The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)

Firstly, a quick note on this edition: having started an old, archaic and atrocious translation to begin with, I can heartily recommend the crystal prose of Robin Buss's translation for Penguin Classics... The difference was startling, and it made it an absolute joy to read where it could so easily have become a chore! Now, this is going to be a tricky one to review. What to say about a book so well loved, so widely read, so generally revered? Well, let's start with the basics, the bits most people already know. The novel opens with young Edmond Dantes, on the verge of becoming captain of his merchant ship and husband of the beautiful Mercedes, being betrayed by his jealous friends and thrown into jail for his alleged support of Napoleon. During his fourteen years in the terrifying Chateau d'If, he meets a 'mad' old abbe, who introduces him to the world of learning and tells him about a secret treasure that he wishes Edmond to have should he ever escape. Well, escape he does, and is reborn as the Count of Monte Cristo, using his incredible wealth, power and intelligence to bring justice down on the heads of the three men who condemned him to the dungeons. This book is so many things: it is epic, complex and exciting; it is heartbreaking, sorrowful and romantic. It touches on the heights of emotion, society and the human condition, as well as the depths of despair, corruption and depravity. I found myself speeding along in breathless excitement as Edmond's true identity was revealed to each of his tormentors, and felt the full horror of the tangled webs he wove to destroy them one by one. It made me ponder the relationship between wealth and power, between knowledge and power, and the way that faith can save someone's life but also, if they don't take care, lead them down a path swathed in darkness. The Count's lesson for jealous Danglars, for example, was deeply satisfying - whereas his quiet destruction of Villefort's entire family was devastating to read. Of course, all this is terribly unlikely and deeply dramatic, but that is part of its charm - this is escapism at its finest! Quite simply, this is a masterful novel that drew me in gently then refused to let me go. The characters are wonderfully drawn - I even got a bit of a crush on Dantes, fallen angel that he is - and the story seeps forward deliciously, bringing everything slowly into focus as the scattered elements of the Count's plans draw together. This is definitely going to be one of my top reads of the year and one of my favourite books ever! Read it!

Classic story, long lasting and fascinating, about justice and fairness.

I recently finished reading “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, published by Penguin Classics, and it was an absolutely enthralling experience from start to finish. This edition is beautifully presented, with a cover that captures the essence of the novel and high-quality paper that makes for a pleasant reading experience. The story itself is a masterpiece of adventure and intrigue. Dumas’ writing is both engaging and detailed, bringing to life the tale of Edmond Dantès’ transformation from a wrongfully imprisoned sailor to the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. The plot is richly layered with themes of justice, revenge, and redemption, making it a deeply satisfying read. One of the strengths of this novel is its complex and well-developed characters. Each character, from the cunning villains to the loyal friends, adds depth to the story. The protagonist’s journey is both heartbreaking and exhilarating, and it’s easy to become deeply invested in his quest for vengeance and ultimate justice. The Penguin Classics edition also includes helpful notes and an introduction that provide valuable context and insights into the historical and literary significance of the novel. This added depth enhanced my understanding and appreciation of the story. The only minor drawback is the novel’s length, which can be daunting. However, every chapter is filled with gripping narrative and unexpected twists, making it well worth the commitment. Overall, “The Count of Monte Cristo” is a timeless classic that deserves a place on every bookshelf. This Penguin Classics edition is a wonderful way to experience Dumas’ epic tale. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a story rich in adventure, emotion, and complexity.

The first three hundred pages of `The Count of Monte Cristo' are gripping, the story of an innocent man condemned, by a combination of accident & design, but who receives salvation at his moment of despair. The remainder of the novel is much more slow-burning as the Count engineers an introduction into Parisian society to exploit the weaknesses and dark secrets of his enemies: corruption, sexual misconduct & scandal. 'The Count of Monte Cristo' is a picaresque novel with a dramatic plot. But the novel, for me, appears to sacrifice character and depth for the exigencies of plot, and subplots, such as Maximilien & Valentine's thwarted romance & the serial poisoner, affect the overall pace of the novel and are both clunky and melodramatic. There are glimpses of real style, such as the wonderful description towards the end of the evening sun reflected in the bosom of the waves. Despite the novel's length, there is a great deal of dialogue, revealing Dumas' theatrical background and his obvious talent at writing speech & conveying characters. There are some great secondary characters such as the wheel-chair ridden Noirtier; the passionate Mme Danglars, a proto-type for Madame Bovary; her daughter, Eugenie, unloved by her parents & treated as a commodity by her father, artistic and independent & clearly lesbian; and Abbe Faria, who gives Edmond Dantes the secret to a hidden treasure but also gives him another kind of treasure, knowledge. A missed opportunity But I did feel the novel missed a great opportunity by not having the Count confront one of his enemies, de Villefort in particular, the figure of absolute justice, who condemns Dantes through a combination of accident & design. I felt short-changed, in a novel that depicts fashionable society's obsession with wealth, that the most selfish & boorish villain, Danglars, is shown mercy. From what I remember of `Les Miserables', there is a more spiritual dimension to the novel with Valjean & Javert having a final confrontation during the Paris revolt that changes the dynamic of their relationship. De Villefort is the Count's intellectual equal, (the chapter Ideology) and it would have been interesting to see the Chief Prosecutor show genuine remorse or learn of a law that tempers justice with mercy (de Villefort's guilt & conscience are hinted in the beginning of the novel before he allows ambition and selfish motives to condemn an innocent man). It could have been interesting to see de Villefort challenge the Count about the morality of revenge. In the hands of a novelist, like Dostoevsky, this could have been fertile territory. Warning: Spoiler alert Mercedes The novel is about Dantes' loss of liberty & revenge, but as the novel reached its climax, I felt that Mercedes, his lost love, was just as great a victim. In her own way, Mercedes `betrays' Edmond. She momentarily falters, failing to `wait' & `hope' so that she marries Fernand. But Mercedes remained loyal to Dantes' memory, like Penelope, yet ultimately she is the one who loses everything: her son, her husband & her fashionable Parisian life. I also felt she lost the one thing that she had cherished from her past life, the memory of her lost love, which becomes tarnished when she realises that the man she had mourned for is also the man determined to kill her son. For me, the scene where Mercedes intercedes with the Count on behalf of her son was one of the most moving in the book, Shakespearean in tone, like Volumnia with Coriolanus. I thought the final parting between the Count & Mercedes left much unsaid and unresolved as in life, a greater distance now existing between them, than it ever did when Edmond sailed the seas and Mercedes stood waiting for him in Marseille. I found it poignant as Mercedes stood watching her son's ship leave for Algeria, the past & the present blurred as she utters Edmond's name. I feel Mercedes is the one left bereft in the end, whereas the Count is offered a second possibility of happiness with Haydee and some form redemption by saving Valentine. I imagined Mercedes, the Countess de Morcerf, as Goya's portrait of Dona Zarate. The Count I found it interesting how the Count begins to question his own actions, the moral dilemma about revenge and how it harmed the innocent as the guilty. Did so many have to die in the serial murder plot? That seemed more grand guignol than a calculated revenge. I would have liked to have seen more of the Count's dark, brooding personality as revealed in the chapters in Rome, the execution and the discussion about the nature of revenge & punishment. I did enjoy how the Count sets himself up as Providence with the power of life & death over others, but how this sense of power corrupts him. It was interesting to read a review on here that describes the Count as the actual villain of the novel, an alternative take on his character. There was much that I enjoyed about the book: the first 300 pages; Franz travelling to meet the Count on his `magical' island and his hallucinogenic fantasy; the scenes where the Count discovers the treasure; how the Count sets up Caderousse, another of his `enemies', the man who stood by and did nothing whilst Dantes was implicated in a Napoleonic plot; the judicial investigation and Haydee's dramatic entrance; the comic scene about the telegraph receiver sending the wrong information (echoing `Trading Places', with the Dukes the son & heirs of Danglars & the misinformation they are given). Read the novel before seeing a dramatised version I am glad that I read the novel before seeing any film adaptation. I've been quite taken aback at how the 2002 film version played fast & loose with the text, probably attempting to capture Dumas's spirit, but ending with a duel, which does not happen in the novel. Similarly, I caught the ending of the Depardieu version (1998). It seemed to capture the authenticity of the period, but the ending left me thinking that I was glad that I read the book for myself.

Loved this book

I got a real surprise as it’s a huge book, but looking forward to starting it.

Good book so far hut arrived damaged, would like some compensation since I did buy this new. Here's a photo straight out the box

Brilliant classic story, just a bit overlong

The book is well wrapped, the printing is very clear. Can’t wait to read it !

THE BEST NOVEL I'VE EVER READ.... The story was so good that I finished half the book in 2 days..... Absolute page turner.... Go for it..... You'll never regret it

I just got it, I am super excited to read it and the quality of the book is good overall.

The books pages are intact but the corner of it was damaged.

Friends, do any of you share in my aversion for book reviews that go: “I received the book on time and it arrived in good condition”? How does that help us? Is it not the quality of the writing, the beauty of the prose, the context, the enjoyment of the story, itself, that we truly care about? I must begin my review of The Count of Monte Cristo with the confession of an infraction of my own. You see, I made a vow to myself never to write a review without first completing the entirety of a book. From cover to cover. However, in this particular case, I simply couldn’t wait. I am on page 339 of this 1243 page book. I am writing because I am enjoying it so much. I find myself reading a few pages, every single day! This being a classic, I had heard the title many times throughout my life. Yet, to be perfectly honest, I was under the impression that it was going to be a story somewhere along the lines of a Dracula novel. Perhaps my mental association was due to the word “Count” in both titles. As in “Count Dracula.” And that was why I wasn’t particularly drawn to it. That is, until I saw a You-Tuber praise The Count of Monte Cristo as the best book that he has ever read. “I just love this story,” he kept saying over and over again, with true and genuine emotion. I, too, am loving this story. And I now believe in the Power of Beautiful writing. The story is so easily digestible. The writing, so clear, so precise, so simple, that my brain easily captures everything. Every description, every emotion, every experience. I find myself pulled right into the story. I am at the part of the story where everything is finally turning around. Where the bright sun is finally breaking through the dark and thick clouds. There was so much suffering at the beginning, that I found it a bit depressing to reengage in my reading. But I couldn’t stop. I wanted, very badly, to know what was going to happen next. I found myself caring for the good hearted and honest people. The bright and pure souls. I prayed for their freedom from bondage, due to the dark circumstances that unfolded around them. I found myself praying for justice. The writing was so amazing, that I had completely forgotten that this was only a novel. I was reminded of the day when my 16 year old brother was killed by a man who had been a close friend of the family. The man claimed that it had been an accident. My little brother’s personality reminded me of Dante’s. My brother was turning into a fine young man. Young, vibrant, good looking, honest, humble, kind. Although I don’t ever remember hating the man who had taken his life, I did wonder what would become of him. Because he had taken an innocent life. I knew that that burden would always torture his conscience. And not more than two years passed, when one day, while sitting on my living room couch, I was watching the news when suddenly, on the right side of the news anchor’s shoulder, I saw the picture of the same man who had taken my little brother’s life. I quickly called out to my parents who were in the kitchen. They came running in time to see the man’s picture. The new’s anchor said that the man had shot his girlfriend on the head, then turned the gun towards himself and ended his life. “A double homicide,” the news anchor said. Life has its own way of correcting itself. No deed goes unpunished. Nature always seeks balance. I later read an article in the Los Angeles Times about this “double homicide.” Apparently, the man’s girlfriend had made her decision to leave him. He couldn’t accept it. He had become too attached to her. He couldn’t see his life continuing without her. So, he shot her and then ended his own life. The interesting thing is that he never spent a day in jail, in connection to my little brother’s death. Because he had no prior criminal history, the District Attorney had gone easy on him. But it seems that he could not escape the torture of his inner demons. The Count of Monte Cristo expresses a similar pattern. When others act in ways that affect us, and even change the course of our lives, there are always counter-currents created. It is as if we throw boomerangs to hurt others, but eventually said boomerangs must return to clobber the sender. I don’t want to give anything away, but I am enjoying, very exquisitely, what is unfolding. The way that the dark and stormy clouds are breaking, and the rays of sunlight that are breaking through, are shinning upon all those who were always Pure Souls. Everyone that Edmond loved, and who loved him. My journey with this book continues. And to be perfectly honest, I almost don’t want it to end. I’ve fallen in love with all of the good characters. My heart has torn for those good Souls who have passed on. Who did so, in ways that they shouldn’t have. Even this pattern parallels real life. And this book has powerfully reminded me that life, itself, in the Ultimate sense, is nothing more than a living novel that the Invisible Author is delightfully expressing. This, I am certain, is a book that I shall never forget.