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![The Count of Monte Cristo [Abridged] by Alexandre Dumas](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/1qy27ultqt1q86gtbubgprtxmd89)
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s not every day you read a classic that actually is still a banger. Dantès was ruthless yet kind at the same time!
”I regret having helped you clarify your past and having told you what I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve instilled in your heart a feeling that wasn’t there before: vengeance.”
Following Edmond Dantès on his path from joyful naivety to a prison sentence he didn’t deserve and then achieving the revenge he felt due was a trip and a half. His ingenuity and intelligence wrap the entire situation as he expertly weaved the strings of society to work in his favor. Reveal after reveal was
”Or, to speak more clearly, do you think that what you do is worth being called something?”
I will say I can understand why some people won’t want to read this for the length and older writing style. Even my abridged version by Lowell Blair was 531 pages long - an unabridged version is usually more than double that. I, weirdly, do want to come back to an unabridged version at some point (perhaps the one by Robin Buss). I’m one who really enjoys these types of long, drawn out views into characters’ lives, especially with such a formidable individual as Dantès. I couldn’t help but want to see where he ended up next and what new bombshell of a one liner he would decimate me with.
”Unless I die, I will always be what I am.”
As a quick side tangent - I loved all the women in this book. They are strong and resilient even if they make the wrong choices. They felt whole. There was a sapphic character and romance which is leaps ahead of most representation we get in modern media. They all felt fleshed out and capable to the same degree as their male counterparts and, for something published around two centuries ago, it’s great. Valentine, Mercédès, Eugénie, Haydée, they all were amazing.
I did have some issue with the continued use of the phrase “Oriental,” grimacing each time, but it honestly could have been a lot worse. The age gap between Haydée and Dantès also initially was a shock but I could see how it came to be. All in all, I didn’t find much to complain about in terms of it’s offensiveness which is always a win when trying to find a classic in my eyes!
I’m glad I grabbed a copy of this from my English professor before she retired, and now I can hold onto this copy to remember her by while also knowing it’s a fantastic tale of what intense determination can do.
”I regret having helped you clarify your past and having told you what I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve instilled in your heart a feeling that wasn’t there before: vengeance.”
Following Edmond Dantès on his path from joyful naivety to a prison sentence he didn’t deserve and then achieving the revenge he felt due was a trip and a half. His ingenuity and intelligence wrap the entire situation as he expertly weaved the strings of society to work in his favor. Reveal after reveal was
”Or, to speak more clearly, do you think that what you do is worth being called something?”
I will say I can understand why some people won’t want to read this for the length and older writing style. Even my abridged version by Lowell Blair was 531 pages long - an unabridged version is usually more than double that. I, weirdly, do want to come back to an unabridged version at some point (perhaps the one by Robin Buss). I’m one who really enjoys these types of long, drawn out views into characters’ lives, especially with such a formidable individual as Dantès. I couldn’t help but want to see where he ended up next and what new bombshell of a one liner he would decimate me with.
”Unless I die, I will always be what I am.”
As a quick side tangent - I loved all the women in this book. They are strong and resilient even if they make the wrong choices. They felt whole. There was a sapphic character and romance which is leaps ahead of most representation we get in modern media. They all felt fleshed out and capable to the same degree as their male counterparts and, for something published around two centuries ago, it’s great. Valentine, Mercédès, Eugénie, Haydée, they all were amazing.
I did have some issue with the continued use of the phrase “Oriental,” grimacing each time, but it honestly could have been a lot worse. The age gap between Haydée and Dantès also initially was a shock but I could see how it came to be. All in all, I didn’t find much to complain about in terms of it’s offensiveness which is always a win when trying to find a classic in my eyes!
I’m glad I grabbed a copy of this from my English professor before she retired, and now I can hold onto this copy to remember her by while also knowing it’s a fantastic tale of what intense determination can do.
Very different from the movie. I really liked the book. I found it to be pure genius.
First and foremost, the maroon covered copy (the one I read, and the one pictured above) is an abridged version! It is a Barnes and Noble edition. When I purchased this copy online, I was searching for an unabridged edition. The description never said abridged, so I purchased it. The into does describe that the book is slightly abridged, but made it sound like all English copies are now abridged. I highly doubt this. In many instances, it's evident the author summarized instead of translated. That is what lead to a 4 star review instead of 5. I intend to find an unabridged version and reread this story in its entirety.
The Count of Monte Cristo is often advertised as a story of revenge. Edmond Dantes has everything he could want in life. He's about to become captain of the ship, and he's engaged to the beautiful Mercedes, all in his early 20's. The honorable and naive Dantes follow's the final wishes of his dying Captain. He is to deliver a letter that unknowingly contains the name of a very prominent person caught in an unfortunate plot. To cover up the scandal, Dantes is framed, arrested, and thrown into the infamous Chateu De Iff. Never has a prisoner escaped his confines.
For 14 years Dantes struggles to survive at the Chateu De Iff. Eventually he meets another prisoner who confides in him about a vast fortune on the Isle Monte Cristo. Hiding behind his new name, Count of Monte Cristo, it is this fortune that propels Edmond Dantes back into the world. It is this same fortune that provides Dantes the means to enact revenge on those who framed him.
The first half of the novel was excellent. The second half was where the problems started. This novel contains many characters. Often times it was difficult to keep track of whom was whom. I found myself going back chapters, or googling the characters to keep them straight. I'm convinced an unabridged version would have made it easier to keep track of the characters.
Additionally, a number of plotlines appeared rushed, and questions were left unanswered. It was evident where the author summarized the book instead of translated. I started to grow frustrated as the plotlines were quickly introduced and dissipated. Having already invested days on the first 300 pages, I didn't want to give up. I needed to know the what happened next. By the time I reached the end, I was left dissatisfied. It was not with the novel's ending, but in the way it was summarized in the second half. There were so many smaller plotlines that should have been (and in the original version most likely were) expanded upon. Just as the tension was building, the author would summarize the rest of the plot to maintain the abridged pace. This is just one of many reasons I plan to find a full, unabridged version to read. I'm already looking forward to revisiting the world Andre Dumas has created.
If you have time on your hands and plan to read a novel as intricate as The Count of Monte Cristo, it is crucial to find an unabridged version. The story is magnificent and deserves to be read in its entirety.
Note regarding the 2000's film vs the book. While Richard Harris, Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce give it their all, the movie is vastly different from the novel. The film merges many plotlines and takes liberties on the characters Mercedes and Albert. Only the first half of the film follows the book. Both are good in their own rights, but the novel (per usual), is vastly superior to the film.
The Count of Monte Cristo is often advertised as a story of revenge. Edmond Dantes has everything he could want in life. He's about to become captain of the ship, and he's engaged to the beautiful Mercedes, all in his early 20's. The honorable and naive Dantes follow's the final wishes of his dying Captain. He is to deliver a letter that unknowingly contains the name of a very prominent person caught in an unfortunate plot. To cover up the scandal, Dantes is framed, arrested, and thrown into the infamous Chateu De Iff. Never has a prisoner escaped his confines.
For 14 years Dantes struggles to survive at the Chateu De Iff. Eventually he meets another prisoner who confides in him about a vast fortune on the Isle Monte Cristo. Hiding behind his new name, Count of Monte Cristo, it is this fortune that propels Edmond Dantes back into the world. It is this same fortune that provides Dantes the means to enact revenge on those who framed him.
The first half of the novel was excellent. The second half was where the problems started. This novel contains many characters. Often times it was difficult to keep track of whom was whom. I found myself going back chapters, or googling the characters to keep them straight. I'm convinced an unabridged version would have made it easier to keep track of the characters.
Additionally, a number of plotlines appeared rushed, and questions were left unanswered. It was evident where the author summarized the book instead of translated. I started to grow frustrated as the plotlines were quickly introduced and dissipated. Having already invested days on the first 300 pages, I didn't want to give up. I needed to know the what happened next. By the time I reached the end, I was left dissatisfied. It was not with the novel's ending, but in the way it was summarized in the second half. There were so many smaller plotlines that should have been (and in the original version most likely were) expanded upon. Just as the tension was building, the author would summarize the rest of the plot to maintain the abridged pace. This is just one of many reasons I plan to find a full, unabridged version to read. I'm already looking forward to revisiting the world Andre Dumas has created.
If you have time on your hands and plan to read a novel as intricate as The Count of Monte Cristo, it is crucial to find an unabridged version. The story is magnificent and deserves to be read in its entirety.
Note regarding the 2000's film vs the book. While Richard Harris, Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce give it their all, the movie is vastly different from the novel. The film merges many plotlines and takes liberties on the characters Mercedes and Albert. Only the first half of the film follows the book. Both are good in their own rights, but the novel (per usual), is vastly superior to the film.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
A beautifully written classic. It's length and the language used made it pretty difficult to read at times, but it was a very good book.
I thought this book would be too heavy for me to read that I will not be able to finish, or to the least, read halfway.
Yes, it is not my usual type of book. When it comes to classics, I am primarily a Jane Austen lover. Into romantic stories of her type. However, surprisingly, every bit of this book enticed me to read to the end.
The way Alexandre Dumas did this is inexpliclably astounding--the seemingly all-encompassing character of Monte Cristo and his very wickedly well-planned strategy for vengeance and for love.
This book took me by surprise from beginning to end. And what a life-changing journey it was.
I promised myself I will read the unabridged one someday.
*The translated words used particularly in this version are not too heavy (at least for my mind to comprehend).
Yes, it is not my usual type of book. When it comes to classics, I am primarily a Jane Austen lover. Into romantic stories of her type. However, surprisingly, every bit of this book enticed me to read to the end.
The way Alexandre Dumas did this is inexpliclably astounding--the seemingly all-encompassing character of Monte Cristo and his very wickedly well-planned strategy for vengeance and for love.
This book took me by surprise from beginning to end. And what a life-changing journey it was.
I promised myself I will read the unabridged one someday.
*The translated words used particularly in this version are not too heavy (at least for my mind to comprehend).
Probably one of my all-time favorite books! I love the characters and the depth they have. Plus, every single tiny little detail matters. Everything that happens is tied to something else and you don't see how it all works together until later on. Plus, the ending is awesome! Please, don't even compare it to the movie. Not even the same story!