The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.

[Deee]

I read this so long ago and it still remains a favorite of mine. I love a good revenge story. I know if I was ever wronged like that, I would not have the patience for all that plotting, so I will live vicariously through the count.

[mikesx50]

I finished this book - the unabridged version - a few weeks ago. It's up there with the best books I've ever read.

[humanracer]

I have just finished reading this for the second time, the first being nearly 10 years ago.

Some thoughts.

Did anyone else find the transition from Edmond to the Count rather abrupt and jarring?.

The novel was written by more than one person. Dumas originally intended the story to start at the "Rome" section. It was Dumas collaborator Auguste Maquet who suggested that he tell of how Dantes came to be betrayed. COMC is really a story of three parts - Marseille, Rome and Paris.

Is there some deeper meaning or allegory attached to Caderousse?

Not really. He is just a petty criminal who never seems to grasp the chances given to him in life, unlike Dantes who feels he was given another chance by God. I suppose you could compare him to the athiest innkeeper Thenardier from Les Miserables.

Why did the Count delay exposing his plan with Valentine to Max for so long?,
This was explained in the Count's letter to Max. He wanted to show Max that to understand true happiness you have to experience great pain. To want to live, you have to know what it is like to wish to die. You could argue about the Count's morals here.

Why did he let Danglars go with 50,000 francs?
Mercy and pity I suspect. At this point the Count felt his revenge had gone far enough. He also didn't care about money at this point. It was superficial to him.

Poor Mercedes!, she truly came out one of if not the worst of all the characters.
Yes. It seems Dantes (and possibly Dumas) judgement of her changed throughout the book. In one scene the Count tell her she has been too hard on herself and implies that he will help her financially yet in another scene Dantes call her "faithless".

.

I find all the adapations of COMC interesting. Dumas did his own adaptation in the form of a four part play. It is different from the book in that the stories of how the Count got revenge on Mondego and Villefort are told separately. Characters such as Vampa are also omitted. There was another famous play written in the 1850s by Charles Fechter. James O'neil starred in the play and became a megastar. This play ends with Mercedes and the Count reuniting and Mercedes revealing that Albert is Dantes son!

Going back to the book, I felt like we were never quite sure how Dantes felt about his revenge mission. He seemed to suffer great regret after the death of Eduoard but later became more firm in his belief that he was doing the right thing. The novel is long enough but I would have liked to have seen Dantes show more regret. I suppose you could look at Jean Valjean in Les Miserables as the opposite of Dantes.

[Mavens]

Best revenge book I've ever read. "It is not the tree that leaves the blossom but the blossom that leaves the tree." Even if the book wasn't awesome, which it is, that line would redeem it all for me.

[Sweet_Lullaby]

I've read the first book and I have to say that it is one of my favorite classics. I hope to read the second book soon!!

[Mavens]

What is the second book?

[chouk1902]

This is one of my top 10 favorite books, Alexander Dumas works are simply amazing. Another book that i enjoyed that was also by him is "The Black Tulip."

[ananya92]

I read this book in my teens and really enjoyed the author's execution of the theme in the book. The way Dumas treats the issue of revenge and persuades the reader to accept reveNge as the answer is I think what impresses me the most. It is definitely worth a read.

[datchristy]

This is my favorite book of all-time! It's like a mystery, but not really, and there are so many little things that just make it amazing! I'm looking into getting the unabridged version because I am sure that I am missing other very interesting parts by not reading that. If you haven't read it, you most definitely should.

[PashaRu]

Heard an old-timey radio quiz show once where a contestant actually answered a question with "Alexander Dumbass." Everyone laughed, so she corrected herself by saying, "Oh, Henry Dumbass!"

[MommyRussell]

I really enjoyed this book, I had to read it in High School and I found it to be quite interesting and one of the best books about the era it is written.

[Rahman]

I read it long ago, abridged version. Images from the story, once drawn, are now littel blurry, though I liked it very much along with Dumas The Three Musketeers. The evocative discussions here are certainly persuading me to give a reread. Think it is well worthy to collect an unabridged version.

[JoMama123]

I read this book a few years ago for book club and I loved it! I had seen the movie adaptation and liked it, but it seemed as if the movie borrowed the main idea of the book and some characters and made a completely new story. I like the book better for a variety of reasons. First of all, I felt that Edmund actually felt real remorse at the end of the book that I didn't feel at the end of the movie. I also felt that the book was much more realistic with regards to the relationships of the characters. I consider this to be one of my favorite classics.

[bluemel4]

I have not read The Count of Monte Cristo but have had it enthusiastically recommended to me. I have seen a couple of the film adaptations and felt skeptical about taking the book on. But this forum has convinced me. I am going to give it a try.

[Tazpocket]

In many cases the movie dose not do the book justice, and the Count of Monte Cristo is one of them. Dumas can be slow, and I do admit to never being able to actually finish The Three Musketeers, but the Count sweeps me away every time. The book allows for a much better punishment for the villians, and a sweeter reward for our hero than the movies ever do. It is amazing how a few missing pieces change the plot. I much prefer Dumas' ending to Hollywood's.