Selected Masterpieces of World Literature - The Count of Monte Cristo (Volumes 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Alexandre Dumas (French), translated by Chen Yilun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: The Count of Monte Cristo is originally translated from the Chinese title The Count of Monte Cristo in Gratitude, a legendary novel set in early 19th-century France. Due to the death of the captain, 19-year-old Edmond Dantès succeeds as captain and plans to marry his fiancée. Jealousy drives three petty men to falsely accuse Dantès of hiding Napoleon's secret letter, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. After 14 years, the priest Faria, who had dug a tunnel for eight years to escape, reaches Dantès' cell, and the two form a friendship. Faria reveals the secret of Monte Cristo's treasure to Dantès and dies suddenly. Dantès escapes by crawling into Faria's coffin and finds immense wealth in Monte Cristo. The three petty men each become wealthy, becoming members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Chief Prosecutor of Paris, with one even marrying Dantès' fiancée. Dantès assumes the alias Count of Monte Cristo, enters the Parisian social circle to seek revenge, causing the three men to commit suicide, go mad, and declare bankruptcy, respectively. Dantès then takes his beloved and departs. Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) was the most famous Romantic writer, a genius novelist and playwright of 19th-century France, having written over 90 plays and more than 150 novels. His other famous works include The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask.