The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, is a tale of
a man wrongfully accused of treason (by a jealous man who
desired his lady
love, Mercedes) and thrown into jail for many years. While in jail, Edmond
Dantes makes the acquaintance of an old man who claims to know the location of
a vast
treasure hidden in a cave on the Island of Monte Cristo.
When the old man dies, Edmond
hides in his body bag, is thrown into the sea, and escapes. He gets a crew (for
he is a sailor), gets a boat, goes to Monte Cristo, and gets the treasure. He
uses the vast wealth to create an alter ego for himself and take revenge on all
of his enemies.
It is a wonderful story where, for once, there is no happy
ending. If you have seen the Hollywood movie
of the same story, discount the ending completely because it was in no manner,
way, or fashion the same as the
original classic tale.
This book is fantastic – I even own three copies (one
paperback, one hard cover with a gilt sword on the cover, and a two volume set
in the original French). If you happen to be able to speak French, I highly
recommend reading the work in its original language (which is always better).
If you do not speak French, the English is good too, but by no means should you
watch the movie and presume you know the story.
Alexandre Dumas is also the author of over 80 short stories
involving Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D’Artagnan, which are commonly grouped in
the three novels The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Man in the
Iron Mask (or Le Vicomte de Bragelonne originally).
By the book, get it from the library, borrow it from a
friend – do whatever you have to do to get your hands on this book and read it!