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soph22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was great, but never lived up to the hope I’d built around following reading The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s adventurous and in some parts really fun, but was slightly ruined for me by the way women are used and portrayed I also believe that some of what D’Artagnan did would constitute as rape with today’s morals - it should have done them too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, War, Physical abuse, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Murder, Sexism, Animal death, Gun violence, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Antisemitism, Blood, Misogyny, and Sexual content
mdpenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Well I can certainly see why this has been in print for nearly 80 years. It is a pretty grand comedic adventure and a lot of fun to read. I'm satisfied with the Pevear translation, though I haven't anything to compare it to: it read smoothly and coherently and I felt like I was getting not just the story but the Dumas' flair for storytelling.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
misskitty14's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Let me first say that there are a lot of issues with the story, specifically the rape of Milady (our "hero" tricks her into sex using a fake identity) and the general disposability of women throughout. I was also quite surprised by the casual violence even when accounting for the period.
Having said that, I did thoroughly enjoy the adventure. Dumas has a wonderful narrative style that I found quite modern. The characters are deeply flawed but there is just something fun about them. They are the true embodiment of "swashbuckling."
I grew up loving the 1993 film and was surprisedto discover that the central villain is Milady, while the Cardinal, impressed by the bravado of the musketeers, sort of becomes an unlikely ally. I wonder how much of this stems from the status of the church during Dumas's time. While we can certainly critique the mistreatment of Milady, I will say that the most thrilling chapters of the book center around her (that ending!)
Having said that, I did thoroughly enjoy the adventure. Dumas has a wonderful narrative style that I found quite modern. The characters are deeply flawed but there is just something fun about them. They are the true embodiment of "swashbuckling."
I grew up loving the 1993 film and was surprised
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, War, Violence, and Sexism
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