The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas book review

The Count of Monte Cristo 

By Alexander Dumas 

Rating : 4.5/5

Genres : Classics, Revenge, Counts and Barrons 

Edward Dantes is a young sailor of nineteen deeply in love with a girl Mercedes whom he intends to marry after his voyage ends. He is also deeply respectful towards the only other love of his life, his father. A very promising and hard working young man that he is, his master Morrell intends to give him the captainship to his ship even though he is young and relatively inexperienced. This rubs some sailors the wrong way and one man Danglers especially harbors more resentment than others. Upon his return to mainland, Dantes visits  Mercedes  and sets up to be married to her shortly. However, she has a new beau Ferdinand who is her cousin and intends to seize her hand. He is bitter and rankles with hatred for she declares love for no one but Dantes. So on the appointed day of his marriage, Dantes gets arrested on the pretext that he is a supporter of Bonaparte who is the ousted king and usurper. This has resulted from a letter that was written and posted by Danglers with Ferdinand. A great injustice is also done to Dantes through the existing magistrate Villefort who seals his fate when he despite knowing the lad to be innocent writes him off to an isolated, high security prison.  Dantes spends fourteen years in despair and yearning for death rotting away in that prison. He incidentally meets a man who is working towards building an escape from his neighboring cell and they join forces to finish it. Towards the end when the escape is almost complete, the old companion of Dantes falls sick with apoplectic fits and loses motor functions of his body. Before dying he reveals the secret of a hidden treasure on the isle of Mounte Cristo and advises Dantes to take hold of it if he ever makes it out alive. In a very interesting and fateful turn of events, Dantes escapes the prison, seizes the treasure and sets himself up in the world of the rich, noble and powerful as The Count of Monte Cristo. He befriends and enters the society of now very successful enemies of his - Danglers, Ferdinand, Villefort. He finds out that even Mercedes has chosen to marry Ferdinand believing him to be dead in the prison. The story takes us through his masterful ways of deceiving and bringing down the three enemies of his while also helping and saving the family of his old benefactor, Mr.Morell. 

The Count is an easy man to understand. He has hardened himself into steel and is most ruthless towards people who are his enemies. He is the most soft hearted and a form of protective angel towards those who are his well wishers and proteges. He is a mystery and a welcome sight to all those in to whose society he so suddenly walked. He is much talked about but no one really knows much about him. He is everywhere he should be at the opportune moment and has an all knowing, all pervasive presence that greatly soothes his friends. The fates and divine blessings also shine/smile upon the Count who assumes all is lost with the loss of his dear Mercedes. Its a beautiful story .. though it contains gore themes of revenge, betrayal and murder. 

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