The original revenge story, The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure story set in France and Italy. The story commences just before the Hundred Days of Napoleon and continues on to the reign of King Louis-Philippe. Edmond Dantes, a young merchant sailor is falsely accused of being a Bonapartiste and imprisoned on an island. It takes 14 years for Dantes to escape, during which he befriends an ageing fellow prisoner who bequeaths him a fortune hidden in a cave on an Italian island. With this fortune Dantes reinvents himself as the Count of the title and returns to France to seek revenge against the men who ruined his life.
Une écriture tout aussi incroyable que dans mes souvenirs
5 stars
J'avais dévoré toutes les trilogies des 3 Mousquetaires étant ado, mais je n'avais jamais réussi à dépasser les 250 premières pages de Monte-Cristo.
J'ai bien fait d'être têtu.e. Ce voyage au XIXe siècle, maintenant peu familiers, et les émotions des personnages sont saisissants sous la plume de Dumas.
Je recommande chaudement ce livre à quiconque a pu voir le film de 2024 !
incredibilmente avvincente e modernissimo, intenso e a tratti anche divertente. Una lettura intensissima, alcuni passaggi rimarranno nella mia memoria per un bel po'
Review of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I rated this 4 stars at first. Looking back, there really were vast chapters of me just not enjoying anything the book had to say. But now that I'm done, being objective about it, it really all had its function. It was just slow untangling of blushing maidens, noble gentlemen playing with contemporary ideas into a rotten core of French high society. Monte Cristo being the single fuse that can blow up this facade through his masterfully woven web.
It's weird because the main theme of revenge never hit me. Revenge has consequences, and consumes the one taking revenge. Nothing ground breaking from a modern perspective. The juxtaposition of how people were and the logical conclusions of their personalities in a span of 16 years were my favorite instead. The materialists, the ambitious brilliant men who would crush anyone in front of them to achieve their goals. The traitors, the …
I rated this 4 stars at first. Looking back, there really were vast chapters of me just not enjoying anything the book had to say. But now that I'm done, being objective about it, it really all had its function. It was just slow untangling of blushing maidens, noble gentlemen playing with contemporary ideas into a rotten core of French high society. Monte Cristo being the single fuse that can blow up this facade through his masterfully woven web.
It's weird because the main theme of revenge never hit me. Revenge has consequences, and consumes the one taking revenge. Nothing ground breaking from a modern perspective. The juxtaposition of how people were and the logical conclusions of their personalities in a span of 16 years were my favorite instead. The materialists, the ambitious brilliant men who would crush anyone in front of them to achieve their goals. The traitors, the weak. They're all there, as their past and present selves.
Monte Cristo is a great, masculine (in the traditional sense) character with surprising depth. The religious aspect of his character gives it a whole new dimension too. Side characters range from extremely interesting with very good character progression to archetypes only there to serve a single purpose.
Overall a very good read, with a payoff that's worth it all. But what sets it apart from some other books I'd consider 10/10 is that it really didn't make me feel so much. And I doubt I'll be thinking about Monte Cristo in a year, like I did with War and Peace and Crime and Punishment.
Review of 'O Conde de Monte Cristo' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Edmond Dantès é um jovem marinheiro com um futuro promissor: está quase se tornado capitão do navio mercante em que trabalha e está próximo de se casar. Ele não imaginava que inimigos, invejosos de sua felicidade, estariam conspirando para denunciá-lo como um bonapartista e causar sua prisão e desgraça. Jogado nas masmorras da Ilha de If, como um perigoso criminoso, Dantès vai declinando na saúde física e mental. Quando está próximo de morrer, escuta o prisioneiro da cela do lado raspando a parede. Animado por uma ideia de fuga, ele trata de tentar abrir passagem para este estranho, que se prova o melhor mestre que ele poderia encontrar naqueles momentos de terror. Com sorte, consegue escapar da prisão, com um presente inestimável de seu tutor: o conhecimento e uma fabulosa fortuna, escondida na Ilha de Monte Cristo. Dantès está morto agora, e ressurge como Simbad, um marinheiro, um abade, um …
Edmond Dantès é um jovem marinheiro com um futuro promissor: está quase se tornado capitão do navio mercante em que trabalha e está próximo de se casar. Ele não imaginava que inimigos, invejosos de sua felicidade, estariam conspirando para denunciá-lo como um bonapartista e causar sua prisão e desgraça. Jogado nas masmorras da Ilha de If, como um perigoso criminoso, Dantès vai declinando na saúde física e mental. Quando está próximo de morrer, escuta o prisioneiro da cela do lado raspando a parede. Animado por uma ideia de fuga, ele trata de tentar abrir passagem para este estranho, que se prova o melhor mestre que ele poderia encontrar naqueles momentos de terror. Com sorte, consegue escapar da prisão, com um presente inestimável de seu tutor: o conhecimento e uma fabulosa fortuna, escondida na Ilha de Monte Cristo. Dantès está morto agora, e ressurge como Simbad, um marinheiro, um abade, um nobre inglês, O Conde de Monte Cristo. E agora ele busca a vingança por sua vida perdida.
Inspirado por uma passagem de Dumas pela Ilha de Monte Cristo, o livro é uma descrição sobre traição, inveja e brutalidade humana, mas também sobre como as amizades podem transformar uma vida para melhor. Dantès chega até o fundo da escuridão, para se reerguer em uma outra vida de glória e riquezas. Não esquece daqueles que o ajudaram, sendo uma mão benevolente e amiga, mas ao mesmo tempo implacável contra seus inimigos. Uma leitura fascinante sobre a vida deste personagem, e suas viagens, seus disfarces, as pessoas em sua vida, as tramas, tudo é unido por uma teia de acontecimentos que são revelados aos poucos e que, ao final, mostram o quadro completo da relação entre essas pessoas. Ao final fica a questão: uma pessoa comum pode ser um emissário da justiça de Deus?
Review of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Easily the longest book I've read to date.
I know a lot of people really really liked this book, and I definitely see what appeal this book has to everyone. Personally, I really enjoyed the beginning, and up through the part of the book we spend with Alfred, Franz, and The Count in Italy. After that, though, I felt like the book really dragged a bit in the middle. There was so much in the way of convoluted plotting that I kept getting mired in the detail and losing sight of what the goals actually were.
That said, I enjoyed my time with the book. I'm not a revenge person (I honestly don't see what it gets you, because it doesn't ever fix the original problem), but there's a lot for even someone like me to find and enjoy here.
Review of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Make sure you read a modern translation not the copyright free Victorian era translation. I read the later, which I believe, greatly diminished my enjoyment of the novel. Regardless, the novel is entirely too long and apparently I am not that interested in revenge.
Review of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on 'GoodReads'
5 stars
It flows like an on-edge television show and it bites like a wolf: revenge, murder, political plots, duels, swordfights, romance, history and grit - great fun (but read a good translation and a full version!).
Review of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I find it quite difficult to describe how finishing this book has made me feel. I seem to have been reading it for years, I'm pretty sure I have aged a few years from the experience.
The first part of the book was fantastic and i was racing through it until Sinbad the Sailor makes an appearance and it is like hitting a wall.
This tale of revenge has gotta be the most drawn out and complex ever planned. At times whilst reading this I kept thinking why is he doing this but in the end all the loose ends are tied up and all makes sense.
My one big issue is that throughout the revenge you don't get to know what is going on inside Edmund's head. I know I know that would require more words.
