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Historical background

The success of Monte Cristo coincides with that of France's Second Empire and besides the description of the return of Napoleon I in 1815 Dumas gives at least one hint to the events: the governor at the Château d'If is promoted to a position at the castle of Ham^[5]. The attitude of Dumas towards the "bonapartisme" was extremely complicated and involved. This conflict dates back to his father ^[6] who was a coloured man, born by a slave and who became a famous general during the revolution. When new racist laws were applied in 1802 the general was dismissed from the army and he was profoundly bitter towards Napoleon when he died in 1806. An event in 1840 renewed the patriotic support for the Bonaparte family in the population: the ashes of Napoleon I were brought to France and became object of veneration in the church of Les Invalides.

In "Causeries" from 1860, Dumas prints a short paper on the genesis of Monte-Cristo. This essay, called "État civil du "Comte de Monte-Cristo"" is included in the Pléiade edition (Paris, 1981) as an "annexe". It appears that Dumas had close and intimate contacts with members of the Bonaparte family while living in Florence in 1841. In a small boat he sailed around the island of Monte-Cristo accompanied by one of the young princes – a cousin to the one who was going to be emperor of France ten years later. During this trip he promised the prince that he would write a novel with the island's name as title. At this moment the future emperor was imprisoned at the citadel of Ham – a name that is mentioned in the novel. Louis Napoleon was imprisoned for lifetime, but he fled under disguise. This happened in 1846 while Dumas's novel was already a gigantic success. Just as Dantès, Louis Napoleon reappeared in Paris as a powerful and enigmatic man of the world. In 1848, however, Dumas did not vote for Louis Napoleon, but the novel may have participated – against the will of the writer – to the victory of the future Napoleon III.

A chronology of The Count of Monte Cristo and Bonapartism

The grandfather Dumas:

1793: Thomas-Alexandre Dumas is promoted general in the army of the First French Republic.

1794: He disapproves of the revolutionary terror in Western France.

1795-97: He attains great celebrity. Is fighting under Napoleon.

1802: Black officers are dismissed from the army. The Empire has reestablished slavery.

1802: Birth of his son, Alexandre Dumas père.

1806: Th. A. Dumas dies, still bitter towards the injustice of the Empire.

The father Dumas:

1832: The only son of Napoleon I dies.

1836: A. Dumas is already a famous writer.

1836: First putsch of Louis Napoleon, aged 28. Fails completely.

1840: June. A law is passed to bring the ashes of Napoleon I to France.

1840: August. Second putsch of Louis Napoleon. He is imprisoned for lifetime and becomes known as the candidate for the imperial succession.

1841: Dumas lives in Florence and is acquainted with the King Jérôme and his son, Napoléon.

1841-44: The novel is conceived and written.

1846: The novel is a European bestseller.

1846: Louis Napoleon escapes from his prison.

1848: French Second Republic. Louis Napoleon is elected its first president but Dumas does not vote for him.

1857: Dumas publishes État civil du Comte de Monte-Cristo