The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Sometimes we all need a bit of swashbuckling adventure in our lives. As a reader who went through a heavy “classic literature” phase, this one emerged as one of my favorites. Though its sized might seem intimidating, the pages will absolutely fly by!
–Stephanie, Village Books, Bellingham and Lynden, WA
The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
I like to recommend The Black Count as an example of really engaging history writing, because it’s fast-paced, informative, emotional, and surprisingly funny. There’s nothing dry about this book, which follows the story of novelist Alexandre Dumas’ father, the man whose life inspired his novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. From slavery in Haiti to revolutionary France to Napoleon Bonaparte’s military campaigns, this true story of one man’s travails gives weight to the adage that truth is stranger than fiction.
–Dorie, Village Books, Bellingham and Lynden, WA
When you want to delve into a topic, seek out Village Books or your local independent bookstore.