Jul 05, 2001 02:04 AM
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The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is quite simply one of the best books ever written. At once a swashbuckler and a romance, an adventure and a contemplative book, The Count of Monte Cristo truly does have it all.
A sailor is about to marry his ladylove when he is wrongfully accused of being an agent for Bonaparte. Thrown in jail for over 14 years, our hero makes a well planned escape, returns to society as a wealthy count, and proceeds to extract revenge on those who ruined his life. It sounds simple, but this is a multi-layered rich story, filled with details of what it feels like to be imprisioned, to be separated from society, to re-enter society, to hide ones true self from all others, to come face-to-face with the past and former hopes for the future.
If there is one highlight it is the escape from prison via a detailed long-planned and unexpected method. Written before film was even a glimmer in the thoughts of Thomas Edison, this escape would do any movie proud. In fact, I would say that every escape movie draws heavily from Count whether or not it is intentional.
If there is one drawback, it is the length of the book - over 500 pages. But each page is a gem, and I never find myself tiring of the book, even after reading it many times. Whether you like history, adventure, or romance, this book has something for everyone. I strongly recommend reading it.
