WI: General Alexandre Dumas survives/avoids capture?

Zioneer

Banned
So I've been reading the biography The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss, and I've been thinking about the subject of the biography, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the Haitian-born French Revolutionary general and father of the famous author.

The biography mentions that his career (and life) was over after he was captured while leaving Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, because it took him out of the wars and politics as well as weakening his health, leading to an early death. But what if he had endured the imprisonment with better health, or avoided imprisonment altogether? He was known to be one of Napoleon's rivals, was popular, and was captured only a few months before Napoleon seized control as Consul. What happens if he escapes to France before Napoleon can make himself Consul?
 
It's a brilliant read but i'm not sure either from it we can see Napoleon didn't like him and Napoleon on was on the up - so i could see him disappearing anyway.
 
It's a brilliant read but i'm not sure either from it we can see Napoleon didn't like him and Napoleon on was on the up - so i could see him disappearing anyway.
What about his life if Napoleon never took over due to death or another reason?

It would be cool to have Dumas take up Napoleon's role from OTL but I don't believe he would do that. The idea of a man born a caribbean slave turned Emporer of France is druel inducing to me though.
 
There is an alternate history novel by Russian writer Vladimir Sverzhin which uses this as (sub-)POD - major POD is Napoleon accepts offer of joining Russian service, while the butterfly is Dumas taking basically OTL Napoleon role.
 
What about his life if Napoleon never took over due to death or another reason?

It would be cool to have Dumas take up Napoleon's role from OTL but I don't believe he would do that. The idea of a man born a caribbean slave turned Emporer of France is druel inducing to me though.
Considering a member of the Corsican petty-bourgeoisie did it in OTL, I wouldn't bank on that.
 
Don't mean to sound mean, but would the French people really accept a black man as their leader? Not to sound racist or anything but it seems a bit of a stretch.
 

Zioneer

Banned
Don't mean to sound mean, but would the French people really accept a black man as their leader? Not to sound racist or anything but it seems a bit of a stretch.

To be fair, the parts of the army that weren't Napoleonic loyalists seemed to like Dumas. He had proven his courage and skills at generalship, and was fairly popular (Napoleon even praised him before they became rivals).

Dumas seems to have been less ambitious than Napoleon, but I could still see him becoming leader of France.
 
Well if General Dumas does gain an opportunity for leadership like Napoleon did what would he do? Would he take over and make himself an undisputed ruler or would he perhaps be a democratic leader? I'd like to imagine that being born a slave would give him greater respect for other people's freedom. Maybe even Haiti would be better off too. Also how could his family's lives be different.
Considering a member of the Corsican petty-bourgeoisie did it in OTL, I wouldn't bank on that.
*drooooooling . . .!*
 

Zioneer

Banned
Well if General Dumas does gain an opportunity for leadership like Napoleon did what would he do? Would he take over and make himself an undisputed ruler or would he perhaps be a democratic leader? I'd like to imagine that being born a slave would give him greater respect for other people's freedom. Maybe even Haiti would be better off too. Also how could his family's lives be different.

*drooooooling . . .!*

The book that I mentioned portrays him as a tireless defender of liberty and equality (and freely admits the author's bias), so... No idea.
 

Zioneer

Banned
Or how about Dumas escaping to Haiti with his family and a handful of loyal soldiers? That could be a fun idea.
 

Incognito

Banned
There is an alternate history novel by Russian writer Vladimir Sverzhin which uses this as (sub-)POD - major POD is Napoleon accepts offer of joining Russian service, while the butterfly is Dumas taking basically OTL Napoleon role.
What book is that? It sounds interesting.
 
Top