The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
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The Count of Monte Cristo

Author: Alexandre Dumas

Narrator: B.J. Harrison

Unabridged: 53 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: B.J. Harrison

Published: 04/01/2015


Synopsis

"A piece of perfect storytelling." (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Trust. Betrayal. Revenge. The Count of Monte Cristo is the quintessential masterpiece of Alexandre Dumas. In Edmond Dantes we find an early materialization of the modern superhero. He is a dashing young sailor imprisoned unjustly for treason. While in prison he meets a holy man who imparts to him all his wisdom of languages, philosophy, science, and literature. The "abbe" also divulges the profound secret of a hidden treasure. Dantes realizes that with such immense wealth one could do a generous amount of good for one's friends. On the other hand, one could also wreak a hateful vengeance on one's enemies.

Now freed from prison, and armed with untold riches, a wealth of intelligence, and a countenance utterly unrecognizable, Dantes fulfills his vow to wreak complete and utter revenge on those who conspired against him.

About Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas was one of the most famous and prolific French writers of the nineteenth century, producing some 250 books. He is best known for his historical novels The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, and he was among the first authors to fully exploit the possibilities of roman feuilleton, or "serial novel." Dumas is credited with revitalizing the historical novel in France. His works are riveting, fast-paced adventure tales that blend history and fiction. A master of dialogue and character development, Dumas composed some of the most emulated teaser scenes for his suspenseful chapter endings.

Dumas was born in Villes-Cotterêts in 1802. His father was a general in Napoleon's army, but after he died, the family lived in poverty. Dumas worked as a notary's clerk until 1823, when he went to Paris to seek his fortune. Because of his elegant handwriting, he secured a position with the Duc d'Orleans, who later became King Louis Philippe. He also wrote for the theater and published some obscure magazines. Dumas lived as adventurously as the heroes in his books, taking part in the revolution of July 1830. He later caught cholera during the epidemic of 1832 and traveled to Italy to recuperate.

Dumas married his mistress, the actress Ida Ferrier, in 1840, but he soon separated after having spent her entire dowry on the construction of the fantastic château Montecristo on the outskirts of Paris. In 1855 Dumas was forced to escape his creditors and spent two years in exile in Brussels. In 1858, he traveled to Russia, and in 1860 he went to Italy, where he supported Garibaldi and Italy's struggle for independence. He remained in Naples as a museum keeper for four years. After his return to France, his debts continued to mount. Called "the King of Paris," Dumas earned fortunes and spent them on friends, art, and mistresses. Dumas died of a stroke on December 5, 1870, at Puys, near Dieppe. His illegitimate son, Alexandre Dumas (Jr.), became a writer, dramatist, and moralist.


Reviews

Goodreads review by emma on June 07, 2025

welcome to THE COUNT OF MONT-MAY CRISTO. join me as i spend may reading this impossibly lengthy book. i invented project long classics to make intimidating works of literature more approachable by reading them section by section, i'll have to read 4 chapters of this a day even if i take the month, so......more

Goodreads review by Emily May on January 26, 2019

Picture this: you are nineteen years old with your whole life ahead of you. You've just been offered the job of your dreams. And you're about to marry the person you've loved since childhood. When, suddenly, a couple of jealous men decide to frame you as a Bonapartist (a crime which was punished by......more

Goodreads review by Cynthia on April 18, 2010

** Spoiler alert** First, make sure you find a copy that is unabridged. Most editions in English ARE abridged, but usually don't say they are. Not sure if this Penguin edition is, it's not the one i read. Readers generally think of this as a tale of revenge. For me, it was much deeper. I'm not a reli......more

Goodreads review by Carolyn Marie on February 29, 2024

I am utterly speechless…......more

Goodreads review by jessica on February 20, 2020

you know the classic question ‘if you were stranded on a deserted island, which book(s) would you want to have?’ well, TCOMC is my answer. without a doubt. not only would the 1,000+ pages (which are full of the most masterfully crafted and deceptively clever plotlines known to humanity) provide hour......more