A Napoleonic Interlude
February 3rd 2007 05:14
This book is about as big as the bible. Unlike the bible, it has an exposition that takes a couple of hundred pages to unfold into the real meat of the story. Revenge is the key word here. And despite my moralistic inclinations, I am for it all the way. Therefore, the exposition works.
It has been said that the best revenge is to live well. I think Alexandre Dumas had this in mind when writing The Count of Monte Cristo. The recent movie succesfully delivered the backbone of the story to a more contemporary and mainstream audience, but for lovers of historical fiction this book is as exciting as they come.
Dante was a simple French sailor, with a wife to be living on a nearby headland. We witness a somewhat meteoric rise in the ranks of the navy, which causes great jealousy amongst those whom had an instinct to set Dante up as a Bonapartist. As the time was 1814, that was the worst thing a man could be called - throughout Europe and North Africa, let alone France.
So, on his wedding day, Dante is sent to prison with a life sentence. The prison years provide a ray of hope in a fellow cellmate who sheds light on all things philosophical and mathematical. It is in this time that Dante becomes a man and learns lessons that he will hold dear for the rest of his life.
Upon his escape - quite a daring and gripping point of his life - he sets out to find the treasure which his philosopher friend had been jailed for believing existed.
Revenge will define his life for many years to come, as he sets out to find what happened and what to do with the perpratrators. And Mercedes! Who was once his wife to be, what has become of her? Does she still believe in their love? More importanty, does Dante?
The Count of Monte Cristo has it all. It is an entertaining, fantastically realistic yarn on a time when things were a bit more simple, but made complex and exciting by the main character's predicament.
5 out of 5. You will have the ride of your life with this one.
It has been said that the best revenge is to live well. I think Alexandre Dumas had this in mind when writing The Count of Monte Cristo. The recent movie succesfully delivered the backbone of the story to a more contemporary and mainstream audience, but for lovers of historical fiction this book is as exciting as they come.
Dante was a simple French sailor, with a wife to be living on a nearby headland. We witness a somewhat meteoric rise in the ranks of the navy, which causes great jealousy amongst those whom had an instinct to set Dante up as a Bonapartist. As the time was 1814, that was the worst thing a man could be called - throughout Europe and North Africa, let alone France.
So, on his wedding day, Dante is sent to prison with a life sentence. The prison years provide a ray of hope in a fellow cellmate who sheds light on all things philosophical and mathematical. It is in this time that Dante becomes a man and learns lessons that he will hold dear for the rest of his life.
Upon his escape - quite a daring and gripping point of his life - he sets out to find the treasure which his philosopher friend had been jailed for believing existed.
Revenge will define his life for many years to come, as he sets out to find what happened and what to do with the perpratrators. And Mercedes! Who was once his wife to be, what has become of her? Does she still believe in their love? More importanty, does Dante?
The Count of Monte Cristo has it all. It is an entertaining, fantastically realistic yarn on a time when things were a bit more simple, but made complex and exciting by the main character's predicament.
5 out of 5. You will have the ride of your life with this one.
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Comment by Sisi
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
~Lily
Comment by Optomistic Opportunism
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
Hi Ash. This book is kinda mythical in that some people actually believe it to be fact. THAT'S how well written it is.
Heya Lily. I definitely agree with your 'cheap books' ad. haha, I'll send it to you a page a day over the next 5 years or so. May your bank and book balancing be abridged and blessed...
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
..I only ever saw the film...never read the book, but I will now, thanks.
Lilla ...