The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Clothbound Classics)

Edmond Dantes is as happy as a young man can be. He has just completed a successful voyage. Unfortunately the captain of the ship died during the trip but because of the way Edmond brought the ship safely home, the owner of the ship, Mr Morrel, has told him that he will become the captain. He is off to see his beloved father and his soon to be wife, the lovely Mercedes, both of whom are waiting for him. He has everything in life to look forward to. But like the snake in the Garden of Eden, there is one who is jealous of his good fortune, Mr Danglers, whose every hope in life is made of avarice. Edmond Dantes is a pure, happy soul who has aroused hatred in Danglers, who is is jealous of his good fortune in being named captain. It would seem that Danglers would envy and take all happiness away from Dantes, just because Danglers is not capable of truly feeling happiness and contentment himself. So he devises a plot to rob young Edmond Dantes of every bit of happiness. There is another young man who is envious of Edmond Dantes because he has the love of the beautiful Mercedes. This is Mercedes' cousin, Fernand, who wants Mercedes for himself. There is another that envies Dantes simply out of avarice. This is the man, Caderrouse, who wears the mask of friendship. He is the type of man who can never have enough and despite the fact that Edmond and his father have little, Caderrouse wants it. This trio, Danglers, Fernand and Caderrouse gather together to plot the destruction of Edmond Dantes. This story takes place in France during the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte to the Island of Elba. The country is still very much divided between royalists and Bonapartists. The diabolical trio decides to frame poor young Dantes as a Bonapartist, working to bring Napoleon back to power. During what was going to be the homecoming and the marriage celebration, Dantes is placed under arrest and taken away, without any explanation. He is brought before a man named Villefort, a royalist in a very tenuous position as his father was a staunch Bonapartist. When he realizes that the evil lies concocted by the diabolical trio against Dantes may implicate his father and in turn him, he takes steps to ensure that Edmond Dantes will never again see the light of day. Soon poor, innocent Dantes is bound for the Chateau d'If, a horrible prison surrounded by water that those who enter never leave alive. There appears to be no further happiness possible for Edmond Dantes. I feel like I am unable to escape the writing of Alexandre Dumas. It is a very long, melodramatic, action packed adventure. I have enjoyed every word although some surrender to the abridged version. I have heard it said that Dumas was paid by the word. That may well be but I enjoyed every word. It is filled with swashbuckling. This book is an entertaining, exciting classic even if it may not be great literature. We get to see an innocent Edmond Dantes fall into the depths only to rise as an avenging angel known as the Count of Monte Cristo!

The Count of Monte Cristo Title: The Count of Monte Cristo Author: Alexandre Dumas Genre: Realistic Fiction # of Pages: 1200  Reviewed by: Gabe Galper Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes is a honest young man whose peaceful life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes are abruptly shattered by Mercedes cousin Fernand who is in love with her and deceives them by telling the police Edmond was part of the Bonapartist party. This party supported Napoleon, a person who all of the Europe hated for taking all he wanted. Dantes was thrown into a jail and for trying to kill the person bringing him food, he was taken to the dungeons. 2 years later he met a another prisoner because that prisoner was trying to escape and dug a tunnel to Dantes cell. This man's name was Abbe Faria, one of the smartest men alive. For the next 12 years Faria taught Dantes all he knew, including several languages. Sadly, the day before their escape plan started, Faria had a heart attack and became paralyzed, the next day he died. Dantes faked his death thinking he would be buried but instead he was thrown out into the ocean. He then swam for an enormous amount of time until a boat picked him up. The late Abbe Faria had told him of a secret treasure that Farias master had left for him on the island of Monte Cristo. Edmond went there and found the treasure that is now worth 1 billion dollars. Edmond then changed his name into the Count of Monte Cristo after buying the island. He then became one of the most well known men in France, for several very different rumors. He held many partie and such and helped many people through times of hardship and hate. What will become of the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo? This was one of the best books ever for me, it was enticing, thrilling, and exciting. Although I didn’t finish it while I was in France, it was a surprisingly challenging book and I enjoyed it. Also, I was exceedingly happy when I realized that it was a slow paced adventure, almost as if it could happen in real life. Although it took me a long time to read considering it was a 1200 page book, it was still an epic that keeps continuing on in my head, chapter after chapter. I recommend this book because of the reality it reflects on books, I say this because of how lifelike these characters are and how they actually have feelings. From this book you are able to see how the richest men in the world lived, or if you choose to, the poorest. From squabbles to heartbreak, from love to hate, this is one of the best stories ever told and one of the saddest. I would give this book a five star review.

One of the best books I’ve read.

This novel is my all-time favorite, and I've been searching for the perfect hardcover edition. I'm so glad I found this one - the design is beautiful and the quality is exceptional

Alles bestens gerne wieder

This is about the clothbound edition by penguin. It is the only version I could find with the Robin Buss translation. It is the most modern and most readable translation in English. Highly recommended. I hope that one day Penguin will publish a bit more elaborate edition of this version. I think this book deserves it.

A edição que posso comentar é a edição Barnes & Noble, em inglês, com encadernação em couro. Este livro tem mais de mil páginas e o inglês é da época de uns 200 anos atrás. Alguns capítulos são bem chatos de ler, mas são importantes para entender a relação posteriormente. Quando faltaram 200 páginas, inventei de assistir ao filme, edição de 2002, sob direção de Kevin Reynolds. O filme é desastrosamente decepcionante; foi um completo fracasso na tentativa de resumir o livro. Nem se fizerem o trabalho de seguir a obra no final. Faltaram tantas personagens e tantos detalhes. Mas recomendo assistir para valorizar a escrita.

The Count of Monte Cristo" is an unforgettable masterpiece brimming with revenge, suspense, and adventure. Alexandre Dumas has created a gripping tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. What I particularly loved about this book is the complexity of Edmond Dantès' character, whose journey from betrayal to triumph is both thrilling and deeply moving. The historical backdrop and vivid settings transport you straight into the heart of 19th-century France. Each plot twist is masterfully crafted, making it impossible to put down. If you’re a fan of epic tales of justice and redemption, this classic is a must-read. Prepare to be captivated!