotine. Not exactly comprehensive, as none of these books touch on the hugely successful and extremely paradoxical civil rights movement that accompanied this tumultuous time.
In fact, most of the other books focused on illustrating the rampant bloodthirst running through France, but this book was especially successful at drawing connections between the politically motivated guillotine and Stalin's USSR. It was disconcerting seeing how both historical periods had a penchant for conspiracy and execution; however, it must be said that France managed to maintain some measure of humanity due to its acceptance of mixed races on all levels of society. Without this, Alex Dumas, the 'Black Count', would be as fictional as his son's protagonist, Edmond Dantès.
It's simply a travesty that no one has heard of this man. From the sounds of it, he very well single-handedly kept the Revolution going, while managing to not succumb to its political machinations. Throughout the book, General Dumas goes through life conquering armies despite overwhelming odds, yet he never loses his humanity when dealing with captured villages and other non-fighting entities. Many times he was willing to place the blame on those under his own command, as his goals were freedom and fair play for all, not just victory for his side. You don't get people like that nowadays.
Also, major kudos to the author. If he had dictated Alex Dumas' life, the book would've been half as long, if that. Instead, he chose to lay out all the historical background necessary before setting Alex up, so when the main character does something, the reader knows exactly why and how this relates to the bigger picture. I'm a big fan of this, not only because it's so much easier to know what's going on, it also offers many amazing snapshots full of juicy historical tidbits. For example, I now know what led up to the creation of Haiti, as well as the fact that Napoleon was a major twat. Not to mention how the US really got over the whole colonies business. Liberty or death is one thing, but if you forget to mention the fact that the whole of Europe, especially France, basically fought Britain for you, it's a bit cheap.
So. Read this. You learn so much, whether your interest is the man or the history. Either way, it's definitely a story to be remembered, especially since it actually happened. That always makes things cooler.
PS: Before I forget, I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Fascinating person, exciting time period, amazingly well researched writing. The prose could use some work, but hey, this is the uncorrected proof. Taking that into account, the work done so far is simply extraordinary.
I will admit it, I had no idea that the famous author Alexandre Dumas' father was so. Well. Larger than life, really. And the time period that he lived in that enabled him to reach such heights was almost as unbelievable. Before reading this, the extent of my knowledge regarding the French Revolution could be nearly encompassed by books like [b:Les Misérables|24280|Les Misérables|Victor Hugo|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327702573s/24280.jpg|3208463], [b:A Tale of Two Cities|1953|A Tale of Two Cities|Charles Dickens|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344922523s/1953.jpg|2956372], [b:The Eight: A Novel|113310|The Eight|Katherine Neville|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320533696s/113310.jpg|268923], and other historical fiction that loved to mention the guillotine. Not exactly comprehensive, as none of these books touch on the hugely successful and extremely paradoxical civil rights movement that accompanied this tumultuous time.
In fact, most of the other books focused on illustrating the rampant bloodthirst running through France, but this book was especially successful at drawing connections between the politically motivated guillotine and Stalin's USSR. It was disconcerting seeing how both historical periods had a penchant for conspiracy and execution; however, it must be said that France managed to maintain some measure of humanity due to its acceptance of mixed races on all levels of society. Without this, Alex Dumas, the 'Black Count', would be as fictional as his son's protagonist, Edmond Dantès.
It's simply a travesty that no one has heard of this man. From the sounds of it, he very well single-handedly kept the Revolution going, while managing to not succumb to its political machinations. Throughout the book, General Dumas goes through life conquering armies despite overwhelming odds, yet he never loses his humanity when dealing with captured villages and other non-fighting entities. Many times he was willing to place the blame on those under his own command, as his goals were freedom and fair play for all, not just victory for his side. You don't get people like that nowadays.
Also, major kudos to the author. If he had dictated Alex Dumas' life, the book would've been half as long, if that. Instead, he chose to lay out all the historical background necessary before setting Alex up, so when the main character does something, the reader knows exactly why and how this relates to the bigger picture. I'm a big fan of this, not only because it's so much easier to know what's going on, it also offers many amazing snapshots full of juicy historical tidbits. For example, I now know what led up to the creation of Haiti, as well as the fact that Napoleon was a major twat. Not to mention how the US really got over the whole colonies business. Liberty or death is one thing, but if you forget to mention the fact that the whole of Europe, especially France, basically fought Britain for you, it's a bit cheap.
So. Read this. You learn so much, whether your interest is the man or the history. Either way, it's definitely a story to be remembered, especially since it actually happened. That always makes things cooler.
PS: Before I forget, I got this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I'm glad I decided to pick up this book. It an amazing history of a forgotten General of the French Revolution. Mr. Reiss really brought this story to life, I didn't want to put it down. My only real problem with the book are its lack of pictures, there are some maps but could have been more. I found myself having to stop from time to time to look up images of people. It could just be my gripe, but when I'm reading about actual events and people I like to know that they looked like.
I enjoyed reading this book. I have been a fan of Alexandre Dumas books and it was a treat to read about the man who influenced him and the was inspiration for many of his books.
I enjoyed reading this book. I have been a fan of Alexandre Dumas books and it was a treat to read about the man who influenced him and the was inspiration for many of his books.
Terrific account of the father of novelist Alexandre Dumas, an outstanding General who served in Imperial France, Revolutionary France, and was put to pasture by Napoleon's craven repeals of Revolutionary reforms which made it possible for a black man to lead and be free in France before anywhere else in the western world. The story is somewhat anticlimactic, since the hero basically gets the horns, but hey, it's non-fiction... the author tells the story that was. There is some pleasure to be had at the mental picture of ego-driven Napoleon being mortified by the enemies of battles on two continents looking at the taller, more athletic Dumas, certain that he was the superior of the shorter, thinner Bonaparte
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
This was fascinating, and immersive storytelling of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic ascendency.
At times swashbuckling, and at others heartbreaking, this is a well-researched book about a near-forgotten hero of the Revolution.
I was sometimes bored by the military logistics and behind-closed-doors political machinations, but for the most part, this was a great narrative.
For a full review and more details of General Alexandre Dumas, check out my blog post: https://myshamelesswonder.blogspot.com/
At times swashbuckling, and at others heartbreaking, this is a well-researched book about a near-forgotten hero of the Revolution.
I was sometimes bored by the military logistics and behind-closed-doors political machinations, but for the most part, this was a great narrative.
For a full review and more details of General Alexandre Dumas, check out my blog post: https://myshamelesswonder.blogspot.com/
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced