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.
Along these lines - the life story of Abram Petrovich Gannibal, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Petrovich_Gannibal, who was Alexander Pushkin's great grandfather, is jaw-dropping incredible to me. I'm really surprised a Hollywood movie hasn't been made about him.
Unless there were gaping liberties taken with facts in that book, I can't for life of me fathom how that book still hasn't been made into a movie yet. It's amazing how one person was at the right place at the right time and at the wrong place at the wrong time in two very extreme ways in one lifetime.
