The Count of Monte cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père. Highly recommended.
Apart from 'The Three Musketeers', this is probably Alexandre Dumas' most famous work and one of the greatest novels in Western literature: a novel every literate and educated person should read at least once in their lives.
In this story, Edmond Dantes is an innocent man who was caught in the intrigues of Napoleon's escape from Elba and his 100 days of power until Waterloo. With the help of Abbot Faria, a dying prisoner who knows the secret of a great hidden treasure on the small islet of Monte Cristo, Dantes escapes and prepares to unleash his revenge on those who did him wrong. For years he spends his time meticulously preparing his vengeful scheme against the treacherous friends and characters who left him to rot in prison for years and years. He refines his arts of disguise, alchemy, and manipulation to content himself with the ruin of his enemies.
Unlike the adventure themes in his works such as 'The Three Musketeers', this story is a deep character study on being the victim of utmost injustice and how cruel revenge is sweet after all: how a wronged man is entitled to become the agent of divine retribution when God and mortal laws have abandoned his cause. The various themes, complex plot, profound character development, and rich prose makes this long work undoubtedly one of the greatest works of literature ever written: Dumas was without question a literary genius.
As translator Robin Buss points out in his introduction, many of those who haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo assume it is a children's adventure story, complete with daring prison escape culminating in a simple tale of revenge. Although the plot is roughly linear beginning with Edmond Dantès' return to Marseille, prenuptial celebration, and false imprisonment and ending with his somewhat qualified triumphant departure from Marseille and France, Dumas uses the technique of interspersing lengthy anecdotes throughout. The story of Cardinal Spada's treasure, the origins of the Roman bandit Luigi Vampa, Bertuccio's tale of his vendetta, and the account of the betrayal and death of Ali Pasha are few of the more significant
This novel is not a simple tale of simple revenge. The count does not kill his enemies; he brilliantly uses their vices and weaknesses against them. Caderousse's basic greed is turned against him, while Dangl ars loses the only thing that has any meaning for him. Fernand is deprived of the one thing that he had that he had never earned-his honour. In the process, he loses the source of his initial transgression, making his fate that much more poignant. The plot against Villefort is so complicated that even Monte loses control of it, resulting in doubt foreign to his nature and remorse that he will not outlive.
The translation appears to be good, with a few slips into contemporary English idioms that sound out of place. In his introduction, Buss states that the later Danglars and Fernand have become unrecognizable and that Fernand in particular has been transformed "from the brave and honest Spaniard with a sharp sense of honour . . . to the Parisian aristocrat whose life seems to have been dedicated to a series of betrayals." There is never anything honest or honourable about Fernand;
Countess G- is quick to point out that there is no old family name of Monte Cristo and that the count, like many other contemporaries, has purchased his title. It serves mainly to obscure his identity, nationality, and background and to add to the aura of mystery his persona and Eastern knowledge create. What is most telling is that his entrée into Parisian society is based primarily on his great wealth, not his name. Dumas reinforces this point with Andrea Cavalcanti, another mystery man of unknown name and reputed fortune.
When I started to read it. I couldn't put it down, with its nearly seamless plot, dark protagonist, human villains, turbulent historical setting, and larger-than-life sense of mystery. At 1,078 pages, it's imposing, but don't cheat yourself by settling for an abridged version. You'll want to pick up every nuance.
第二篇：基督山伯爵英文介绍
INTRODUCTION
The novel begins in the south of France during the early 1800’s. Before beginning The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas wrote several travel and romance pieces, demonstrating his passion for exotic travel and extravagant storylines. France, during this time, was in confusion as Napoleon Bonaparte was removed from the throne, and the king, Louis the Eighteenth, was again restored. Dumas, throughout the story, illustrates his loyalty to Napoleon, though the exiled leader had destroyed Dumas’ own father, who had at one time been a Bonaparte general.
The main character, Edmond Dantes, endures great hardship, therefore undergoing a tremendous change form an idealistic and honest sailor to an unforgiving but brilliant gentleman, later to be called the Count of Monte Cristo. This transformation comes about after the young man was wrongfully accused of a crime by three others, envious of his talent and charm. The count is later able to take revenge on those who have wronged him, while rewarding those who have helped him. To accomplish this end, he used several deceptive guises, including that of an elderly Italian priest, called Busoni, and an English nobleman, Lord Wilmore.
这是小仲马之父大仲马所作的一篇巨作，小仲马的《茶花女》写出了一段催人泪下的悲惨故事，而《基督山伯爵》则写出了一段荡气回肠的恩怨浩劫。本书讲述了法老号的大副埃蒙德.唐太斯即将升任船长，并与他的爱人美赛苔丝喜结连理。但就在结婚的当夜，由于一封匿名的诬告信使他蒙受冤屈，在依夫堡度过了自己的青春年华。在恶魔监狱中，他认识了神父法里亚，从而得知基督山岛埋有宝藏的秘密。就在这时，好心的神父法里亚因病去世了，唐太斯利用这次宝贵的逃生机会趁看守不备钻进麻袋，由此便逃出了监狱。之后，忍受了多年牢狱之灾的唐太斯决心找到宝藏，向陷害他的人复仇......
故事的结尾写的耐人寻味，尤其是基督山伯爵的最后一句话：“人的一切智慧都包含在这四个字里面的：等待和希望！”我认为，人要有一种能够经受挫折的能力， 人生是充满希望的，不要因为一时的失败而丧失斗志，要勇往直前，追求梦想！
The Count of Monte Cristo plot summary
Edmond (Jim Caviezal) is sailing in French waters along with his best friend, Fernand (Guy Pearce) , when their captain falls ill. They stop for help at a nearby island, which happens to be where Napolean Bonaparte is in hiding. Bonaparte pulls aside Edmond and asks him to deliver an "innocent letter" to an old friend in Marseille, France. Edmond agrees, as that is the price for the use of Napolean's physician. The captain unfortunately dies, so the crew returns home to Marseille. Edmond is made captain for his bravery in seeking a physician, and the first mate comes to despise him for it.
Fernand finds out about the letter, and reads it while Edmond is sleeping, and is angry that Edmond did not tell him about it. Edmond, not knowing that Fernand knows about the letter, rushes to greet his fiance, Mercedes, and tell her that they can now be married as he was just promoted to captain. This is also the point in the movie when you realize that Fernand is in love wiht Mercedes, but she loves Edmond.
Fernand, still angry, decides to work together with the furious first mate, and get Edmond arrested for treason, which he didn't commit. Fernand works also with a very important magistrate, Villefort, who's father is the man Edmond was to deliver the letter to. (Villefort does not know of this). Thus, Edmond is arrested, and thrown into a remote island prison by the name of Chateau D'if. There, he meets Priest, who teaches him many valuable lessons about life, how to sword fight, and give Edmond a proper education. All this is in turn for Edmond helping to dig, in order to escape the prison.
For 13 years, Edmond is held captive in the Chateau D'if, and unknown to Edmond, a letter was sent to his family and Mercedes saying that he was executed on grounds of treason. Finally, Edmond escapes when the priest dies, and becomes part of a crew on a merchant vessel, along with his good riend Jaccapo. After 3 months, Edmond is released along with Jaccapo, and they go in search of finding out what has happened to Edmond's loved ones. They find out that Edmond's father commited suicide, and the Mercedes wed Fernand a month after learning of Edmond's execution. Edmond has by this time (with the help of the priest while in prison) figured out that he was framed by Fernand and the others. Thus, he and Jaccapo sail to a remote island that the Priest told Edmond about, and there they find a treasure, making Edmond extremely wealthy. Edmond decides to become a count in order to get revenge on those who betrayed him, so he becomes The COunt of Monte Cristo, being the treasure he found The Treasure of Monte Cristo.
Soon after, he "saves" Fernand and Mercedes' son Alber from captivity, and thus enters the lives of those he is trying to hurt like they hurt him. Mercedes begins to suspect that The Count is really Edmond, and when she confronts him privately, he denies it but slips and she realizes that he really is Edmond. Then, they kiss, and realize that they are still in love, so Mercedes goes back ot her Chateau to inform Fernand that she is leaving him, when Fernand tells her that he has gone bankrupt (which is really Edmond's doing, but he doesn't know this) and is leaving the country. (By this time, Villefort has been convicted of murdering his father and sent to jail, also doings of Edmond's). Mercedes preceds to inform Fernand that Alber is not his son, but Edmond's. Fernand becomes angry and goes out to his old, abandoned villa to collect the gold he had supposedly stolen from The Count of Monte Cristo, only to find that it is not there (Edmond's doings, again). Then, Edmond shows up, and tells Fernand where he has been all these years, and they begin a duel, only to be stopped by Mercedes and Alber. Mercedes then tells Edmond that Alber is really his son, not Fernand's. Fernand then shoots Mercedes in the shoulder (she lives) and runs off. Edmond follows him and they begin sword fighting again. Fibally, Edmond kills Fernand, and goes back to Mercedes and Alber and Jaccapo. At the very end, Edmond buys the Chateau D'if thanks the Priest for his wisdom and help.