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Summary: One of the Greatest Adventure Novels Ever Written
Review: I find it difficult to put into words why I love this novel so very much. Perhaps because it includes everything that makes an adventure great. Action, romance, intruige, and mystery are all here and certainly presented better than much of the crud that is being written now. This is the epitome of a timeless classic. Its rare to find characters that remain so meaningful for so long. Long after you forget the names of the three musketeers you'll remember Edmund and Mercedes.The story of Edmund's revenge is well represented in the Modern Library's always excellent translation. Depite the length (1500 pages), most people will be able to read it with little problem. I don't recomend taking many breaks from the story, however, as the character's do tend to become hard to keep track of if you don't keep reading regularly. Pick this one up as soon as you have the time to invest in it.
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Summary: A Classic Novel, BUT TO LONG
Review: This book By Alexandre Dumas is brilliantly written, and keep u on the edge of ur seat, but it is WAY TO LONG (441 PG 73 Chapters) If u are in the mood for an action novel with a pleasing ending, then the Count of Monte Cristo is for you
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Summary: Arguably the best book I've ever read!
Review: At first I was only reading this book because someone had recommended it to me. But then, as I read, I began to take my own interest in it. Although I am only 13, it was easy enough to understand, and a very, very, very good book. I recommend it only to serious readers, however. I myself am a very serious reader, and was considering putting it down because I was having a little trouble getting through some slow parts in the book. If you think you'd have trouble 'getting through it' then I suggest that you don't read this book. It's a classic story about a man done wrong who comes back to wreak havoc on those who wronged him. I am dead serious that you should NOT read this book if you don't want either a challenge or a good read, or don't think you'd be prepared to deal with it. It has a complicated interworking of plots, three or four at a time. So don't read it unless you think you can deal with it. If you think you can, then be prepared to read a really great book!
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Summary: Really Great Comic
Review: I think this is a great comic. It tells amazingly well the story of The Count of Monte Cristo. The drawing is wonderful, and Steven Grant did a fantastic job on rewriting it. Steven Grant is a really great writer, he wrote the Punisher, he wrote X-Man, and he also wrote some wrestling comics, like Mankind, the Undertaker, the Rock, and other ones. He also wrote a few Hardy Boy books (#3, #62, Nightmare in Angel City, #6, and some other ones). 2 of the Hardy Boy books he wrote with his wife, Linda, who is an amazingly well writer herself. This book is only an example of what he can write, and I encourage you to check out his other brilliant work!
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Summary: The Unabridgement Is Well Worth The Time !!!
Review: This is more of a note to compare the Oxford unabridged version to abridged versions of this story. Previously, I read an abridgement of The Count of Monte Cristo and enjoyed it thoroughly. The story is a classic Man-Done-Wrong-Wreaks-Revenge tale. Eventually, I decided to read the unabridged version, even though it is over 1,000 pages, and I'm exceedingly glad that I did! There is an incredible amount of tension in this book, which miraculously enough is retained throughout the entire work. In the unabridged version, the reader is inserted into the story in a "you are there" sense, moment by moment, which is, in my opinion, the thing that retains this tension. Not to disparage the abridgement, but - in shortening the story - the reader is sometimes not a participant in the storyline, but merely hears about the events in an off-hand summary. As a result of this, part of the soul of the book is removed. That is a shame - especially with this work - because you are partly robbed of the emotional reward of following Edmond Dantes' journal from hell along his complicated strategy to struggle toward heaven ... which is a long journey from Marseilles! You should set aside the time to read the unabridged version of this work! You will not feel the time a useless sacrifice!
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Summary: Sweet Revenge !!
Review: Do not short change yourself by watching a movie version of this classic,you'll miss too much! I really liked this book about a man wrongly accused and imprisoned. Edmond Dantes is sent to prison and there he meets his benefactor, a man many believe is crazy. This so called crazy man teaches Edmond everything from foreign languages to science, these will come in handy once Edmond is able to put into action his plans for revenge on those who are responsible for his stay in prison. Edmond is finally able to escape from prison after many years (I can't tell you how, read the book!) and is now able to seek revenge on those who have wronged him in the past. Now the fun part starts as Edmond begins to piece by piece ruin the lives of his enemies who have long forgotten that Edmond might still exist. I can't tell you what the Count of Monte Cristo has in store for these people you will have to find out for yourself and you're sure not to be dissappointed!
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Summary: Review
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo was one of the best books I have ever read. It's full of colorful dialect. It has just enough detail to give you a sense of what it would be like there, but not so much that it bores you. It goes through all the stages and emtions of human life and puts the important things of life into perspective. Many classics tend to be a little boring and hard to follow and understand, but Dumas puts excitement and life into his book which makes it easier to follow. The Count of Monte Cristo is not a book that is easily forgotten.
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Summary: Long, winding, awesome book
Review: Pound for pound allegorical and entertainment awesomeness this book is the champ. I read this book years ago as a high-school student, and loved the mystery and intrigue. Read it again last week, and loved the whole story (mystery and intrigue too). The story ends abruptly which I didn't quite get, since he spends so much time on the Italian campaign of Albert and Franz. Oh well. Read this book, don't be intimidated by the size, by the end you'll be sorry it's over.
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Summary: A Literary Classic With a Few Classic Flaws
Review: So much has been written about "The Count of Monte Cristo" that it is well nigh impossible to add or subtract to the opus of literary criticism (including all that has been written right here on Amazon.com.) So, rather than trying to provide a plot overview, or extolling the virtues of Dumas' story of injustice, obsession and revenge, I would like to take a somewhat contrary stance and point out that this is a literary masterpiece with a few "classic" flaws. The first is the narration. Undoubtedly, it suffers from the fact that Dumas wrote this story in serial form. That's a fair excuse, but what is troublesome is his abrupt shift from the Count's rescue of the Morrel family shipping business, to his 100+ page Italian excursion, including the chapters on, "Roman Bandits", "The Carnival At Rome", etc. I suppose one could argue that we are introduced to the Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Baron Franz d'Epinay in Italy, but surely these two secondary characters could have been just as easily place in France where all the action is. I guess I'm left with the gnawing suspicion that Dumas once filled his travel journal with numerous observations and insights about Italy, and decided it was a good time to spill them all out about a quarter of the way through "The Count of Monte Cristo." Unfortunately, his Italian excursion (artfully rendered in its own right) throttles what was a driving, haunting compelling narrative, which reaches a wondrous climax when the Count mysteriously steps in to save the Morrels. My other issue is the sheer improbability of coincidences that pile up on one another. The artist is entitled to ask of the reader to engage in a certain willing suspension of disbelief. But I think Dumas has asked the reader for a bit too much. We know the Count, bent on retribution and revenge, is an outright control freak who obsessively manipulates Caderousse, Danglars, Villefort and Fernand. He's got them on a string. But the circumstances that tie these four together go far beyond the Count's machinations. Dumas has entangled them all in a spider web of relationships that is entirely contrived. With that said, who, today, would like to challenge Dumas to a creative writing contest? Most assuredly, not I. One of the reasons "The Count of Monte Cristo" is such an enduring classic is that any criticism is overwhelmed by the sheer literary virtuosity of Alexandre Dumas. One reviewer said that, "....you just don't find novels like this anymore." There's a very good reason for that. No one alive today can right like this! One last observation. I read Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" shortly before picking up "The Count of Monte Cristo." In some way, I got the feeling that Scott portrayed Medieval Englishmen the way 19th Century Englishmen would have liked to have thought of themselves. Dumas has rendered a national portrait of his countrymen as well, but I don't get the sense he cared whether or not they liked the image.
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Summary: Big Long Book(that's a plus)
Review: Well, as any person would first notice about this book, it's HUGE! Or, at least it looked that way. I found the random use of French words irritating and i think that if a book is going to be translated they should at least translate it all of the way. I understand that the French is supposed to make an impression on me, but i like to know what i'm reading about. I love the plot. I love being able to constantly have to remember people who have not been mentioned in around 400 pages and have to test my brain to keep the plot straight. The other great thing is to be able to realize what's happening befor eit has been pointed out. READ THIS! pace yourself, and, if you don't like remembering too much at once, make a flow chart!
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