The Count of Monte Cristo Review
What does a book expert think: Get a comprehensive overview of the reception and review of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe
Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is an adventure novel written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844. It tells the story of Edmond Dantes, falsely accused of treason and imprisoned without trial, who escapes and plots revenge against those responsible for his imprisonment. The themes handled in this novel include revenge, the vicissitudes of life, honor, and debt. ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is an all-time classic, inspiring movie and comic book adaptations and theatre productions since its publication in the 19th century.
Key Facts about The Count of Monte Cristo
- Title: The Count of Monte Cristo
- Published: 1844-1846
- Literary Period: Romantic Literature
- Genre: Adventure, Historical Novel
- Point of View: Third person
- Setting: set mainly in France
- Climax: Edmund Dantes and Ferdinand Mondego face off in a duel.
Alexandre Dumas and The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas reported getting the inspiration to write ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ as a revenge tale from a vignette published by a police archivist. Dumas had also published a short novel, ‘George’, from which he borrowed ideas and plot devices for this novel.
Born in Picardy, France, in 1802, Alexandre Dumas was the son of a well-decorated French general, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. His father died when he was only four, and young Dumas grew up in poverty. He worked for a brief period with Louis-Philippe before he became king and started his career as a playwright before establishing himself as a novelist. Alexandre Dumas had an immensely successful career, both in popularity and financially rewarding, publishing such well-known and influential literary works such as ‘The Three Musketeers’, ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’, and ‘The Corsican Brothers’.
The story of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is a classic tale of betrayal, revenge, and redemption. Set in France in the 19th century, the story tells of Edmond Dantes, a young sailor falsely accused of treason and jailed without trial in Chateau d’If. He meets here an Italian priest, Abbe Faria, who instructs him and reveals to him where he has hidden treasure. Dantes escapes, finds and retrieves the treasure, and returns to society, transformed into the count of Monte Cristo. His sole purpose was to exact revenge on those who conspired to destroy him. With intricate plotting, captivating characters, and a masterful blend of adventure and intrigue, ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ is a spellbinding masterpiece, enchanting generations with its themes of vengeance, forgiveness, and the pursuit of retribution.
Books Related to The Count of Monte Cristo
These are also books related to ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ written by the same author.
- ‘The Black Tulip’ is a novel by Dumas exploring similar themes of revenge and love. In 1672, in the Netherlands, the de Witt brothers Johann and Cornelius were lynched as rebels against William II of Orange. In this story, Dumas tells of a fictional godson of Cornelius de Witt, Cornelius van Baerle, who was engaged in the challenge set by the city of Haarlem that invited gardeners to grow a black tulip for a chance to win 100,000 francs. Fearing Cornelius is close to a breakthrough, an envious neighbor falsely accuses him of being a rebel with his godfather and has him imprisoned. He falls in love with Rosa, his jailer’s daughter, who helps him continue his pursuit of the grand prize.
- ‘The Three Musketeers’ is a historical novel by Alexandre Dumas, featuring an intrepid young Gascon, D’Artagnan, who comes to Paris to join the famed Musketeers of the Guard. He meets and becomes friends with the three musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and the group becomes involved in intricate political schemes and romantic intrigues of the French royal court.
If you liked ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, you may like these books by other authors.
- ‘Hamlet’ is a play by Shakespeare with revenge woven into courtly drama. Claudius murders the King of Denmark, Hamlet’s father. He takes the throne and marries Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet pretends to be insane but works his revenge against his uncle and his mother in secret. His uncle, afraid of Hamlet’s revenge, also devises plots targeted at eliminating him.
- ‘Les Miserables’ written by Victor Hugo, is also a work chronicling historical events contemporary with the events of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’. The novel’s protagonist, Jean Valjean, is just released on parole after serving a nineteen-year prison sentence for stealing to feed his starving family. He breaks the terms of his parole and escapes the dogged pursuit of the policeman Javert. He changes his name and turns his life around, but in demanding justice for an unfortunate prostitute, he comes into conflict once again with his police nemesis.
Lasting Impact of The Count of Monte Cristo
How does one judge the lasting impact of a classic? In its time, ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ was an instant and runaway success. People talked about the novel as a popular and current event. It was considered the most popular book published in Europe at the time. The story has had such an impact that it has been translated into many languages and has never been out of print in most of these languages.
The success of the novel has sparked sequels and related stories from various authors ever since. It has also inspired great works of fiction. Alfred Bester retold a science-fiction version of it called, ‘The Stars My Destination.’ Stephen King’s novella, ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’, heavily referenced the novel, and adapted some of its plot devices in its storytelling. It tells of an unjustly imprisoned man who digs his way out and escapes from an island prison. The novella was also adapted into a movie called ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
A gold mine, a luxury Cuban cigar manufacturer, and several casinos bear the name Monte Cristo, paying homage to Dumas’s fictional creation. This incident proves the cultural impact of the novel. Interestingly, the name is often associated with wealth and luxury.
No fewer than twenty-five notable movie adaptations have been made of the novel, and enthusiasts have made countless stage productions, comic books, and radio performances, too. In addition, even when unrelated to the plot of Edmond Dantes’ classic tale of betrayal and revenge, many movies attach the name of Monte Cristo to their title, borrowing from the story’s enduring star power and recognizability.
The Count of Monte Cristo Historical Context
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The Count of Monte Cristo Character List
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The Count of Monte Cristo Themes and Analysis
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The Count of Monte Cristo Summary
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About Ebuka Igbokwe
Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.