The Count of Monte Cristo

First and foremost, the maroon covered copy (the one I read, and the one pictured above) is an abridged version! It is a Barnes and Noble edition. When I purchased this copy online, I was searching for an unabridged edition. The description never said abridged, so I purchased it. The into does describe that the book is slightly abridged, but made it sound like all English copies are now abridged. I highly doubt this. In many instances, it's evident the author summarized instead of translated. That is what lead to a 4 star review instead of 5. I intend to find an unabridged version and reread this story in its entirety.

The Count of Monte Cristo is often advertised as a story of revenge. Edmond Dantes has everything he could want in life. He's about to become captain of the ship, and he's engaged to the beautiful Mercedes, all in his early 20's. The honorable and naive Dantes follow's the final wishes of his dying Captain. He is to deliver a letter that unknowingly contains the name of a very prominent person caught in an unfortunate plot. To cover up the scandal, Dantes is framed, arrested, and thrown into the infamous Chateu De Iff. Never has a prisoner escaped his confines.

For 14 years Dantes struggles to survive at the Chateu De Iff. Eventually he meets another prisoner who confides in him about a vast fortune on the Isle Monte Cristo. Hiding behind his new name, Count of Monte Cristo, it is this fortune that propels Edmond Dantes back into the world. It is this same fortune that provides Dantes the means to enact revenge on those who framed him.

The first half of the novel was excellent. The second half was where the problems started. This novel contains many characters. Often times it was difficult to keep track of whom was whom. I found myself going back chapters, or googling the characters to keep them straight. I'm convinced an unabridged version would have made it easier to keep track of the characters.

Additionally, a number of plotlines appeared rushed, and questions were left unanswered. It was evident where the author summarized the book instead of translated. I started to grow frustrated as the plotlines were quickly introduced and dissipated. Having already invested days on the first 300 pages, I didn't want to give up. I needed to know the what happened next. By the time I reached the end, I was left dissatisfied. It was not with the novel's ending, but in the way it was summarized in the second half. There were so many smaller plotlines that should have been (and in the original version most likely were) expanded upon. Just as the tension was building, the author would summarize the rest of the plot to maintain the abridged pace. This is just one of many reasons I plan to find a full, unabridged version to read. I'm already looking forward to revisiting the world Andre Dumas has created.

If you have time on your hands and plan to read a novel as intricate as The Count of Monte Cristo, it is crucial to find an unabridged version. The story is magnificent and deserves to be read in its entirety.

Note regarding the 2000's film vs the book. While Richard Harris, Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce give it their all, the movie is vastly different from the novel. The film merges many plotlines and takes liberties on the characters Mercedes and Albert. Only the first half of the film follows the book. Both are good in their own rights, but the novel (per usual), is vastly superior to the film.