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|title=The Black Count: Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte Cristo

|sort=Black Count: Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte Cristo, The

|publisher=Vintage

|date=May 2013

|website=http://www.tomreiss.com/‎

|video=TMXFiF-FfgQ

|summary=Fascinating tale of an almost-forgotten hero. Huge recommendation.

}}

While the novels of Alexandre Dumas, like ''The Three Musketeers'' and ''The Count of Monte Cristo'', weren't true, they were based on a real hero - Dumas's own father. Born the son of a slave and a French nobleman, General Alexandre Dumas would go on to rise to fame and fortune during the French Revolution, only to face racism, betrayal, and a rivalry with Napoleon Bonaparte which would eventually lead to the virtual disappearance from history of this incredible figure.

For another fascinating tale of a man who is nowhere near as well-known as you might expect, the story of an 18th century forger, as told in [[The Boy Who Would Be Shakespeare by Doug Stewart]], is superb.

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