The Black Count
Explores the life and career of Thomas Alexandre Dumas, a man almost unknown today, but whose swashbuckling exploits appear in The three musketeers and whose trials and triumphs inspired The count of Monte Cristo.
Stats for nerds
5recommend
8mentions
5people
2022–2026years
88% recommend13% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- A reminder that The Count of Monte Cristo is inspired by the mixed race father of the author, General Alexander Dumas, who also had a somewhat fascinating life riding currents of fate during the French revolution.
The Black Count
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330922-the-black-count
- Well, Steven Brust's _The Baron of Magister Valley_ is basically TCoMC w/ the names changed and serial numbers filed off in a fantasy setting.
Also, if you haven't read _The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo_ by Tom Reiss I'd strongly recommend that:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330922-the-black-count
- I would highly recommend pairing that with _The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo_ by Tom Reiss --- it's a fascinating look at that period of history.
For fun, if you like fantasy, Steven Brust's _The Baron of Magister Valley_ is delightful, one of his "Paarfi Romances" it is TCoMC w/ the names changed and serial numbers filed off in a fantasy world (which is actually a science-fictional one as noted on Penny Arcade).
- Came here to say this... The Black Count was such an illuminating read. It's surreal to think that Dumas' own father was the inspiration for writing Count of Monte Cristo.
- It’s historically not a concept without merit. The needlessly cruel treatment of Haiti is probably the canonical example.
I’d suggest reading about General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. The book “Black Count” is worth reading.
- _The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo_ by Tom Reiss, and Gabriel Stoian (Translator)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330922-the-black-count
It was an interesting look at this period of history, and even more fascinating insight into the wellspring from which Dumas drew for his stories.
It's esp. interesting when contrasted w/ the pastiche of _The Count of Monte Cristo_ by Steven Brust, _The Baron of Magister Valley_, which I also highly recommend if you're interested in literate fantasy.
