The Count of Monte Cristo (Everyman's Library)

(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

Alexandre Dumas’s epic novel of justice, retribution, and self-discovery—one of the most enduringly popular adventure tales ever written—in a newly revised translation.

This beloved novel tells the story of Edmond Dantès, wrongfully imprisoned for life in the supposedly impregnable sea fortress, the Château d’If. After a daring escape, and after unearthing a hidden treasure revealed to him by a fellow prisoner, he devotes the rest of his life to tracking down and punishing the enemies who wronged him.

Though a brilliant storyteller, Dumas was given to repetitions and redundancies; this slightly streamlined version of the original 1846 English translation speeds the narrative flow while retaining most of the rich pictorial descriptions and all the essential details of Dumas’s intricately plotted and thrilling masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely better unabridged

By Dis Hammerhand - April 21, 2010

I read an abridgement of Count of Monte Cristo several years ago and enjoyed it immensely but wondered what I had missed. Later after I discovered Everyman's beautiful editions I searched their titles on their website and found they had nothing by Dumas. I wrote them a letter suggesting that they publish some.

Apparently, enough people wrote in: They published what I feel to be his best novel. As soon as I was aware of it I obtained one of my own. As I expected the unabridged version was far better.

Another reviewer said that the translation in this edition was one of the worst. I didn't notice it if it was. The story flowed and held my interest so that I could not put it down for the last third. It's definitely one I will go back and read again.

The Everyman's edition is just beautiful with creamy paper, cloth cover and sewn binding. I carried it around with me in the few days it took me to read it.

If you buy it from Amazon you will save a... read more

First impressions

By Robert M. Matthews - August 30, 2010

I'm only about 225 pages into the book so far and have no regrets about buying it. The story is wonderful, not the kind of thing you'd want to rush through but just take your time and enjoy. My only surprise is that this edition was advertised as being "Deckle Edge Paper" whereas my copy is definitely not. You're paying more for this version so if that is important to you beware.

The greatest revenge story ever written

By Jimbob - November 27, 2009

This is a wonderful edition of The Count of Monte Christo. It is abridged enough to eliminate the repetition that was in the story, written as a serial initially. Great story, and there is enough detail to get a tremendous feel for the times at the end of Napoleon's era. The bad guys get theirs in the end in spades. Wonderful tale