The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics) by Alexandre Dumas père
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Book Reviews of The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: Dark historical fiction at its finest
Summary: 5 Stars
I can think of no character in all of literary history who is more obsessed, more driven than Edmond Dantes. Batman comes close.
You don't know who Edmond Dantes is?
Well, allow to offer up a brief synopsis (very brief) of the novel that is The Count of Monte Cristo.
Edmond Dantes, a successful young sailor, returns home to France in the early 19th Century with plans to wed the love of his life. Instead of the expected happiness, several of Edmond's friends have grown jealous of his life and go to the authorities to accuse Edmond of being a spy for Napoleon. Edmond is sent to prison, his life ruined and basically over. But in prison he makes friends with another inmate, an old man who tells Edmond of a secret treasure hidden away on the island of Monte Cristo. After the old inmate dies in prison, through some twists and turns Edmond manages to escape. Then he goes to the island and discovers this treasure, so huge it would make any kings of Europe envious. Soon a mysterious stranger, the Count of Mont Cristo, appears in Paris and begins to make the rounds as to "coming out in society." To give away more would be a disservice to the reader, but let's just say poor Edmond is no longer poor and goes to extremes to find his revenge against his old "friends."
Unlike most of the film versions I've seen of this tale, the novel does not have the happiest of endings. The tale is sort of a tragedy, but one in which the protagonist wins out, though finds that what he has won was perhaps not truly worth everything he went through to achieve it.
There are no simple endings here. The good guy doesn't win the girl and everything else. In other words, this is a lengthy, complicated tale that will make you think in the end. All the while giving you a darn fun reading experience. There's action to be found here, sword fights and the like, as well as intrigue and skulduggery. There's also a bit of comedy here and there, but out-and-out murder at times.
Most of Dumas' longer novels touch upon many facets of the human existence, and this one is no exception, though it is perhaps the darkest of his longer writings.
Book Review: Riveting Lessons in Vengeance and Mercy
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first purchased The Count of Monte Cristo, I laughed to myself how long it was. Weighing in at a hefty 1200+ pages, the thickness was pretty intimidating. I thought it'd take me at least a month to finish.
I ended up finishing the book in only a week and a half. What the other reviews say about this novel is true - you really won't want to put this down. Dumas may have written this book in the 19th century, but don't let time gone by deceive you - it reads like a modern day page turning thriller. Don't be surprised if you are emotionally invested in the characters and the story after only reading the first 4 or 5 Chapters. The plot is compelling, and it will keep you interested the entire time - not an easy task for a book this long.
On the surface, this book is just plain entertaining. You'll have fun as you are reading. At its core, though, The Count of Monte Cristo presents insightful philosophies on human nature, revenge, and justice. It tackles intriguing questions and themes as it goes on. I think some of the more apparent ones are 'the limits of human justice' ... 'the saving power of forgiveness' ... and 'will those who are evil and selfish in the world be judged in the next life by some higher authority?'
Dumas attempts to answer each of these questions with brooding, elegant passages and descriptions. Along the way, you'll meet interesting characters that you'll either really care about or genuinely despise. It was a bit tricky to keep track of all the characters and the relationships between them all, but eventually, things will lock in and you'll feel like you're a part of the story.
It's a classic for a reason. Don't you want to find out why? Put this one on your list! The sprawling epic of Edmond Dantes is a spiritual journey, and it's one that is worth experiencing. It may change the way you feel about the tempting impulse to avenge, and push you towards the liberating power of mercy and forgiveness.
Book Review: Favorite Book. Ever.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am incredibly picky about which version of a book I buy. When I went to the bookstore to buy The Count of Monte Cristo, I poured through the text to see if I could find any trace of the word "abridged." Since I did not, I purchased the book (Publisher--Enriched Classic--AVOID!!!!). This quickly became my favorite work of fiction, right up there with Les Miserables, the Three Musketeers, and The Phantom of the Opera (I find it interesting that all of my favorite books are 19th/20th Century French Literature...hm.) In any case, after seeing another version of the book and reading the various reviews, I find that my world has been turned upside down because apparently, my edition of this book IS abridged (It's sneaky about it--instead of "abridged" it says "series edited by..."). I am both appalled and furious. Having said that, I am quickly going to purchase a TRUE unabridged edition of the book and reread it. Why is this? Well, now to get to my point. This is one of the most amazing stories in the history of literature (behind Les Mis, of course). Mystery, adventure, suspense, betrayal, revenge, the battle and balance between vigilantism and justice, intrigue, romance, wit... what more is there to say about this novel? You truly will not be able to put it down. Now, having said all this, I would also like to say that I, personally, think it would be worthwhile to read it in the original French text--after all, if it is this amazing after it's been sorted through and hashed and translated (which is an imperfect process, I assure you), how mind-blowingly phenomenal must it be in its original languge, with Dumas' true intention and literary style? It is for this exact question that I am going for a Bachelor's Degree in Romance Languages. My life goal is to read Dumas, Hugo, and Leroux in all of their original glory.
My point? READ THE BOOK! I also recommend the Three Musketeers and Les Miserables, which you might have guessed if you actually read this whole review.
Book Review: The Greatest Revenge Story Ever Told!
Summary: 5 Stars
Alexander Dumas was fascinated by the concept of revenge. It formed the core of two of his earlier novels, but nowhere else did he devote to it so much study and development as he did in his mid-19th Century gothic romance, "The Count of Monte Cristo." Readers who choose abridged versions of this unsurpassed tale of vengeance short-change themselves, because it's only in the many sub-plots, the painstakingly depicted details of French elite society of France's Second Republic, and the subtle twists and interweaving of the activities of the novel's many characters that we truly come to appreciate this masterpiece in its in-depth exploration of what constitutes revenge in all its hideous terror and in all its glorious satisfaction.
Edmund Dantès suffers at the hands of brutal enemies, spends 14 years in one of the most awful prisons human perversity could devise, and through a series of suspense-filled circumstances gains his freedom - and a fortune - before spending an additional 10 years meticulously planning his revenge. He leaves nothing to chance. He watches. He waits. He is infinitely patient, and patience when wielded by skillful hands can be a weapon sharper than a sword. Edmund Dantès, through years of training and practice, becomes dispassionate, cold, supremely calculating, supremely confident and capable - and implacable. The Count of Monte Cristo is born, and slowly, inexorably, he brings down retribution on those who betrayed him or forgot him rotting in prison. Even his former fiancée, the lovely Mercédès (who certainly is no Homeric Penelope), does not escape unscathed.
And in the end, for revenge to be complete, it must be cathartic. Dumas, after much carnage and financial destruction, leaves us with a few green shoots of love rising from the ashes, closing his magnificent saga with the line, ". . . all human wisdom [is] contained in these two words - `wait' and `hope.'''
Book Review: A Tale as Rich as the Sandwich
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps the only work in popularity to rival Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers is The Count of Monte Cristo. As with many of Dumas' works, the story has huge cast of characters and several underlying plot lines dealing with political upheaval and scandals in France during that era. I found that the The Man in the Iron Mask had so many side political story lines that it made the novel confusing and hard to follow. And then I got bored. However, The Count, has just the right amount and ties together very well at the end, which does not subscribe to the generic formulaic predictable plot. In fact, I would deem it the ultimate revenge story.
There have been 11 films and 4 television series that have attempted to tell the tale of the wronged Edmund Dantes and his search for his fiance Mercedes and his pursuit of the man that wronged him. The most recent film was in 2002 starring Jim Caviezel and while casted well, paled in comparison to the novel in many ways and the liberal creative license taken with the story almost offending. The latter half of the film no longer resembled the masterpiece of the novel. Yes, most films pale to their written counterparts, but this one in particular deserved a Golden Razzie.
The novel has a huge story to go with the cast of characters, but is pretty basic in that a man is wrongly accused and seeks to right the wrongs, along the way, losing those that he cared about, mounting his need for revenge even further. Edmund calculates and plans out the most exquisite plans and is not completely heartless or merciless. In fact, his compassion and loyalty are overriding themes throughout the novel. I guess you could say the richness of the Monte Cristo sandwich rivals that of it's namesake!
The Count of Monte Cristo is not a novel to be missed.
And if you really need the short version, The Simpsons did a 10min summary in the episode "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times."