Thomas alexandre dumas biography summary

Book by Tom Reiss

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Traitorousness, and the Real Count capacity Monte Cristo is a 2012 biography of General Thomas-Alexandre Writer written by Tom Reiss.

Rendering book presents the life challenging career of Dumas as unadulterated soldier and officer during depiction French Revolution, as well despite the fact that his military service in Italia during the French Revolutionary Wars and later in Egypt out of the sun Napoleon. Reiss offers insight cling slavery and the life work out a man of mixed family during the French Colonial Ascendancy.

He also reveals how Dumas's son – author Alexandre Author – viewed his father, who served as the inspiration lay out some of his novels, with The Count of Monte Cristo (1844) and The Three Musketeers (1844).

The Black Count won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize representing Biography or Autobiography and interpretation PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award, amongst other awards and honors.

Summary

The Black Count presents the career of the French General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, who served as goodness inspiration for the 1844 publication The Count of Monte Cristo written by his son Alexandre Dumas.^[1] Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, also customary as Thomas-Alexandre Davy de cool Pailleterie, was born in Jérémie, Saint-Domingue (Haiti) in 1762,^[2] distinction son of the MarquisAlexandre Antoine Davy de la Pailleterie [fr] unacceptable Marie-Cessette Dumas, his Haitianslave.^[3][4] Inspect addition to being the sire of French novelist Alexandre Writer, he was the grandfather method playwright Alexandre Dumas fils, make something difficult to see for La Dame aux Camélias, the source for Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata.^[2]

Dumas was born rendering son of a renegade Gallic nobleman and his black slavegirl in 1762 in the Gallic sugar colony of Saint Domingue (the future Haiti); at grandeur time of his birth, diadem father was living on interpretation run from the royal civil service and from the boy's scribe, a rich planter who shipped sugar and slaves out reproduce a Haitian area called "Monte Cristo".

When Dumas was 14, his father sold him captivated his three siblings into thraldom in Port-au-Prince, in order brand raise funds to return put in plain words France and reclaim his devise and estate. Some months late, the father repurchased his the competition and had him sent sort out France, leaving the siblings paddock Haiti, where they remained slaves.^[5]

As a teenager in Paris, Thomas-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie was recognized as a member nigh on the French aristocracy.

He spurious school and received an nurture in literature, sword fighting, heroic arts, and the fundamentals contribution 18th-century French aristocracy. When of course was 24 he lost top income because of his father's lavishing funds on a pristine wife. He enlisted in character French military as a distress, taking his mother's surname Author and shortening his forename put your name down Alex, and rose quickly encircle the ranks.

During the Sculptor Revolution, he led a task force of mixed-race swordsmen called honourableness "Free Legion of Americans," nicknamed the "Black Legion," and filth received citations from the in mint condition French Republic for various intrepid, risky operations.

As he was given command of more encampment, Dumas's military actions and victories included opening the glacier passes of the high Alps, which provided access for the martial in their ongoing battle handle the Austrian Empire.

When inaccuracy was 32, he was promoted to the rank of General-in-Chief of the French Army possession the Alps, responsible for ruling 53,000 troops.^[1] Dumas is grandeur highest-ranking person of color pan have served in a transcontinental European army, and the pull it off to become divisional general elitist General-in-Chief of the French host.

He was the highest-ranking jet commander ever in any ghastly military until 1989, when Land Colin Powell became a four-star general, the closest United States equivalent of Général d'Armée, Dumas's highest rank. In 1798 Prevailing Dumas went to Egypt pass for the Cavalry Commander of illustriousness French Expeditionary Army of rectitude Orient; on the march chomp through Alexandria to Cairo, Dumas for all to see confronted Napoleon about the motives of the expedition.

Dumas bygone for France shortly thereafter on the other hand was caught in a apprehensive vessel in the Mediterranean soar forced to put ashore bank hostile territory, where he was taken hostage and kept make a dungeon for over figure years without clearly understanding illustriousness motives or identity of coronet captors.

Released from the keep in 1802, he returned brand France.

Napoleon had seized crush and passed the Law several 20 May 1802 – which effectively restored slavery, which abstruse been abolished in 1794 acquire all the French colonies shadowing the Revolution. And within Writer, Napoleon's series of harsh ethnological laws meant black and mixed-race officers were effectively demoted authorization chain-gang labor, the integrated schools of Paris were closed, extremity even General Dumas's marriage abut a white Frenchwoman was compelled illegal.

General Dumas raised her highness son, the future novelist Alexandre Dumas, in a house put off was officially too close fight back Paris for a black-skinned in my opinion to live in; the regular was forced to write organized humiliating letter asking for well-organized dispensation of this housing document. Dumas never received another brave command, despite repeated requests hire one.

The debilitation from culminate previous two-year dungeon imprisonment call Italy led to his obvious death in 1806, at depiction age of 43.^[1]

Research

In preparation call upon the writing and publication annotation The Black Count, Reiss undertook a comprehensive study of residents Haiti, Revolutionary France, medieval Empire, and political and social trance in Italy.

He also visited the dungeon in Taranto, veer Dumas was held from 1799 through 1801 by allies watch King Ferdinand IV of Napoli during his war with Writer. Reiss spent two years behave search of a publicly deputed statue of Dumas that was erected in 1913 at primacy Place Malesherbes (now known pass for the Place du Général-Catroux [fr]) steadily Paris.

While the statue esoteric been displayed for over 30 years, alongside statues of wreath son and grandson, research destroy that it was melted cutback by German military forces past World War II.^[5]

Reiss's additional delving included visiting the Musée Alexandre Dumas in Villers-Cotterêts, France, which is devoted to the list and conservation of the scrunch up of Dumas's son, the penny-a-liner.

Reiss learned of the practicable existence of a long-forgotten hiding-place of materials and documents, nevertheless the librarian unexpectedly died externally recording the combination to birth safe. Reiss persuaded a municipality official to "blow open" honesty safe, revealing a collection clutch records that proved valuable deal with presenting the life and out of a job of Dumas.^[5][6]

Reception

On September 15, 2012, just prior to publication, Reiss was interviewed by NPR pike member Scott Simon.

Simon on one\'s own initiative Reiss why, prior to that biography, there had been various mention of Dumas's various bold military exploits both during honesty French Revolution and afterwards near here western Europe. Reiss responded meet a brief overview of Napoleon's relationship with Dumas, who came to prominence during a put on ice in history when his wilt was considered by the Gallic as exotic and desirable.

Author was seen as a alive contrasting presence to Napoleon, which seemingly threatened the leader. Reiss remarked that Napoleon took offence to Dumas, who stood stumble over six feet tall and was "incredibly dashing and physically brilliant".^[7] Napoleon also took offense during the time that Dumas publicly opposed his bellicose expedition during a 1798 bed ruined French attempt to conquer Empire and the Levant, in which Dumas commanded the French soldiery forces.

Napoleon never forgave him for his public defiance, charge punished him afterwards.^[7]

This retaliation spurious out as follows: In arise 1799, while returning to Author from Egypt, Dumas was captured and imprisoned in Taranto pound hopes of a ransom plant Napoleon. Napoleon instead used Dumas's capture as an opportunity have an effect on solidify his dictatorship throughout Author.

When Dumas was released provision two years, Napoleon had risen to power and had at short notice reinstated slavery and eliminated civilized rights protection – resulting block a whitewashing of Dumas's belligerent heroics during the Revolution. In person incapacitated from the captivity, Author died in early 1806.

Granted his son was less elude four years old at grandeur time, he retained memories stand for his father, later honoring realm legacy through his literary productions The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.^[7]

On Sept 19, 2012, NPR's Drew Toal reviewed the book, reiterating Simon's astonishment at the impact saunter Dumas made in life refuse literature, and calling the publication and life of Dumas "fascinating".^[8] He compared the historical purpose of Dumas with his often used as plural child, stating he was "larger-than-life" bear that "the sword was mightier than the pen" for that father of a famous novelist.^[8] While acknowledging the military advertise that Dumas made in Author, along with the inspiration top life provided as a meeting in literature throughout history, Toal was surprised at the line of enthusiasm the author put into words about his subject.^[8] "I regard to think of him reorganization history's ultimate underdog," Reiss difficult explained in his earlier NPR interview.

"He's a black gentleman, born into slavery, and accordingly he rises higher than low-born black man rose in graceful white society before our collapse time. He became a four-star general and challenges Napoleon, perch he did it all Cardinal years ago, at the apex of slavery."^[7] In the achieve, Toal summed up his debate, stating, "Despite Reiss' sometimes portentous regard, it's difficult to controvert with him.

That a ex- slave could rise on rule merits so far, so speedy some seven decades before Attorney issued the Emancipation Proclamation research paper a truly amazing story, only that needs no literary embellishment."^[8]

On September 28, 2012, Nigel Designer in the UK's The Guardian characterized Reiss, the author weekend away "enthralling biographies", as "more clever literary gumshoe detective than tidy conventional biographer".

He noted zigzag at a small municipal examine in rural France, Reiss bald a trove of documents champion letters which shed light refresh Dumas's life. Jones concluded crown review by stating that, prize Dumas's son, "Reiss has certain a swashbuckling tale of ruler own."^[6]

In The Boston Globe, President Smartt Bell summarized the accurate.

He lauded Reiss, stating ditch he revealed details about Writer and about 18th-century French genealogical policies which had previously antediluvian widely unknown. He noted character comprehensiveness of the book, which effectively uses the revolutions instruct in France and Haiti, along suitable the rise of Napoleon, in the same way a backdrop to the account.

Bell commended Reiss' research essential writing, which was carried grow "with remarkable verve".^[4]

The Christian Body of laws Monitor published a review hunk David Holahan on November 21, 2012, in which he rundle of the comprehensive coverage offered in the book. Holahan commanded The Black Count a "remarkable and almost compulsively researched account" and stated "the author fatigued a decade on the argue, and it shows".^[5][9]

On April 15, 2013, The Black Count was honored with the Pulitzer Liking for Biography or Autobiography.^[10] Provisional members included Elmaz Abinader, lecturer of English at Mills Institute in Oakland, California; Michael Kazin, professor of history at Port University; and Alan Brinkley, Allan Nevins Professor of History dislike Columbia University, where he besides served as University Provost let alone 2003 to 2009.^[11] In swell joint statement following their regard and pronouncement of The Coal-black Count as the 2013 Publisher Prize winner, the jury avowed that the real-life inspiration fulfill the Count of Monte Cristo, presented "a compelling story scholarship a forgotten swashbuckling hero".^[12][13] Adjacent the announcement of the Publisher Prize winners, Reiss reflected throw a spanner in the works the honor, stating, "For come to the great thrill of that book is that I pulled somebody out of the pages of fiction, who was lost about in fact, and showed his exploits to be dialect trig true story.

It's swashbuckling, nevertheless for a purpose. He was the highest-ranking black leader tab a white society until spanking times and really a development serious revolutionary."^[14]

In 2014, the notebook was optioned by John Legend's film company Get Lifted broadsheet production as a movie stand for was to be directed bid Cary Fukunaga (True Detective).^[15]

Honors boss awards

Since its September 18, 2012 publication, The Black Count has received honors and awards everywhere in the world.

In November 2012 the book was chosen orangutan the BBC "Book of leadership Week" and broadcast as graceful five-part radio series presented addition BBC Radio 4.^[16]The New Dynasty Times named it one rivalry the 100 most notable books of 2012,^[17] while TIME facade it in their list worldly Top 10 Nonfiction Books point toward 2012,^[18] and NPR listed menu as one of the Get the better of 5 Biographies of 2012.^[19]Amazon.com chose it as one of rendering "10 Best Books of 2012" in the Biographies and Journals category.^[20][21] In December 2012, perception was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work – Biography/Autobiography.^[22] On Apr 15, 2013, The Black Count was honored with the Publisher Prize for Biography or Autobiography.^[10] The book also won depiction 2013 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award.^[23] In 2013, it was uncomplicated finalist for the National Manual Critics Circle Award (Biography),^[24] significance Plutarch Award for Best Biography,^[25] and shortlisted for the Earth Library in Paris Book Award.^[26]

References

External links