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!

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.

Just as Napoleon is about to escape from Elba, Edmond Dantes, wrongly accused, is thrown into a dark dungeon and forgotten. As fourteen years pass, his despair is supplanted by determination to escape and take revenge on the three men responsible. This classic sat on my TBR pile for a while, daunting me with its 1243 pages. When at last I began I was soon engrossed by short chapters, a rollicking good story, and, mixed in with the melodrama and implausible events, some wonderful writing and keen insights into human behaviour. The book was first published in serial form in 1844, and its translator, Robin Buss, mentions in the introduction that Dumas was paid by the word. The pages could be cut by at least a third without loss, but the frequent recaps were helpful and the more pedestrian explanations skimmable. Not a must read, but an enjoyable one.

Loved this book

Brilliant classic story, just a bit overlong

Good read! Hefty book

Great story, great characters.

Great book, disappointing condition- the book came with the front and the back over creased and marked on the front, and the back page was folded in the corner. Aside from this, the book covers the issues with authoritarianism and the justice system, in a captivating and entertaining way. Really good read.

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

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

Excellent book with many good notes and commentaries. Thanks a lot for making it accessible to everyone.

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.