Tom Reiss

There are certain figures throughout history who have had a significant impact on key periods in history but remain relatively obscure. General Alex Dumas is one such figure. Not only was he one of the top generals in the post-revolution French Army, ranking even higher than Napoleon Bonaparte at one point in time, his influence on certain pre-revolutionary politics regarding slavery and the status of former slaves is remarkable. That he was forgotten by history is due more to the adage to show more that history is written by the victors than to any of his own failings. His story is as inspiring as it is frustrating that he was subject to the whims and jealousies of a megalomaniac.

With a subject matter as interesting as General Dumas, it would be easy to dismiss the author’s contribution to the novel. After all, Dumas’ story practically writes itself with his participation in some of the key moments in European history. However, to do so would be to ignore Mr. Reiss’ significant skill as a researcher and writer. His use of primary sources within the narrative provides an authentic note while the layout of each chapter is meticulous in its detail and organization. The flow of the story is exceptional, and a reader has no problems following the multiple historical characters that appear throughout the story.

To call Alex Dumas’ story stranger than fiction is an understatement. His prolific talents and accomplishments, his unique situation as a successful son of a black slave in an increasingly white world, as well as the conspiracies and jealousies directed towards him all create a story that is better than most fictional novels. Combined with Mr. Reiss’ exquisite writing and careful research, there is no confusion as to why The Black Count has won countless awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. show less

I did not know that The Count of Monte Cristo got its base from the author's father. I loved Monte Cristo so to learn about the connection to Dumas' father was fascinating. His experiences were truly astonishing and, ultimately, sad -- that his "value" to the French military, even after strong proof of his abilities, were limited ultimately by the color of his skin. And this limitation, he being the only general of the Revolution who was not given France's highest honor, impacts his legacy show more even into this century.

I was also interested in Reiss' descriptions of the challenges he faced in finding information about General Dumas. To track with him, locating the different primary resources and the challenges he faced in getting access, was a story in itself. To Reiss' credit, that tale occupied only a small part of the book, but it was important to identify how such a truly great general of the Revolution has fallen to virtual anonymity even in France. show less

Tom Reiss’s The Black Count is an extraordinary biography of an extraordinary man: father to the novelist Alexandre Dumas and grandfather to the renowned playwright of the same name. Alex Dumas, however, was born a slave in what is now Haiti, but rose to become a general in the army of revolutionary France. As the illegitimate but recognized son of a marquis in France, Alex Dumas entered pre-revolutionary Parisian society as one of the elite. Trained in fencing and riding, he cut a show more considerable figure, given his imposing physical stature. When the revolution came, he joined it whole-heartedly, rising in the ranks from private to general of a division.

Reiss uses Alex Dumas also to explore the racial politics of the revolution, which pursued surprisingly enlightened policies. The favor with which society welcomed blacks and mulattos, all popularly called “Americans”, the removal of racial laws, the spirit of the revolution itself all helped Alex Dumas make the most of his abilities, which were considerable. No wonder he was devoted to the Republic. But when Napoleon rose to power, he re-instituted many racial laws. The fact that this damaged Dumas, a prisoner of war at the time and a general Napoleon detested, was just gravy.

Along the way, Reiss shows how various incidences in Alex Dumas’s life play out in his son’s fiction, how Dumas’s heroic exploits and impressive physical traits translate into such familiar literary figures as the Count of Monte Crisco.
Highly recommended. show less

Most people recognize the name “Alexandre Dumas” thanks to the enduring popularity of The Three Musketeers. Many people are aware that the novelist Alexandre Dumas had a son Alexandre who was a playwright as well as a novelist. Far fewer are familiar with the original Alexandre Dumas. He was born in what is now Haiti to a French father (a marquis, no less) and a slave mother. He had the great fortune to live in France during a period of great freedom for Africans and people of mixed show more race. He had the great misfortune to be a contemporary of Napoleon, who took away those liberties when he rose to power.

The first person intrudes at several points in the narrative. This wouldn't be remarkable in an autobiography, but it's unexpected in a biography. The first person passages reveal Reiss's extraordinary efforts to access primary sources that had lain untouched in archives and repositories for two centuries. (Some of the richest sources were stored in a safe whose combination had been lost at the death of the only person who knew it. Thanks to Reiss's persistence, the safe was blown open and Reiss was permitted to view its contents.) The newly discovered primary sources will interest scholars, while Reiss's vivid narrative will appeal to general readers and fans of The Count of Monte Cristo and other action and adventure novels inspired by the life of General Dumas. show less