The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)

by Alexandre Dumas, Robin Buss (Translator)
The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)
book data
43,265 ratings, 4.17 average rating, 3,369 reviews (more data...)
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published
May 27th 2003 (first published 1844) by Penguin Classics

binding
Paperback, 1276 pages

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isbn
0140449264    (isbn13: 9780140449266)

description
The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas. It is often considered, along with The Three Musketeers, as Dumas' most popular wo...more




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Cynthia
Read in January, 2004
recommends it for: everyone
First, make sure you find a copy that is unabridged. Most editions in English ARE abridged, but usually don't say they are. Not sure if this Penguin edition is, it's not the one i read.
Readers generally think of this as a tale of revenge. For me, it was much deeper. I'm not a religious person at all, but for me this is a book that makes you question the existence of God or a god. Edmond Dantes is without flaw, a truly good person, and his life is ruined because a) others envy him and b) h...more
Like this review?   yes   (14 people liked it)
  4 comments

BunWat
10/01/08
BunWat rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2008
Read in November, 2008
Raising my clasped hands to heaven and casting my eyes upward with an indescribable expression of suffering as the vital force deserts my body causing me to fall senseless to the floor only to rise a moment later filled with a restlessness that cannot be assuaged, pacing endlessly, unconsciously twisting and tearing between my ever moving hands a white cambric cloth soaked with the crystalline tears that drop ceaselessly from my swollen orbs, I cry "Why, why is this book so looong!!" ...more
Like this review?   yes   (13 people liked it)
  12 comments

J
05/19/08
J rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2006
What does it say about me as a critic when the best book I’ve read all year was first serialized in the 1840s? From start to finish thoroughly enjoyable, Alexandre Dumas’ 1200 page revenge epic The Count of Monte Cristo wastes little time in not thrusting the plot along, quite violently so at times, and includes within a brief, sketchy history of the return of Napoleon and his subsequent second defeat, a primer on hashish, and a proto-seed for the detective tale that would later blossom unde...more
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Chris
01/31/08
Chris rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: classics
Read in January, 2008
Why did no one tell me about this book? I mean seriously, I was about a hundred pages in and I wanted to go find my freshman high school English teacher and inflict terrible, intricate revenge on her for depriving me of a great book. I figured first I could assume a new identity, perhaps insinuating myself into her life. I'd make her trust me and put all her faith in me, and then I would UTTERLY CRUSH HER!!! MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!!

Seriously, this was an awesome book. I am not a big fan of ...more
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  4 comments

Abigail
07/22/08
Abigail rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: literature-classics
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for: Anyone Considering Revenge / Readers Who Like a Good Adventure Story
One of Alexandre Dumas' most popular works, The Count of Monte Cristo is an epic tale of wrongful imprisonment and masterful revenge, standing at the apex of this kind of nineteenth-century adventure novel. The story of Edmund Dantes, a young sailor from Marseille whose happiness and good fortune arouse the jealousy of his enemies, the novel follows its hero from his terrible years of imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit, through his escape and reinvention of himself as the Count of Monte C...more
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  9 comments

Bakeshow
05/13/08
Bakeshow rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in June, 2008
I really think that this is the way I'm going to die. This book is going to kill me...


Ok, So after more than two months of sheer torture, pulling teeth would have been more enjoyable, I finished this book! I hated it! I hate it I hate it I hate it!

Ok, actually, it wasn't all that bad. The first like, 30 chapters totally sucked me in and got me into it. I loved it and was sad I hadn't discovered it before. But then, he goes off on a 40 chapter tangent that just d...more
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  3 comments

Becky
12/25/08
Becky rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2009
recommends it for: Everyone
Wow. This book was amazing.

I love well-written classics, and this one fits the bill perfectly. Granted, there were some discrepancies, mainly to do with time and ages (saying Mercedes had a portrait of herself done when she was 25 when she really would have been 32, etc), but if I had not been reading this edition, I probably would not have noticed those things. In any event, it did not detract from the story at all.

Pretty much everyone knows what The Count of Monte Cri...more
Like this review?   yes   (4 people liked it)
  9 comments

Erie
06/16/08
Erie rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Do you believe in karma?

So, okay, sometimes intentionally or not we make an awful, rash, bad, or wrong decisions. Decisions we pretty much recognize we're going to grieve over afterwards (sooner or later)
But still...
Once in a blue moon, something deep down inside us decides to conduct an unwise and brainless thing, a thing we conscioulsy aware will doubtless turn around and kick us in the ass! yet we do it anyway...

What I'm trying to say to say is..
We re...more
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  58 comments

Olivia
01/26/08
Olivia rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: classic
Read in June, 2007
recommended to Olivia by: English class
An essay for English-again, not that great.

The classic French novel, The Count of Monte Cristo was written by Alexandre Dumas. The setting of The Count of Monte Cristo is very important as the politics of the day greatly affect the plot. It takes place primarily in France after the exile of the former emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. The novel begins in 1815 with Napoleon exiled to Elba and continues through the years after his failed revolution to1844.

The protagonist of T...more
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  1 comment

Whitelady3
bookshelves: audiobook, own
Read in January, 2009
I read it a couple of years ago and, since I don't have the book with me at the moment, I picked up the audiobook. It's simply wonderful, magnificent.

Having read it before doesn't make it shine less, on the contrary, I loved it even more. I don't think it is a book about vengeance; it has more of hope than vengeance. Is hope that keeps Dantès alive, even if to get back at those who done him wrong, in Château d'If. Is hope of making bad things good that moves his vengeance.

...more
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Kris
04/20/08
Kris rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: own-it
Read in January, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?   yes   (3 people liked it)
  2 comments

Elizabeth
12/27/07
Elizabeth rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2008
I did it! I made it through 1,365 pages--I seriously had trouble putting this book down but it was so heavy that it hurt my wrists--ha ha! Thanks, Dymphna, for the suggestion. This DRAMATIC book has everything: romance, revenge, intrigue, suffering, triumph, poisoning, suicide, cross dressing, disguises, politics, power, control, greed, subterfuge, ingenuity, blackmail, murder, mystery, resurrection, fortune, betrayal, brilliance, trial, infidelity, a spoiled brat!, swindling, titles, treasure,...more
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Sylvia
12/13/07
Sylvia rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2007
I can see why this book is a classic. The story is intricate, the writing sophisticated, and the plot masterful. However, the reason that it only gets three stars is because of the main character--Edmond Dantes. I found him to be entirely incongruent. Why was he portrayed as the hero? Why was he the good guy? His revenge was merciless; his cruelty was unlimited. He threw around his money like it was some sort of weapon. He was deceitful, hateful, and greedy. Yet, Dumas portrays him as v...more
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  16 comments

Teri
11/14/08
Teri rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2008
I have read this book about 4 times and I would give the abridged version 5 stars but this unabridged I'm giving 4. Surprisingly the sections that have been "cut out" don't really add that much to the story and I didn't really learn anything new.
Like this review?   yes   (2 people liked it)
  11 comments

Eliza
04/16/08
Eliza rated it: 5 of 5 stars

This is by far the longest book I've ever read, and I had to keep notes on the characters, since their relationships and roles were difficult to keep straight. It was ALSO perhaps the most satisfying read I've ever had. An amazing story of the weaving of the most elaborate revenge...If you've seen the movie, you have no idea what this book is about. I highly recommend it!!!
Like this review?   yes   (2 people liked it)
  1 comment

Jemmuel
01/19/09
Jemmuel rated it: 5 of 5 stars

A classic. An amazing book. A very long read...but worth every letter.

This epic story is of Edmund Dantes, who is rich, handsome, and has the love of his life. Until, that is, his jealous foes intercede and destroy his life. As the story progresses, it turns into the greatest and well brought out revenge story, along with the glimpses of romance and allegiance and life. Alexander Dumas wrote an amazing book, and captures your attention page after page.

Alexander looks i...more
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Laura
02/04/09
Laura rated it: 4 of 5 stars (review of isbn 1904633366)

Read in March, 2009
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Dulac3
07/11/08
Dulac3 rated it: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the books that I keep coming back to and re-reading whenever the urge strikes...and it strikes quite often; five times so far. Considering the sheer length of the book that might seem odd, but Dumas keeps things moving with his breakneck pace from the moment that poor Edmond Dantes is wrongly imprisoned by jealous rivals until the final consummation of his intricate plan of revenge.

Despite the speed at which Dumas keeps the plot moving, we are still treated to an in-de...more
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nanto
04/23/08
nanto rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Pertama kali nemu di Gramedia JL. Merdeka Bandung begitu senangnya. Wuih...buku klasik dari penulis kenamaan Perancis saya bisa punyai. Nyempil di pojokan rak bawah, tinggal satu-satunya. Udah lecek dan kayaknya kelupaan dibalikin ke gudang deh. Cerita waktu dapet buku Max Havelaar kayaknya terulang neh! Buku ini sepertinya bakal jadi koleksi yang harus ditandai khusus biar gak raib.

Membacanya pun semangat. Alurnya yang panjang dan intrik balas dendam yang saling-silang itu demikian ...more
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  8 comments

Lara
04/22/08
Lara rated it: 5 of 5 stars

recommends it for: Anyone who likes intrigue and action, and people who can handle an unperfect ending.
This is my favorite book! I love the plot twists and turns, I love the evolution/de-evolution of Edmond Dantes, I love the conspiracies, I love the perfection of it all! So, it may not be the most probable of stories, but that's how romance fiction works.

Edmond Dantes is a young man with a happy life ahead of him. He has just been promoted to captain and is engaged to a beautiful girl. Some jealous "friends" frame him for being a Bonapartist and he is wrongly sent to priso...more
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"...until the day God deigns to reveal the future to man, the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words: wait and hope." More quotes...


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