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Summary: "Wait and hope" is the advice of the Count of Monte Cristo.
Review: Almost immediately in the story, Edmond Dantes, a poor 19th Century French sailor accused of a crime he did not commit, finds himself imprisoned for life in the infamous Chateau d'If. He might have died there were it not for a piece of good luck. He hears noise in an adjoining cell and digs his way to the sound, finding an old priest who tells him about a great fortune left undiscovered on the island of Monte Cristo in the Mediterranean Sea. The priest spends the next few years teaching the young, inexperienced sailor everything he knows about life and living and then dies. Dantes changes place with the dead priest, sewing himself into the winding sheet used to dispose of the priest's body. Dantes, not the priest, is thrown out of the Chateau into the sea where he is picked up by a passing vessel. He asks to be taken to the island of Monte Cristo where he discovers the fortune described by the priest. Dantes is reborn as the Count of Monte Cristo. All that I have mentioned is just prelude to one of the greatest stories of revenge ever writen. The reader is well advised to get the unabridged version of this novel and not be cheated out of any part of the Count's systematic and single minded pursuit of the men who betrayed him and sent him to prison. Many readers today will shy away from starting to read a book that lasts for over a thousand pages thinking that they might be bored with interminable pages of description and detail that add little to the development of the story. This concern is unjustified. The story always moves forward with a brisk pace and is entertaining on every page. Often we find ourselves astonished to have read so much at a single sitting. Hours pass like minutes as we accompany the Count on his mission of revenge. After years in prison Edmond Dantes has learned to be patient and the priest who taught him all he knows has given him a hope he thought was lost. "Wait and hope" are words which end this great adventure. The reader will not soon forget them.
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Summary: Truly, A Masterpiece
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo is touching story about love, revenge, forgiveness and corruption. This book has depth and is both thought provoking moving, staring into the soul of humanity. This is truly a great book and should be read by every serious reader.
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Summary: Survives into modern times
Review: Can you believe it? This book has stood the test of time. Its fast paced and interesting. WARNING---its hard to put down. I read reviews about it but made sure I didn't have any idea about the ending---so I was intrigued and curious to the very end. The abridged version keeps you going. If you are incredibly curious and are way into the story, reserve the next 24 hrs or so just for reading the story! A good and happy man is imprisoned wrongly....he spends the next---what 14 years of his life in the cell of a prison for a shallow crime he didn't even commit. (The author doesn't dwell on that point). What happens in prison? Well, Edmond Dantes discovers a story of a hidden treasure and eventually an escape. It takes him years to set up his revenge and come to terms with it. (We don't dwell on the years, either). The author explicitly states that Edmond has God's approval to carry out his plans on his "backstabbers." The revenge is great---for he only pushes these evil people's deeds in their faces. They choose what to would do with the realization of their numerous crimes. I hope I'm making sense. But don't except a sweeping tale of love, any romance or swordfighting here. This is abridged and its all about REVENGE and righteousness. It reads like a modern screenplay.
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Summary: Kinda wish I had read the longer one!
Review: This is BY FAR, the best book I have EVER read! I HATE reading, and I read this 450 page book in three days! It was for summer reading for school, and I thought that I would read it before i saw the movie coming out soon! I AM SO GLAD I DID!! Thanks!
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Summary: Phenomenal!
Review: Never in my life have I read such an outstanding work as "The Count of Monte Cristo". Alexandre Dumas is brilliant in bringing us an air tight story of a naive young man who is unjustly accused of aiding the Napoleanic uprising. He spends fourteen years in prison until he finally escapes, bent on revenge. Every single chapter was crucial--nothing was thrown in just because. All extra subplots had a reason for being there and were all excellently intertwined, as each furthered the main plot. Nothing is left to chance. That is master storytelling and that is what makes a book not just good, but oustanding! If you want a good, thick novel to curl up with, this is the one for you. You will not be disappointed. Highly readable and bursting with history.
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Summary: Sorry to have finished!
Review: This is easily one of the top 5 books I have ever read, and I have read a few. I have also read other works by Dumas (namely the Muskateer trilogy) and, while I thoroughly enjoyed those, this is by far a better novel. This is a brilliant work, one that must have taken vast amounts of time to arrange beforehand. If you appreciate an excellent story, with many themes, action and events that (seemingly) have no holes or contradictions to each other, you will love this book. Do not be daunted by the length!! The pages will fly by, once you have started. This was such a good book that I am almost sorry to have finished!!!
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Summary: A must read.
Review: A tale of love, jealousy, revenge, blessing, adventure, romance, hatred, reward, mystery...This book is a must read. Edmond Dantes, dragged away because of two scheming rivals on his engagement party, spends 14 years in prison and barely manages to escape with the aid of luck and strength. He finds the treasure Abbe Faria talked about and finally returns to his hometown to bring down the fire of heaven on his two rivals. With one hand he turns all the lives of his former associates upside down. He rewards his friends and yet punishes his enemies. He becomes the center of many lives. He changed his name to the Count of Monte Cristo. He is unrecognizable. Yet, one thing remains the same. His love for Mercedes. When he tells his harrowing tale to his young friend, I can't help but cry. I highly recommned this book for all people.
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Summary: A Most Excellent Book
Review: This is a great book. The action is gripping and the ending satisfying. A book you cannot put down!
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Summary: Classic Dumas
Review: This book is definitely on my Top 20 of All Time book list (and I've read many, many books). It's a brilliant tale of revenge taken in the most inventive, cunning style. The story reads like a movie, and there are so many twists and turns that you're guaranteed to remain glued to your seat reading it. I don't usually recommend books so highly, but this novel is more than just a "classic" your high school teacher would have you read simply because it's set in the Napoleonic era, it's a GOOD book. :)
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Summary: Better than I can say
Review: Edmond Dantes, a/k/a The Count of Monte Cristo, is just as vibrant and nearly as famous a hero as D'Artagnan. This novel is beautifully written, full of emotion and witty dialogue as well as Dumas' famous adventure, action, and mystery. The story of the wrongfully imprisoned Edmond and his quest for revenge is spellbinding. In fact, this book can be dangerous-- if you are midway through it and your house begins to burn around you, it is entirely possible that you will not pull your nose out of the book and go outside. Also, this book may bring out an ugly side to your personality; almost everyone has someone they would like to treat as the Count treats those who framed him. There's nothing like living vicariously through an almost 200-year-old fictional character. Someone commented in another review that this book is too long. I can't tell you how little I agree. I wish it were twice as long as it is. I don't believe that is has a single dull moment. However, there are abreviated versions available. I think that reading an abreviated version of such a masterpiece is a waste. Still, be careful when chosing an edition to buy.
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