The Black Count

Name: The Black Count
ISBN: 9780449012673

by Tom Reiss · first published 2012

8mentions

5recommended by

5HN commenters

2022–2026first – last mentioned

83% recommend17% critical

Why HN recommends it

A narrative biography of General Alexandre Dumas, the mixed-race father who inspired The Count of Monte Cristo. It offers a vivid, factual account of France's Revolutionary and Napoleonic era.

Summarised by Claude from recommending comments

Biography & Memoir

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.

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What Hacker News says

allig256 · Jul 3, 2022 · Recommends

I'd recommend you read "The Black Count" by Tom Reiss. It's a non-fiction biography of Alexandre Dumas's father, the inspiration for The Count of Monte Cristo. It holds the same luster of the 19th century while giving you a factual recount…
on “Ask HN: Which book would you pick to re-read for the rest of your life?” ↗
WillAdams · Jan 25, 2023 · Recommends

_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…
on “Ask HN: What should I read next?” ↗
WillAdams · Jan 1, 2025 · Recommends

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…
on “Ask HN: What is the best thing you read in 2024?” ↗
WillAdams · May 2, 2025 · Recommends

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
on “How to live an intellectually rich life” ↗
sillyfluke · Mar 26, 2026 · Recommends

…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
on “Musketeer d'Artagnan's remains believed found under Dutch church” ↗
Spooky23 · Feb 22, 2023 · Recommends

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.
on “The dystopian underworld of South Africa’s illegal gold mines” ↗
thelock85 · Jul 12, 2024 · Recommends

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.
on “Born into slavery, he rose to the top of France's art world” ↗
WillAdams · Dec 10, 2025 · Critical

For more on this, see the (sadly, hastily researched to some degree) biography of his father, _The Black Count_: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330922-the-black-count which arguably served as a template for a famous novel which also features a count in the title.
on “Are the Three Musketeers allergic to muskets? (2014)” ↗