The future could hardly look brighter for Edmond Dant???s. Only nineteen years old, but already an experienced seaman, he is about to be named captain of the merchant vessel Pharaon. His deep and passionate love for the beautiful Mercedes is returned in every respect; they will be married in a few short weeks. Everyone who knows this handsome, modest young man wishes him the best-that is, almost everyone. Edmond is unaware that three men he knows well envy him and are conspiring to ruin him. The joy of Edmond and ...
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The future could hardly look brighter for Edmond Dant???s. Only nineteen years old, but already an experienced seaman, he is about to be named captain of the merchant vessel Pharaon. His deep and passionate love for the beautiful Mercedes is returned in every respect; they will be married in a few short weeks. Everyone who knows this handsome, modest young man wishes him the best-that is, almost everyone. Edmond is unaware that three men he knows well envy him and are conspiring to ruin him. The joy of Edmond and Mercedes' betrothal dinner is shattered when soldiers march in and arrest Edmond as a Bonapartist traitor. Thrown into prison without a trial and with no hope of release, Edmond receives unexpected help from a fellow prisoner in discovering the identities of those who have wronged him. He spends long hours imagining how to punish them, should he ever escape. If revenge is a dish best served cold, Edmond Dant???s is learning to be a very patient and ruthless chef. Set in the years following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, The Count of Monte Cristo held Europe in thrall when it was first serialized in 1844. This edition features the complete unabridged text of Alexander Dumass masterpiece, a novel of action and adventure that continues to thrill readers more than a century-and-a-half after it was written.
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This book was for a Christmas gift. I did not read it personally. It was in very good condition and the transaction went very well.
Aaronious
Mar 12, 2009
Trend setter
This book set the standard way back when. However, it is not the best written book - overly simplistic, telling the reader what is happening rather than showing the reader, rather than have the reader experience and feel what is happening.
Over all, a great book.
Amrita
Apr 4, 2007
Ships, poison, and philosophy
When I first started the Count of Monte Cristo, I thought that I was in for a good adventure tale, complete with intrigue, romance, and drama. Almost all the way through the book, I stuck to tthe opinion that the book was satisfying and engaging but not highly thought-provoking. And then in the last few pages I realized how much more the book is. Of course it was entertaining in and of itself, but it also helped me understand human nature a little more. How revenge can quickly spiral out of control, how guilt is relative in many ways, how justice is not necessarily the domain of man, all of these themes are explored in the book. And for that, more than for the wonderful storyline, this book is an important piece of the world's literary history.
