
One of the most exciting and best-loved novels of all time, The Count of Monte Cristo is a timeless tale of endurance, courage, and revenge. Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned on an island fortress. After years of solitary confinement in a cramped, dank dungeon, he befriends an Italian prisoner who, with his dying breath, reveals the location of a vast treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Dantès stages a daring and dramatic escape, retrieves this fabulous fortune, and returns to France to exact revenge on his enemies, posing as the Count of Monte Cristo. Dantès pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate. This newly revised, unabridged translation is as unputdownable now as it was when the novel first appeared. It thoroughly updates the classic translation based on the original serialization and includes a new bibliography and revised notes, plus a lively introduction by David Coward, a prize-winning translator and editor of nine Dumas novels.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
After being betrayed and imprisoned on his wedding day, Edmond Dantès escapes to orchestrate a calculated plan of retribution against those who destroyed his life. Dantès transforms from a naive sailor into the enigmatic and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, utilizing his newfound fortune to systematically dismantle the lives of his conspirators. The narrative follows his complex maneuvers through high society, testing the limits of human endurance and the morality of absolute vengeance. The story unfolds through a sprawling, multi-layered structure that tracks the protagonist's evolution across decades of exile and return.
Readers frequently highlight the narrative momentum that persists despite the immense length of the novel. Discussion often centers on the transformation of Edmond Dantès and whether his eventual realization regarding fate constitutes a true redemption. Critics often point to the meticulous planning of the revenge sequences as a hallmark of the author's ability to maintain tension over hundreds of pages. The balance between the protagonist's cold, calculated exterior and his internal struggle remains a primary focus for those analyzing the work's enduring appeal.
Page Count:
1136
Publication Date:
2008-05-11
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199219656
ISBN-13:
9780199219650
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