Read, discuss, repeat! Explore popular and award-winning non-fiction titles with other book lovers. This month: "The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, And the Real Count of Monte Cristo", by Tom Reiss.

Funded by the Fountain Hills Friends of the Library.

 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.

Discussion Questions:
1. Reiss calls General Dumas a “soldier’s general”(p8). What does the term mean to you? What other leaders have held this honor? Are there additional traits military leaders should possess? What pressures do individuals in the military face in balancing civilian and military expectations?
2. Thomas-Alexandre chose a military career. What unusual choice did he make about the way he enlisted and the name under which he enlisted? Why do you think he did this?
3. How did Dumas successfully navigate the conflicting loyalties and duties of a military post during this time of upheaval? 4. According to Reiss, what set Dumas apart from his
contemporaries (p 157)?
5. What factors do you feel most contributed to Dumas’ rapid rise in the military? What was it about his personal history that made him such a loyal defender of the Republic (especially after being a part of the Queen’s Regiment)?
6. Napoleon was adored by some and despised by others. Describe some of the altruistic and not-so-altruistic things Napoleon did, and how these affected General Dumas as well as the relationship between the two military leaders.
7. What circumstances made life difficult for those of African and mixed-race descent? How did Andre overcome these obstacles?
How did the political climate of the “world’s first civil rights movement” (p 10) impact the life of General Dumas?
8. How was Dumas’ position during the Egyptian campaign ironic? How do you think the conditions faced by French troops affect the impression he made on the Egyptians?
9. How was General Dumas’ biography changed between its publication in 1797 and 1808? What political events could have precipitated this? How do modern events and perspectives shape our understanding of Dumas and other historic figures? Is the new statue an appropriate tribute to his life?
10. Reiss often references Dumas’ writing. Examine how memoir differs from biography. What value do each of these forms offer the reader?
11. How did Dumas respond when he discovered what was hidden beneath an abandoned house? What does his response suggest about his character and ideology?
12. Compare the theme, plot, and characters from “The Count of Monte Cristo” with the life of General Dumas. What objects was
Dumas given during his captivity, and how did these help him? What elements of his father’s story did Alexandre Dumas use for the story of Edmond Dantès?
13. Were the nicknames “Horatius” and “Mr. Humanity” appropriate? Why, or why not?
14. Examine the love story between Marie-Louise Labouret and Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. Looking at specific details and excerpts,
explain how their relationship evolved and endured to stand among other notable power-couples of history.
15. Dumas chose to conceal many of his experiences –both from the war and his captivity- from his wife, a decision shared by many combat veterans. How does this secrecy impact the soldiers and the civilians at home? What can be done to help them adapt to life after their military experiences?