More Adventure Books Like This Are Needed

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is definitely a must-read. One can be daunted by the length of this specific translation and the sheer thickness of the paperback, but do not be faint-hearted! It is worth the wait and effort.

The story is loosely based on a true account, but this fact doesn't take away from Dumas' genius. He not only reveals to us the eccentricities and fashionable trends of the period, but also uses the protagonist to criticize the obvious faults of the upper class Parisian society. The novel touches on the defects of the society at large, ranging from the lack of accountability in the "justice" system, which condemns him to lifelong imprisonment through trickery and cover-up, to the philandering and adultery, which are rampant and almost EXPECTED among the rich. Edmond Dantes (the Count) is an especially useful tool for Dumas' purposes, because he leads a life of many facades. At one turn, the Count seems to fit right into the gossiping and brokering of influence, but in his private moments he despises and holds those around him in contempt. And with good reason, for most of those folks are his enemies.

Like Victor Hugo and his Jean Valjean, Dumas creates a protagonist who is marred by society and abused to the point of no return. The grace (or miracle) of God provides the escape from that point, and both characters use their faith to build new lives. But we see in Edmond Dantes a very different path taken, compared to Jean Valjean. Dantes and Valjean use their faith to opposite ends, one toward revenge and the latter toward reform.

The greatest challenge in this book is to go along with Dantes on his quest to destroy his enemies. Edmond Dantes firmly believes God gave him a divine purpose, to bring justice and judgment, and to execute vengeance as the instrument of God. His life after discovering Abbe Faria's fortune is wholly dedicated to this goal. He is a man obsessed, to the point of losing his humanity, and in danger of destroying himself in the process. Dantes does go through at least two situations where he doubts himself, but does not relent until he goes too far; his actions lead to deaths of those who are not his enemies, and he realizes his hubris. Near the end, he is able to forgive his last-remaining enemy; in addition, he becomes a blessing to his friends Maximilien and Valentine. For a man whose entire life has been dedicated to hatred and anger, Dantes is finally able to find hope and love, again. This book is certainly about the fascinating details of vengeance, but ultimately it is about the redemption of one man, Edmond Dantes, and the realization that without mercy, love, and humility, justice cannot be meted out.

Finally Dumas includes relevant historical context (such as the return of Napoleon which provides the backdrop), as well as filling out the personal history of some of the characters. This adds much to the story, literally and figuratively. One can appreciate the intricacies of family history and the flashback-style stories, and we applaud Dumas for his brilliance and hard work, but the overabundance of names and historical references can be tiresome at points. It is also slightly annoying to be constantly flipping back to the Notes section in order to find out the significance of certain Italian phrases, when it might be better served to put those references in the footnotes.

Overall, this book is highly recommended! I greatly enjoyed it, cover to cover. As great novels usually are, this work is intended not only to entertain, but it also raises questions of justice, faith, and divine purpose. It achieves a balance of social criticism peppered with nostalgic and chivalric romance, perhaps the reason why this book is one of the beloved classics.