| I read this book sometime last quarter, and it was | | | | The rest of the story involves him using his massive |
| definitely one of the better novels that I have read. | | | | wealth to systematically get revenge on not just |
| It was written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844 originally | | | | those who had wronged him, but their families as |
| in French. The story takes place during the 1800's in | | | | well. His plots and methods of getting revenge are |
| France/Italy. It's actually based on a true event, | | | | intricate, cruel, and plain effective. A bunch of |
| which makes it all the more impressive. | | | | seemingly irrelevant events are introduced to the |
| *Note: May contain spoilers. | | | | reader as the book goes on. Some are so far out |
| The book centers around Edmond Dantes, an | | | | there that I couldn't figure out what the connection |
| ordinary sailor. Good fortune shines on him: he gets a | | | | was until the punchline (or maybe I'm just dumb). |
| promotion and becomes engaged with the girl he | | | | However, in the end, every little detail and |
| loves. But this good fortune causes jealousy in those | | | | occurrence all ties back into the Count's master plan. |
| around him, and his so called "friends" hatch a scheme | | | | I won't say how he did it, because that would ruin |
| that lands him in a far away prison, equivalent to | | | | the story, but he is able to formulate a plan to |
| present day Alcatraz. He is left to rot in prison with | | | | "justly" punish all of those that wronged him |
| no pardon for over 14 years. During his time in prison, | | | | according to their motives for originally taking away |
| he meets an abbey. The abbey teaches Edmond | | | | his happiness. |
| everything he knows, which was quite a bit (several | | | | I spent the beginning of the book feeling sorry for |
| languages, chemistry, etc.) and lastly leaves him with | | | | him, and then cheering for him as he was getting his |
| the location of a buried treasure. | | | | much deserved revenge. But towards the end, I |
| Edmond escapes prison through an ingenious way, | | | | started to feel that he was taking things too far, and |
| which is actually based on a true event. I won't say | | | | that he had become consumed entirely by his hatred. |
| how he managed to escape, because I thought that | | | | All in all, I thought this was a great book. I highly |
| was one of the high points of the story, so you'll | | | | recommend it for leisure reading, as well as for a |
| have to read the book to find out (BOO for reading!). | | | | class. There are tons of literary motifs, themes, and |
| Anyways, he recovers the treasure (buried on a | | | | archetypes to be analyzed. I probably would've really |
| small island called Monte Cristo, hence the Count of | | | | enjoyed reading this book for a class. Wow I'm such |
| Monte Cristo), and begins to plot his revenge. He | | | | a nerd. |
| spends an additional 10 years planning and scheming, | | | | Nerdy part aside, several COOL movies were based |
| using the vast resources left to him by the abbey | | | | on it, including V for Vendetta. That's not a nerdy |
| before finally implementing his revenge. | | | | movie is it? |