The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo was originally published in 1845 by Alexandre Dumas, one of dozens of books written by the Frenchman (who helped to unseat King Charles X of France). Other notable works by Dumas include The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After, both part of his King's Musketeers series. Many of his novels have been adapted to film, including The Count of Monte Cristo, which has been adapted seven different times - most recently into a miniseries starring Sam Claflin. It deals with child death, confinement, adult death, gun violence, mental illness, terminal illness, starvation, animal cruelty, kidnapping, general violence, suicide, grief, death of a parent, murder, abandonment, and classism.

Edmond Dantes was about to have everything he wanted. Offered a promotion by his employer to captain his own ship, able to take care of his elderly father, and the woman he loved set to marry him and become his wife. But then three men, jealous of his impending money, jealous of his soon to be wife, and scared of the ramifications of their own family, wrongfully imprisoned Edmond. While in prison, he manages to befriend a fellow prisoner that just happens to know of the whereabouts of a life-changing fortune in gold and valuables. Edmond vows to escape, find the fortune, and make those that put him in prison pay for the wrongs they committed.

Firstly, this book is long. Be prepared for it to take up a good portion of your time. Secondly, the people in this book are so dramatic. Everybody is threatening to kill themselves anytime someone looks at them funny, let's all just calm down for a second. Now that my notes are out of the way, let's discuss. Did The Count of Monte Cristo have adventure? Yes, it sure did. Did it have a prolonged and elaborate revenge plot? Absolutely. Was it exciting? On occasion. Did I enjoy it? About sixty percent of the time. Great beginning, okay ending, middle was excruciating. Was I happy that Edmond got his revenge, I absolutely was because Danglars could be the villain of all villains - I will probably never forget him. But I didn't like Edmond's descent into the obsession with revenge and ultimately, did not like him as a character. I do think that's the whole point and Dumas makes some efforts to rehabilitate Dantes, but I don't think he does a very good job and I really did not like Dantes' ending.

I'm giving The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Duma 3.5 stars out of 5. I can see why it's a classic, but I think I'm going to pass on The Three Musketeers. A book that would be great for discussion, but not that enjoyable to read. That being said, I will be watching the miniseries because I think the story would be great in film.

Pairs well with chicken fricassee and understanding that a woman should be able to move on without recrimination if she thinks you're dead!

My favorite quotes:

"'No, madame, contrary to most history, it is true.'"

"He borrowed this from 'Don Quixote,' the only book he had ever read, but which he still slightly remembered."

"...poor Barrois followed him as he best might. Morrel was only thirty-one, Barrois was sixty years of age; Morrel was deeply in love, and Barrois was dying with heat and exertion."