The Count of Monte Cristo (Cliffs Notes)

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Summary: The Folly of Revenge
Review: Although Edmond Dantes was wrongfully accused and imprisoned this book is more a story about how hope is better than hatred. Through Edmond's life you will see how jealousy and revenge can ruin a life, even if it is what one thought they wanted.

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Summary: Read the Cliffnotes!
Review: I started reading this book in the unabridged, not cliffnotes, version. Needless to say, the 1095 page book takes along time to read. About 500 pages into I decided to read the cliffnotes. From what i have read, this is a great book full of daring, adventure, and revenge. As you read, you see the main character outwit and manipulate everyone to his own vengeful scheme. Its a great book and I would recomend it to anyone that loves the classics.

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Summary: DO NOT BUY!
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo is an amusing but pointless novel that distracts the reader using an elaborate plot while making the weakest of attempts at a themeatic statement- revenge is good. This is a novel in which the "bravest" characters are commended for their desire to commit suicide in order preserve their honor and prove their "bravery". (Unfortunately, none of these characters are required kill themselves- instead, in each instance, they are saved by a miraculous event.) This is a novel in which more than four characters assume multiple identities in order to satisfy the whims of a plot which ultimately serves an inferior theme. It is because of authors like Dumas that early novels were often regarded as such low brow entertainment and not as literary works worthy of esteem.