The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics) by Alexandre Dumas p?re Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: Loved this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I went to buy this book for a bookclub, there were so many different abridged versions that I finally gave up and bought the unabridged. I am so glad I did! My husband and I both read and loved this book. It's a great translation and I would definitely recommend the unabridged version. It was interesting in my bookclub to hear all of the different plot lines left out of the various abridged versions. Some of them were pretty pivotal! I'd stick with this great version.Book Review: Do yourself a favor and read the book.... the whole book
Summary: 5 Stars
The Count of Monte Cristo stirs the passions of everyone who reads it - so much so that it has been made and remade a half-dozen times in English, a fairly astonishing fact since the Dumas classic is originally en Francais. It is one of the most popular and best-selling novels of history and it is difficult to say whether this book or "The Three Musketeers" is the most popular novel by Alexandre Dumas, p?re.
The story is set up perfectly by Dumas: Merchant ship "Phaeron" pulls into Marseilles in 1815. First mate Edmond Dant?s leaps onto the pier to report to owner Monsieur Morrel that although the ship has returned as planned with goods, Captain Lecl?re passed away on the journey, leaving Edmund as acting Captain.
Morrel immediately promotes Dant?s to Phaeron's Captain, just before Edmund runs to reunite with his beautiful fianc?e Merc?d?s. Dant?s, the hard-working son of a commoner, can hardly believe his fortune. He has been promoted to ship's Captain at a young age and is about to marry the most beautiful young lady in town.
But something is rotten in Marseilles...
Jealousy prompts rivals Danglars (the Phaeron's purser) and Lieutenant Fernand Mondego (also desiring Merc?d?s) to conspire to write a secret note to the authorities accusing Edmund of being a Bonapartist traitor.
Soldiers come to arrest Edmund at his engagement party. He is hauled before Villefort, an apparently sympathetic prosecutor. Villefort seems kindly until he realizes there actually IS a Bonapartist traitor around... the prosecutor's father. To protect the family name (and his career ambitions), Villefort has our hero put away.
Edmond Dant?s goes from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair - without explanation he is thrown into the darkest, dampest dungeon of France's Alcatraz - the Chateau d'If.
For those unfamiliar with the story, it may appear that I have given it all away, but you will find that this is only the setup for the most thrilling tale of hope and despair, vengeance and mercy, nobility and justice and revenge. The story comes complete with exciting sword fights, poisonings, secrets identities, kidnappings, last-second escapes, underground catacombs and formal balls. Especially for a character of two hundred years ago, Dant?s makes James Bond seem a dullard by comparison.
If you have only seen "the movie" you have not at all had the pleasure of the layers and textures of this sublime story. The 1975 Richard Chamberlain is okay, if truncated, but the 2002 version with James Caviezel is practically an abomination.
Are you a "book person"? Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in this treasure, and perhaps no other book more deserves a reading of the unabridged version.
Book Review: Incomplete. This is a major undertaking...
Summary: 4 Stars
I happened into a foreign film of the
Count of Monte Cristo, and was charmed by it. So I checked Amazon for a written copy. Heavens, it's a 'classic'!
It was originally written in French a couple hundred years ago, so you have to depend on a good translation.
You may also want to concider an abridged version if lots of details and many words annoy you.
It takes place as Napoleon is in and out of power, and the politicos are jumping back and forth with their
alligence. And there is misplaced love, castles, dungeons,luck, no luck etc....and I'm not very far yet! But it does make me want to read on. Ann Cedar Rapids, IA
Book Review: A powerful classic, not to be missed
Summary: 5 Stars
I've never been disappointed by a Dumas book, and this one is certainly no exception. With a gripping and intricate plot situated in a turbulent time in French history, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO represents one of the the most widely recognized and important books of all time. More subtle and serious than the swashbuckling THREE MUSKETEERS, this one really speaks to the soul with highly emotional and real ethical dilemmas. Full of adventure, suspense, love, and drama, this book is hard to put down for the entire 1300+ pages. Even though you probably already know the basic jist of the story, don't hesitate to pick this one up. Knowledge of the outcome doesn't take away anything from the enjoyment of reading this top-notch novel. I can't speak to the abridged version, but I can't imagine it could be nearly as good, as the detail of this story is part of what makes it so gratifying.
The best thing about this book is certainly the character of Edmond Dantes. Perhaps the best character in all of literature, the Count of Monte Cristo is a real delight. He represents everything you like about a hero to the extreme. Mysterious, powerful, intelligent, and caring, the Count is what drives this book. Watching as his absurdly complex, but brilliant, schemes for vengeance come to fruition represents one of the most enjoyable reading experiences to be had. While many of the characters in the book are great, they are all completely overshadowed by the immense figure of the Count.
Alexandre Dumas makes numerous political statements in this book. Very satirical about the nobility, politics, and high society in general, this book represents the cultural tendencies of the time. Published during the reign of King Louis-Philippe, during a time of political unrest, uncertain future, and revolutionist ideas, this book was certainly well-received by some but not by others. Only a couple of years after this book's publication, the Second French Republic was founded under which Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was elected president. So, the conflicts we find in this book between the royalists and the republicans were still in evidence during its writing.
I digress. This is a truly excellent book that shouldn't be missed by any fan of good literature. Don't let the length scare you away, as it is not wasted space and creates a wonderfully complex and beautiful story. Give yourself a month and read this masterpiece.
Book Review: Revenge and Not a Minute Too Soon
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first book by Dumas that I've read and I enjoyed it very much. I did familiarize myself with the characters by reading the excellent Wikipedia article first. The style and lenght and plot and names were all reminiscent of something by Charles Dickens. I'm looking forward to checking out The Three Musketeers next. The chapters are very numerous (and short) like Moby Dick, but the characters and the plot are much more engaging.