Book_Review

The famous adventure novel, //The Count of Monte Cristo,// written by [|Alexandre Dumas] was originally published in eighteen parts throughout the years 1844-1846 in France. The first English translation was published in 1846 by Chapman and Hall. But this review is on the abridged version of the novel. Bantam Classic publishes the common abriged edition.

//The Count of Monte Cristo// is a novel of deception, jealousy, revenge, justice, hatred and happiness. The story is set in France after the [|fall of Napoleon] and most of the action happens in Paris. The story is driven from one experience, in which Edmond Dantes’s life is ruined by the lies of his enemies, but people Edmond believes his friends. He is set up and sent to prison to die for no crime at all. The story evolves as Edmond finds a true friend who leads Edmond to a realization and a plot for revenge. Dumas came up with the idea for this novel from a story which he found in a book written by a French police archivist named Jacques Peuchet. The central theme is about vengeance. The novel proves that revenge is powerful enough to make even the kindest of all men find immense hatred for others and it is powerful enough to drive these men to do crazy things.

In the beginning of the book, we meet the main character, Edmond Dantes, and his two acquaintances, Fernand and Danglars. We also meet his charming and gorgeous fiancé named Mercedes. Jealousy drives Fernand and Danglars to set up Dantes and send him to the nation’s worst prison. After being informed of a secret treasure, and miraculously escaping prison, Edmond returns to his homeland with a new identity, and immense vengeance to satisfy. Edmond’s good friend in prioson once said ““I regret now,” said he, “having helped you in your late inquiries, or having given you the information I did.” “Why so?” inquired Dantès. “Because it has instilled a new passion in your heart—that of vengeance.”

Although the beginning of the novel drags a little, it is necessary to prepare the reader for the upcoming excitement. By the last section of the book, The Count of Monte Cristo has realized important lessons of life and has grown tremendously as a person: He says, “There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.”

//The Count of Monte Cristo// is an entertaining story with numerous hooks that Dumas places throughout the novel. With great suspense and hooks at the end of each chapter, this book is impossible to put down.

Dumas wrote the novel in French so it’s hard to know if the English translation is really the type of language he would wish for. The abridged version in English is straightforward to read, and not impossible to understand. But there are many characters to keep track of and they all play a part in Edmond’s complex plan. The book is written in third person and the narrator is an outside source.

Dumas wrote another famous adventure [|novel] named //The Three Musketeers// as well as other novels including //Twenty Years After// and //The Man in the Iron Mask.// He also wrote [|plays] and magazine articles.

Overall, this book was phenomenal. It was exciting and a book just impossible to put down. The story is filled with action, and driven by powerful emotions that we can relate to: jealousy but more importantly revenge. The language is straightforward and easy to understand, but still descriptive and vivid. Although it was slightly slow moving in the beginning, the story was completely intriguing throughout the rest of the novel.

Student Resource: //The Count of Monte Cristo//
[|Sparknotes]

http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/Info_23585.asp

Buy the Book
[|Unabridged Version] [|Abridged Version] Other Reviews: The Count of Monte Cristo: http://www.amazon.com/Count-Monte-Cristo-Modern-Library/dp/0679601996

The Movie: The Count of Monte Cristo
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245844/[| http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1110288-count_of_monte_cristo/]