The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
by Alexandre Dumas père
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Book Reviews of The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: ROBIN BUSS's TRANSLATION from PENGUIN CLASSICS
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for those who've already decided they want to read The Count of Monte Cristo (you won't regret it!), and don't know which version to get.
Short answer: see review title, duh!
The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book, and I've read several translations, both abridged and unabridged.
TRANSLATION
The Buss translation is the most modern, and reads most fluidly. A quick example comparing this translation with the one found on Project Gutenberg:
PG - His wife visited for him, and this was the received thing in the world, where the weighty and multifarious occupations of the magistrate were accepted as an excuse for what was really only calculated pride...
BUSS - His wife visited on his behalf; this was accepted in society, where it was attributed to the amount and gravity of the lawyer's business -- when it was, in reality, deliberate arrogance...
Buss's work reads like the book was written in English. The two or so times that the work is nearly untranslatable, Buss makes a footnote about it (eg, an insinuated insult using the formal "vous" instead of the familiar "tu"). Other translations just skip the subtlety. The most common translation out there (uncredited in my version) reads like a swamp. Trust me, get Buss.
ABRIDGED V UNABRIDGED
Abridged versions of this book rarely say "abridged." You can tell by the size: abridged is 500-700 pages, unabridged is 1200-1400 pages. Go for the unabridged.
The abridged version is VERY confusing! Pruning 1200 pages down to 600 leaves a lot of plot on the cutting room floor. Suddenly, arriving at dinner are 4 new characters; it's very tiring to try to keep up with the hole-ridden story of the abridged versions. And you know where the holes are? Publishers "clean up" the book by omitting the affairs, illegitimate children, homosexuality, hashish trips, etc.
As an added bonus in the Penguin Classics edition, there's a wonderful appendix bursting with footnotes to explain all the 19th century references, and a quick guide to the rise and fall of Napoleon (crucial to the politics in the story).
Hope this helps. Get the book and start reading!
Book Review: You people should really get your noses out of those vampire romance novels and read good stuff.
Summary: 5 Stars
In these troubled times, we are facing a crisis that is not mentioned very much. We have grown teenagers who don't like to read and cannot pronounce the simplest words. If they do read, it's the latest Wal-Mart fad novel that will not be remembered in 100 years. As for the classics, they are shunned upon as being too complex and too long to read.
At least I still got the reading mojo people lacked. This is probaly the greatest book I've read in awhile. Even though it was written over 160 years ago, it's still hard to beat.
The basic outline of the plot is simple. It takes place in France, and even though it is written in English, many French elements remain. Edmund Dantes has it all. He's a well respected sailor who has a beautiful bride-to-be named Mercedes. But unknown to him, a man named Fernand, (who is also Mercedes' cousin 0_0) wants her as well. So with the help of a man name Danglers, he sends a letter accusing Dantes of being a traitor, and the prosecutor Villefort sends him without trial to the Château d'If, an island prison, which is a real place, by the way. There he spends fourteen years of his life, the only company he has is a secret communication with the supposedly mad Abbe Faria, who helps him figure out who the framers were. When he dies, Dantes replaces his body with his own and he is thrown off to sea, where he manges to recover and heads to the island of Monte Cristo, where Faria said there was a treasure at. After becoming rich, he plans his unique revenge against his accusers, under the alias of the Count of Monte Cristo.
But it's more than a tale of revenge. The novel is filled with many characters who have their own agendas, as well as some extraordinary writing and many twists in the story. It's actually kind of sad that this book doesn't get as much respect as it deserves. While you may be turned off by its length (don't get the abridged version, or God forbid the Great Illustrated Classics version, AKA 'Literature for Dummies') and its archaic language, but anyone who actually knows how to read should understand this book.
So yeah, the next time you're at the library or the bookstore, perhaps you should skip Breaking Dawn and read something good, like this.
Book Review: Dark historical fiction at its finest
Summary: 5 Stars
I can think of no character in all of literary history who is more obsessed, more driven than Edmond Dantes. Batman comes close.
You don't know who Edmond Dantes is?
Well, allow to offer up a brief synopsis (very brief) of the novel that is The Count of Monte Cristo.
Edmond Dantes, a successful young sailor, returns home to France in the early 19th Century with plans to wed the love of his life. Instead of the expected happiness, several of Edmond's friends have grown jealous of his life and go to the authorities to accuse Edmond of being a spy for Napoleon. Edmond is sent to prison, his life ruined and basically over. But in prison he makes friends with another inmate, an old man who tells Edmond of a secret treasure hidden away on the island of Monte Cristo. After the old inmate dies in prison, through some twists and turns Edmond manages to escape. Then he goes to the island and discovers this treasure, so huge it would make any kings of Europe envious. Soon a mysterious stranger, the Count of Mont Cristo, appears in Paris and begins to make the rounds as to "coming out in society." To give away more would be a disservice to the reader, but let's just say poor Edmond is no longer poor and goes to extremes to find his revenge against his old "friends."
Unlike most of the film versions I've seen of this tale, the novel does not have the happiest of endings. The tale is sort of a tragedy, but one in which the protagonist wins out, though finds that what he has won was perhaps not truly worth everything he went through to achieve it.
There are no simple endings here. The good guy doesn't win the girl and everything else. In other words, this is a lengthy, complicated tale that will make you think in the end. All the while giving you a darn fun reading experience. There's action to be found here, sword fights and the like, as well as intrigue and skulduggery. There's also a bit of comedy here and there, but out-and-out murder at times.
Most of Dumas' longer novels touch upon many facets of the human existence, and this one is no exception, though it is perhaps the darkest of his longer writings.
Book Review: Riveting Lessons in Vengeance and Mercy
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first purchased The Count of Monte Cristo, I laughed to myself how long it was. Weighing in at a hefty 1200+ pages, the thickness was pretty intimidating. I thought it'd take me at least a month to finish.
I ended up finishing the book in only a week and a half. What the other reviews say about this novel is true - you really won't want to put this down. Dumas may have written this book in the 19th century, but don't let time gone by deceive you - it reads like a modern day page turning thriller. Don't be surprised if you are emotionally invested in the characters and the story after only reading the first 4 or 5 Chapters. The plot is compelling, and it will keep you interested the entire time - not an easy task for a book this long.
On the surface, this book is just plain entertaining. You'll have fun as you are reading. At its core, though, The Count of Monte Cristo presents insightful philosophies on human nature, revenge, and justice. It tackles intriguing questions and themes as it goes on. I think some of the more apparent ones are 'the limits of human justice' ... 'the saving power of forgiveness' ... and 'will those who are evil and selfish in the world be judged in the next life by some higher authority?'
Dumas attempts to answer each of these questions with brooding, elegant passages and descriptions. Along the way, you'll meet interesting characters that you'll either really care about or genuinely despise. It was a bit tricky to keep track of all the characters and the relationships between them all, but eventually, things will lock in and you'll feel like you're a part of the story.
It's a classic for a reason. Don't you want to find out why? Put this one on your list! The sprawling epic of Edmond Dantes is a spiritual journey, and it's one that is worth experiencing. It may change the way you feel about the tempting impulse to avenge, and push you towards the liberating power of mercy and forgiveness.
Book Review: A classic story
Summary: 4 Stars
There are a handful of traits that make a book a "classic". They can stand the test of time from 10 years to 100 years beyond, due to their meaningful story lines which everyone can both relate to and have different interpretations of. The Count of Monte Cristo has all these characteristic of a classic story. It is a story of revenge, love, hatred and the second chances in life one may be lucky enough to receive. Even though this story is almost 200 years old it still appeals to people of all ages and walks of life.
Edmond Dantes is wrongly accused and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. After spending 14 years in a horrendous prison he miraculously escapes and uses his new fortune given to him by a prison mate to live out his new life of enormous wealth and his quest for revenge. This seeking of revenge captured me along the ride with Edmond Dates' use of wit and internal hatred towards others to seek revenge on those who destroyed his life. It came to my discovery through the Count of Monte Cristo's experiences and actions that people back in 1800's were just as devious, greedy, deceitful, manipulative and vengeful as people can be today in modern times.
Alexandre Dumas builds a captivating and rich plot throughout his story which makes the reader wonder what will happen next and what the consequences may be. The theme of love, hatred, happiness, vengeance and forgiveness is something everyone can relate to since they are feelings we have all felt. My negative critique for this book is the fact that it was a struggle to keep all the 40+ characters in order. The French names I am not familiar with as an English speaker, were confusing at times.
I found this book intriguing because this story portrays the evil nature of the human spirit while at the same time teaching a lesson in the possibility of Karma and how eventually people will end up paying for their wrongdoings. It was at times a struggle to get through, but I was glad I did.