The Count of Monte Cristo

Dumas was a theatre man: he staged unforgettable characters and loved twists and turns. The poisoner, the former revolutionary, turned mute, and the traitor and the cursed son, Benedetto, with an incredible fate. My great-grandfather loved this story, a just man who loses everything before taking revenge on his enemies who had become rich and powerful in the Paris of the Restoration. Dumas' storytelling art unfolds in his stories throughout history: Roman bandits, oriental adventures, and the crime of Caderousse told by a witness hidden in his inn on a stormy night. Above all these characters, the Providence's agent, the count and his doubles, the Italian abbot, and the English lord make this classic an absolute pleasure to read!

4.5 stars

n  “Often we pass beside happiness without seeing it, without looking at it, or even if we have seen and looked at it, without recognizing it.”n

Edmond Dantès was on the brink of a prosperous life: his career was taking off and he was about to get married to his beloved Mercédès. Little did he know that three vile men were out to ruin everything for him out of jealousy. These three men, Fernand Mondego (jealous of Dantès' fiancée), Gaspard Caderousse (this one is just vile), and Danglars (jealous of Dantès' prospering career), send an incriminating letter to the crown prosecutor where it is said that Edmond is a Bonapartist (a serious crime at the time). After fakely being promised sanctuary by the crown prosecutor M. de Villefort, Edmond is sent to the prison Chateau d'If. During his stay there, he secretly befriends an Abbé, thought to be mad, who tells tales of a fortune to anyone who will be able to free him. Just before the Abbé dies, he entrusts Edmond with the secret to his fortune, and when Edmond escapes Chateau d'If after fourteen years, he finds himself rich and ready for revenge. Alexandre Dumas takes us on a fascinating revenge story; a story I think everyone should read at some point in their lifetime.

There is so much good here, that I will begin by expressing the little concerns that I had in this book first. As this is one behemoth of a book, there were a few chapters that were boring. As much as I love Albert, Debray, Beachamp, and Château-Renaud, I do not love reading 20 pages of them eating breakfast. Surprisingly, these were very few and well spread throughout the book, so they weren't a great hinderance. Another thing that I lessened my enjoyment, especially in the beginning, were the constant references to political situations that I had trouble keeping up with. The notes were a LIFESAVER, but still I had a few moments where I was lost. These are minor things, and overall I really liked the story.

n  "Moral wounds have the peculiarity that they are invisible, but do not close: always painful, always ready to bleed when touched, they remain tender and open in the heart."n

There are so many angles through which you can analyze this book. You can read it, as most do, as just a revenge story. It is highly entertaining and keeps you on your toes. If you start getting bored of the revenge plot, BAM!, we get an origin story for an Italian bandit. Bored of that too? BAM! We get musings about morality. Other than this, you can read this as a story about love and hate. You can read it as a story about God. You can read this as a cautionary tale about what could happen if we are evil towards others. There are countless angles. Thanks to this, everyone will find something of value here.

I thought that the character work was absolutely flawless. Not only in Dantès but Maximillien, Valentine, Albert, Mercédès. I had a hate for all the right characters and I found myself rooting passionately for the Count. A benefit to writing such a long novel is that you definitely get to know your characters very very well. Every single character has a distinct personality and motivation, even Noirtier de Villefort, a dude who is LITERALLY paralysed and has very little actual dialogue.  I was heart-broken by Albert's realisations about his father. I was rooting for Valentine and Maximillien (OTP!) the entire way through and cried when she wasn't appearing back from the 'grave'. I loved Bertuccios heartfelt story about his brother and how he himself goes on a mini-revenge story. I loved Haydée and Edmond in the end because I knew that they could bring each other happiness. I thought that this is definitely a book for character-driven readers.

n  "I have come from a planet called sorrow"n

The Count of Monte Cristo himself is such an intriguing character himself. I could write essays about him! His journey is fascinating to watch as it is paralleled in the lives of others. His is a story of a man driven mad by hatred and of a man on a journey to rediscover love. It was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking to see how consumed by fury one can become when they feel they have been wronged and how close they can come, in that state, to hurting those they love most. The entire scene where he doubts himself and gives a monologue about trying to play God is written beautifully. This is in part to the lyrical, melancholy prose of Dumas' writing, but it is also a wonderful reflection on humanity in general.

n  "Hatred is blind and anger deaf: the one who pours himself a cup of vengeance is likely to drink a bitter draught."n

The revenges themselves, in my opinion, were so so well done. I was really scared at times that the pay off will be terrible, but I was not disappointed at all. I loved how every single person got a personalised treatment that fit so well with what they were trying to achieve when imprisoning Dantès in the first place. However, I also enjoyed the fact that through these revenge plots, we were able to see the collateral damage being done. I feel like this just adds another layer of realism and tragedy to the story.

I have put off The Counte of Monte Cristo for many many years. I am beyond glad to have finally read this masterpiece. I genuinely think that everyone should read this at some point in their life.

n  “All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope”n

a wonderful classic in which feelings such as patience, plot, love, hatred and revenge were handled as best as possible.

This is the third time I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo - and I still love it.

It’s a story about revenge.

A young sailor named Dantès was entrusted by a dying old captain - while returning from a voyage - to deliver a letter from Napoleon to the father of the Republican leader, Villefort. Things quickly went off the rails when his rivals, Fernand (a jealous lover rival) and Danglars (a business competitor), set him up. On his wedding day, he was whisked away. And guess who presided over his trial? None other than Villefort - the same guy, determined to climb the ladder despite having different political views from his own father.

Villefort tricked Dantès into destroying crucial evidence, and before he knew it, Dantès was wrongfully thrown into prison. He spent a grueling 14 years behind bars, during which he met Father Faria - his mentor - learned a ton, and uncovered the real reason behind his imprisonment. After escaping, and thanks to a huge treasure left by Faria, Dantès set off on his quest for revenge.

By this point, his enemy Fernand had transformed into a nobleman named Morcerf, Danglars had become a banker, and Villefort finally got his wish by rising to the top as the chief prosecutor. Now rebranding himself as the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantès arrives in Paris and easily infiltrates high society.

The Count’s revenge is executed like a work of art.

Spoilers Ahead!

After 14 years of prison misery and Father Faria’s teachings, he’s no longer that naive, spirited young man he once was. When Morcerf, who not only stole a wife but also climbed the ranks by betraying a Greek marshal, finds himself left with a shattered family, ruined reputation, and total disgrace, he ends his own life with a gunshot. Out of the 3 villains, he’s the first to get his comeuppance - and I truly believe Dumas didn’t set it up by accident.

According to Dumas, Fernand’s crime was driven by petty jealousy and wasn’t all that clever - just a clumsy, low-IQ offense. Danglars, on the other hand, was a bit slicker - adept at stirring up trouble and playing people - but he still ended up writing that incriminating note himself. A greedy little scoundrel through and through, Danglars was as smooth as he was cunning. He married several rich women one after another purely for money and wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to make a buck. On 1 hand, he turned a blind eye when his wife engaged in secret liaisons for business info; on the other, he schemed to marry his daughter off to someone he thought was a noble, though she turned out to be Andrea - Villefort’s and his wife’s secret child. Danglars’s sins were even more hidden and ugly. The Count of Monte Cristo exploited his greed, leading him step by step into bankruptcy, until Danglars ended up kidnapped and forced to pay a ridiculous sum for a meal - an absurd end that perfectly fits his despicable nature.

Of the 3, Villefort’s brand of villainy is the most refined - and the most thought-provoking. His cold-blooded cruelty is all wrapped up in a façade of fairness. As both a son and a father, he treated his own family with ruthless detachment - even though he knew his wife was the one who did the poisoning, he only pushed her to death when his own reputation was on the line. His underhanded tactics outdo the other two; he’s the epitome of a hypocrite who hides behind the mask of justice. Right from the start, his cunning is evident: he calmly deceives Dantès into destroying evidence and framing him, expecting gratitude in return. And because of that, he ends up being the very last person to face retribution - falling from grace in the public arena and ultimately driving his wife and son to their deaths. Dumas clearly ranks human wickedness and lets everyone get what they deserve - man old truth, “an eye for an eye.”

I think this novel is so popular because it champions the idea that good gets rewarded and evil gets its just deserts - a thrilling blend of revenge and poetic justice.

The Count of Monte Cristo’s vengeance isn’t just personal - it’s almost godlike, punishing the wicked and uplifting the good. Even his treatment of Andrea is justified, since she’s portrayed as an utterly irredeemable scoundrel, while the kind-hearted Valentine Villefort gets a relatively happy ending.

In a society where even the judges are corrupt, you can’t expect ordinary means to deliver justice. That’s why you need someone like the Count of Monte Cristo - a true embodiment of morality and justice - to take down the wicked and protect the good.

Captain Morrel is depicted as honest, trustworthy, and warm-hearted - though he almost ended up taking his own life because of bankruptcy. Mercédès, steadfast and kind, is deceived into marrying the man who killed her true love. And Father Faria - a brilliant, knowledgeable man - is imprisoned as a political criminal and dies behind bars. From this perspective, Dumas isn’t just telling a tale of personal vendetta; he’s writing a novel that reflects deep societal issues. His dissection of human evil isn’t biased by class - both commoners and aristocrats are capable of both good and bad. It all comes down to human nature, or even the laws of karma: the loyal, honest Morrel family are inherently good, while the illegitimate child of Villefort and Madame Danglars is doomed to be wicked, and both Albert and Villefort’s virtuous daughter inherit their goodness from their mother.

Moreover, Dumas’s take on the ending is pretty deep. After achieving his goals, the Count of Monte Cristo quietly steps away, leaving that troubled world behind with Haydée by his side.

Originally, the Count came from the East to Paris to mete out justice and exact his revenge. His eventual return to the East gives the feeling that he never really belonged in Paris to begin with. And in the end - perhaps out of pity for the tormented Dantès - Dumas gives him Haydée to complete his fragmented, tumultuous love story. Personally, I see this as Dumas’s little twist: while a neatly wrapped-up ending filled with retribution and moral triumph definitely caters to popular tastes, from a literary or artistic point of view it might feel a bit forced. Can a battle-worn, weary old man really still muster such passion? It’s debatable, to say the least.

For a writer - especially one crafting a popular novel - you need a real knack for creativity and organization. Dumas masterfully weaves together all sorts of elements into this vast story, unfolding it methodically according to his plan. The sudden shift to the Italian carnival is a bit of a surprise, but as the story of the tyrant Lucci unfolds and Abel gets kidnapped only to be rescued by the Count, all the clues slowly come together. In the end, under Abel’s guidance, the Count’s entry into French high society ties everything up neatly. Later, when Danglars gets kidnapped and is forced to pay a ridiculously high price for a meal, it all echoes back to earlier events. Every little detail in Dumas’s narrative feels perfectly placed - even the backstory of the convict Andrea is fully fleshed out, yet Dumas never lingers too long on any one part. Instead, everything unfolds naturally, with characters like Bertu casually revealing details about their past adventures.

On top of all that, Dumas inadvertently pioneered a new theme in popular fiction: the prison break. His description of Dantès’s escape is nothing short of brilliant - vivid and realistic, even if fictional. In fact, you can spot some of Dumas’s creative touches in Hollywood’s famous film The Shawshank Redemption: the way he describes chipping away at a wall, bit by bit, almost like turning an iron pestle into a needle. Both Shawshank and Monte Cristo center on wrongful imprisonment, but after escaping, the paths the protagonists take are worlds apart.

I reckon that aside from the different portrayals of prison life - like in Shawshank, where inmates still interact and share some warmth - the biggest difference lies in the eras of the authors and their characters. Dumas’s work has a distinct political bent and digs deep into social conflicts, while in the time of Shawshank, those kinds of societal issues weren’t as prevalent. Shawshank is all about showcasing the indomitable human spirit, whereas The Count of Monte Cristo focuses more on exposing social problems. This makes the two prison-break stories reflect very different themes and vibes.

In short, whether in terms of plot or artistic style, The Count of Monte Cristo has an irreplaceable impact. There’s no doubt about it—this literary classic is a must-read.

5 / 5 stars

is it physically possible to read a book that's 1,276 pages long? asking for a friend

(Book 906 from 1001 books) - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo = The Count of Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas (père) completed in 1844. It is one of the author's most popular works, along with The Three Musketeers.

The Count of Monte Cristo begins just before the Hundred Days period (when Napoleon returned to power after his exile).

The historical setting is a fundamental element of the book, an adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness.

It centers on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and sets about exacting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. His plans have devastating consequences for both the innocent and the guilty.

عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «حکایت کنت دمونت کریستو»؛ «کنت مونت کریستو»؛ «لوکنت دو مونت کریستو»؛ نویسنده: الکساندر دوما؛ انتشارات (تبریز محمد اسماعیل، هرمس، نگارستان کتاب؛ گوتنبرگ؛) ادبیات فرانسه، تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1976میلادی

عنوان: حکایت کنت دمونت کریستو (چاپ سنگی)؛ نویسنده: الکساندر دوماس؛ مترجم: محمدطاهرمیرزا ابن اسکندر میرزا اسکندری؛ کاتب محمدمهدی گلپایگانی؛ مشخصات نشر تبریز، محمد اسماعیل، 1312 در 847ص و در شش جلد در یک مجلد، مصور، کاتب نوشته: شخص ناصرالدین شاه دستور ترجمه ی کتاب از زبان فرانسه به فارسی را داده؛ عنوانهای دیگر: کنت مونت کریستو؛

عنوان: لوکنت دو مونت کریستو؛ نویسنده: الکساندر دوما؛ مترجم: ذبیح الله منصوری، مشخصات نشر: تهران، میر (گوتنبرک) ??13 در سه جلد، در2400ص موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان فرانسه - سده 19م

مترجمهای دیگر: «آرشیلا قریب پور شهریاری، در 722ص، گوتنبرگ 1334»؛ «احمدرضا احسانی، 1363، در 131ص چاپ دیگر توسن، 168ص»؛ «شکوفه اخوان، در 255ص، سال 1371، چاپ دوم 1375»؛ «پ شکوهی، نشر جاودان خرد سال 1377، در 262ص»، «عنایت الله شکیباپور، زرین 1362، در 571ص»؛ «اعظم جوزدانی سال 1394، در 108ص»؛ «پروین ادیب در 208ص سال 1395»، «عباس سپهری در 56ص»، «شایسته ابراهیم، در 71ص، 1395»؛ «مونا ولیپور، در 225ص، 1391»، «جمشید بهرامیان، 1388، در 166ص»؛ «محسن فرزاد، نشر افق در 168ص سال 1376، و چاپ ششم 1388»؛ «محمدطاهر قاجار، نشر سمیر»؛ «پروین ادیب، نشر پارسه»؛ «محمد طاهر میرزا اسکندری، نشر هرمس»؛

دریانوردی زندانی، و مسافری مرموز، با چندین چهره، به نام «ادموند دانتس»، می‌خواهد با ثروت‌های افسانه‌ ای خود، طبقه اشراف «پاریس» را، در هم بریزد؛ «دانتس» در سال 1815میلادی، در روز ازدواجش، به اتهام دروغین طرفداری از «ناپلئون»، در بندر «مارسی» زندانی می‌شود، و بر اثر سعایت رقیب عشقی اش «فرنان»، و رقیب تجاری اش «دانگلار»، مدت چهارده سال، در زندان می‌ماند؛ این رویداد، به سود مقاصد سیاسی یک قاضی جوان و جاه‌ طلب، به نام «ویلفور» است، که در زندانی شدن او دست دارد؛ در سیاهچال پس از چندین سال، متوجه می‌شود، که زندانی دیگری، مشغول حفاری جهت فرار از زندان است؛ و سرانجام او نیز، مشغول به کار می‌شود، و می‌فهمد، که زندانی دیگر نامش «آبه‌ فاریا»، و یک کشیش و دانشمند «ایتالیایی» است؛ «آبه ‌فاریا»، نقشه ی گنج «جزیرهٔ مونت‌ کریستو» را، در اختیار «ادموند دانتس» می‌گذارد؛ ولی درست پیش از اینکه بتوانند، نقشه فرار خود را نهایی کنند؛ «آبه» می‌میرد؛ «دانتس» با طرح بسیار ماهرانه ‌ای، از زندان می‌گریزد، گنج را، به دست می‌آورد، و به «پاریس» می‌رود، و از سه دشمن خود انتقام می‌گیرد؛

این کتاب، به سبب توانایی در نوآوریهای شگفت آور و حیرت انگیزش، و به لطف صفا و صداقت بیانش، هنوز هم می‌تواند برای خوانشگران جالب باشد؛ عجیب‌ترین ماجراها با سبک نویسنده، که روان و پویا هست، بازگو میشوند؛ با اینهمه، بسیاری از بخش‌های کتاب، با حقیقتهای روان‌شناختی شخصیت‌ها، و امکان روی دادن آن ماجراها بیگانه است؛ نامداری کم‌ نظیر این رمان، با نمایشی که خود نویسنده، در سال 1848میلادی بر اساس آن تنظیم و بر صحنه آورد؛ بیشتر شد؛

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 11/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 15/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

My, this was massive!! Thank you to all the dear Librivox volunteers who read this classic and saved me a lot of night reading time.

Not gonna write this review in my usual format as so many people would have already read this classic. The book worked for me to a great extent. The first 20% or so is astounding. (And 20% of a 1300 page book is 250+ pages, a book by itself!) The rest of the story has its highs and lows as Dumas fails to take a straightforward path to resolution, preferring to meander into tons of characters, and sometimes, even multiple names for the same character. It is befuddling at times, so you need a good memory if you want to read this tome. But the plot is definitely striking and the lead character, quite impressive.

3.75 stars, mainly because it's a classic and the writing style suits the period it was written in; it was first published in 1844. If this were a contemporary book, I would have rated it 3 stars. (Of course, if it were a contemporary book, the story would have been done in 500 pages max.)


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those 1276 pages were worth every single second i spent reading it them.
the intricacy of this masterpiece will never fail to amaze me and i could talk about it for hours : the way every character was painted with the most beautiful brush strokes, the depth of each of them making them seem oh so real, the amazing underlying work that must have been put in to simply not forget one plot or the other, and my Gods, the witiness of it all, the sarcasm, the irony of it all constrasting with the beautiful and almost daunting soliloquies and dialogues. as soon as you hit the last page, there is nothing that you want more than experiencing it again.