The Count of Monte Cristo

Dumas, A., Eco, U., & Washington, P. (2009). The count of Monte Cristo. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 

Originally published in 1884 by Alexandre Dumas

ISBN: 9780743487559 | paperback | 620p. | $6.50 USD

Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com

Annotation:  Edmond Dantes is imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If on a false political charge. After escaping he finds the treasure of Monte Cristo, making him wealthy.  He then sets upon the course of revenge against his old enemies.

Book Talk:  The ultimate tale of revenge!  A plot rich with intrigue, betrayal, theft, deception, poisoning, and murder...

• Set in France during the 100 Years War

• Edmond Dantes returns from years at sea to marry his beloved fiance, Mercedes.

• Dante never gets to marry because he is framed as a Napoleon traitor which lands him in prison.

• He hatches an escape and follows a treasure map given to him by a fellow prisoner.

• After finding the treasure on an island, he renames himself Count of Monte Cristo after the small island.

• Dante returns to France disguised as the Count of Monte Cristo and seeks his ultimate revenge.

But will it be enough?

Be sure to get an unabridged version as you won’t want to miss any of Dumas’s beautiful writing.  And don’t let the size intimidate you, it’s a book definitely worth the time! 

My favorite thing about the book:

Many older classics take time to get into and adjust to the language, but this one starts off at a run and doesn't let go.

First Sentence:

“On the 24^th of February, 1815, the watch-tower of Notre Dame de la Garde signaled the arrival of the three-master “Pharaon,” from Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples.”

Favorite character:

I’ll admit this book is brimming with characters which can sometimes be difficult to keep straight.  If you become mixed up or forget a few, use this handy chart.  But the standout character of course is Edmond Dantes/Count of Monte Cristo.

Awards/Honors:

None to date, but has been considered a classic for a century. 

Learn More:

Don’t miss the movie version of the book from 2002, starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce.  Catch a sneak peek with this trailer: