"All human wisdom [is] contained in these words...'wait' and 'hope.'"
These are the words of Edmond Dantes, also known as the Count of Monte Cristo, a man wrongly accused of being a Bonaparte traitor by his shipmates. As a result of this false accusation by Fernand Montego, who later adopted the name Count Morcerf, the man who would marry Dantes' former finacee Mercedes, Gerard de Villefort, the Royal Prosecutor who imprisoned Dantes to save himself, and Baron Danglar, a man who benefited immensely from the ordeal, Dantes was sentenced to life in the highest security jail. During the time he spent there until his elaborate escape only one thought was imprinted on his mind: revenge.
Dantes' revenge is not quick and it's not easy, but Dantes knows that through patience comes reward. By befriending--and saving--the son of the infamous Morcerfs, the Count of Monte Cristo begins to manipulate the lives of everyone involved in the betrayal with his impeccable charm and unrivaled intelligence. This one action of saving Albert Morcerf sets the wheels in motion for Dantes' intricate and meticulously planned revenge--these three men and those closest to them will have their lives changed forever as the persistent ghost from their pasts comes to haunt them (and without their knowledge... until it's too late!).
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is filled with action, adventure, romance, friendship and the ultimate betrayal. The characters, though removed from our present time, are believable even today. Each character has a strong motivation and a reality that they desperately work to preserve; yet each is blinded in some way by this driving motivation.
The original and abridged versions are equally good. This is one classic you don't want to pass up!!
For even more Monte Cristo fun, check out the movie or the sci-fi anime series Gankutusou: Count of Monte Cristo from our library!
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