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Cover of Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas

  • 593 pages · about 10 hours
  • First published 1830
  • 736 editions
  • Free to read
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1 About this book

In 1815 Edmond Dantès, a young sailor from Marseille, is about to be made captain of his ship and to marry his fiancée, Mercédès. On the eve of the wedding he is denounced as a Bonapartist agent by men who envy him, and a prosecutor with his own reasons for silence has him shut away without trial in the island fortress of the Château d'If. There a fellow prisoner, the Abbé Faria, educates him and tells him of a treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. Years later Dantès returns to the world as the rich and mysterious Count of Monte Cristo, set on rewarding those who were loyal to him and punishing those who destroyed his life. Alexandre Dumas's novel was first published as a serial from 1844 to 1846.

  • France
  • Adventure and adventurers in fiction
  • Adventure
  • Historical fiction
  • Friendship
  • France, history
  • Romance, historical
  • France in fiction

2 What to expect

A very long adventure novel of betrayal and revenge: a young sailor is imprisoned on a false charge and returns years later, rich and disguised, to deal with the men who ruined him. The opening chapters and the prison are fast and gripping; the long middle, in Paris, weaves many families and subplots before the plans come together. Justice, vengeance, mercy and forgiveness are the themes. Many editions are abridged, so check which one you have.

Good for readers who want: a grand revenge story, classic adventure, and an epic read to get lost in.

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4 About Alexandre Dumas

1802–1870

Alexandre Dumas (born Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie; 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père, was a French novelist and playwright. His works have been translated into many languages and he is one of the most widely read French authors.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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