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Matyáš Sandorf: Nový hrabě Monte Christo I.

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Postavy v knize jsou jasně rozděleny – na jedné straně bídák Sarkany, jeho přisluhovač Zirone, Silas Toronthal, kryjící všechno svými penězi, a zneuznaný nápadník Carpena. Na straně druhé ušlechtilí bojovníci za svobodu národa Matyáš Sandorf, Štěpán Bathory, Ladislav Zathmar, a šlechetný Ondřej Ferrato. Myšlenka maďarského protihabsburského povstání je sice hezká, ale po roce 1866 patří skutečně do říše fantazie. Jako kdyby Verne přestal číst noviny, protože i po 15 letech od událostí hovoří stále o Rakousku a nikoli o Rakousku-Uhersku.

214 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1885

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About the author

Jules Verne

6,339 books12k followers
Novels of French writer Jules Gabriel Verne, considered the founder of modern science fiction, include Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873).

This author who pioneered the genre. People best know him for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).

Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before people invented navigable aircraft and practical submarines and devised any means of spacecraft. He ranks behind Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie as the second most translated author of all time. People made his prominent films. People often refer to Verne alongside Herbert George Wells as the "father of science fiction."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_V...

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Henry Avila.
559 reviews3,373 followers
September 11, 2025
As a homage to his good friend Alexandre Dumas, pere and The Count of Monte Cristo in particular, Jules Verne dedicated this book a novel which would have pleased the erstwhile author. The complicated plot a mixture of politics, greed and revenge at the core will leave audiences pleased they chose this material...Count Mathias Sandorf is a nobleman living at the time of the Austrian Empire an ethnic, patriotic we do not have to reveal he's a very
rich Hungarian who wants freedom for his country and maybe naive in the ways of the world . With fellow conspirators Stephen Bathory and Ladislas Zathmar as chief leaders of the hapless rebellion, yet some thirty odd years later numerous states were formed after the war in 1914 from this failed aggregate territory mostly forgotten today. A tired carrier pigeon falls unfortunately in the intriguing city of Trieste now part of Italy. Two gentleman lacking any pretense in being honorable, quite the opposite find the secret message around the leg of the bird, by the names of Sarcany and Zirone. Rather petty criminals but who soon climb the ladder with the help from the unscrupulous banker Silas Toronthal to the big times because of the incident. The course of this is devastating to the three freedom fighters however everything isn't lost it keeps percolating in a smaller movement. 15 summers pass and a mysterious fabulously wealthy doctor appears in every region of the Mediterranean Sea on astonishing yachts never seen before he calls himself Dr. Antekirtt l will not say anything more about his background. However he seems curious about ancient history and where are those people involved in the struggles of Hungary, to be free from foreign rule, with the assistance of two acrobats a giant powerful man with the bizarre name of Cape Matifou, and a small but brainy other called Point Pescade, (which is stranger? ) both devoted to the doctor, a puzzlement? Jules Verne by his writing again shows why after a century and a half he is still read it is easy to understand the answer is simple give the public what they want that is good entertainment, big battles, nervous escapes, villains to hate, mysteries to solve, heroes to root for, a little romance too many modern author forget the readers , go into a land of the strange and the misty they will not be remembered. Something which will never happen to a great man who saw the future as he was living in the past that is the definition of a genius ...there are so few.
Profile Image for Luís.
2,375 reviews1,371 followers
June 26, 2020
This novel is reminiscent of a certain "Count of Montecristo", it is a dense story with a multitude of characters where the twists are numerous and sometimes give pride of place to chance. Jules Verne, for this story, has become a bit "popular soap opera" and it is, thanks to his style and his verve, a great success.
Profile Image for Kuszma.
2,852 reviews287 followers
September 28, 2019
Verne megcsinálta a Monte Cristo remake-jét. Jó lett. A cselekmény még James Bondosabb: bejárjuk a Földközi-tenger összes fotogén részét, köztük a legegzotikusabbat, az Osztrák-Magyar Monarchiát, ahol köztudottan a legtöbb olyan népcsoport él, ami egy átlag francia számára akár kínai is lehetne. Ezen népek közül pedig a legdaliásabb – erről ne nyissunk vitát – a magyar, aki úgy szereti a szabadságot, mint galamb a tiszta búzát, Verne pedig a lehető legnagyobb együttérzéssel figyeli harcukat a gonosz félnémetek ellen*. E magyarok között pedig akad egy igazi superhero: Sándor Mátyás, akinek a verne-i univerzumban tényleg csak ilyen pici hiányzott, hogy kivívja népünk szabadságát – ha sikerült volna neki, ő lenne ma a húszezresen, nem az asszertív Deák Ferenc. De nem sikerült, úgyhogy az osztrákok elkapták, bezárták a két barátjával, és megmondták neki, hogy 48 óra múlva kampec. No most ebből a 48 órából 36-ban ők hárman egymás vállát lapolgatják, hogy milyen jó is lesz meghalni a magyar szabadságért – amiből én azt a következtetést vontam le, hogy az összeesküvés részükről csak az öngyilkosság egy különösen bonyolult módozata volt. De aztán rájönnek, hogy árulás áldozatai lettek, és bosszút állni jobb, mint kivégezve lenni, úgyhogy fogják magukat, kimásznak az ablakon. Ilyen egyszerűen: ki az ablakon. Jó, hát kirángatják a vasrudat, pedig az nem könnyű (de, könnyű), és a pont ott lévő villámhárítón is veszélyes a lejutás, aztán meg ott van az a rohanó folyó is… de ezek a nehézségek csak arra valók, hogy lemorzsolódjanak Matyink mellől a statiszták. Aztán lepörög 15 év, és feltűnik egy bizonyos Antekirtt doktor, aki annyira rejtélyes, hogy az már baromira nem rejtélyes, és elkezd machinálni… stb, stb.

Jó, hát tényleg egyszerű gúnyolódni ezen a sztorin, pedig Isten engem úgy segéljen: élveztem. Nyilván Verne csak egy jó varacskos kalandregényt akart írni, és ez sikerült. Tulajdonképpen üdítő, mennyire hiányzik a szövegből minden erkölcsi kétértelműség: itt a jók nagyon jók, a rosszakért meg nem lesz kár, amikor kinyiffannak**. Itt léteznek olyan mágikus átkötések, hogy ha valaki arcra szimpatikus, akkor az biztos egyben a magyar szabadságharc titkos támogatója is, és az életét adná értünk, csak mer' rendes***. Aztán itt vannak még a csodás véletlenek is, amiket az író úgy irányít, mintha a hintója elé fogott lovak lennének: ha mondjuk épp sehogy se találnak meg egy Luigi nevezetű arcot, pedig mindenhol keresik (hát hogy a rákba találnák meg egy akkora tengeren, mint a Földközi?), akkor pont jön egy vihar, ami taccsra tenné a hajójukat, de pont arra jár egy halász, aki meg megmenti őket, és tudjátok, pont ki az a halász? Sosem jönnétek rá: Luigi****. Aztán még itt vannak azok a nagy érzelemkitörések, amik nyilván azért ekkorák, hogy még a hátsó sorokban ülők is jól lássák őket… Meg Verne imádnivaló vonzalma a titkosírások, titkos fegyverek, titkos találmányok és titkos miegyebek iránt… Komolyan, nagyon szeretetreméltó olvasmány ez a maga hebrencs módján. Azért a szülők, akik ifjúsági irodalomként csemetéjük kezébe adják majd, két dolgot ne feledjenek el tisztázni gyermekükkel az olvasás után:
1.) Az, amit Verne „első pillantásra jogos ellenszenv”-nek nevez, egy önellentmondás, és a való életben nem létezik. Gyerekek, pillantsatok másodszorra is, hátha mégse olyan jogos!
2.) Azért annyira ne vegyük készpénznek azt se, hogy a „magyar” és a „szabadságszerető” fogalompár ilyen magától értetődően van összenőve.
Különben meg jó szórakozást!

* Egy észrevétel: bár az összes magyar, aki a sógorok ellen harcol a szabadságért, hős, de az összes arab, aki a franciák ellen harcol a szabadságért, rabló meg kalóz. Érdekes…
** Az a slusszpoén (és most durva spoiler következik!!!), hogy a három főgonosszal is sikerül Verne-nek úgy végeznie, hogy abból a szereplőkre minél kevesebb morális árnyék vetüljön: épp indulnának ugyanis hőseink kivégezni a Rettentő Triászt, amikor azok tök véletlenül pont kivégzik magukat. Micsoda mák, sóhajtanak fel hőseink, nyugodt lesz az álmunk! Meg hát mindjárt esküvő, annak a hangulatát is hogy elrontotta volna egy ilyen koncolás.
*** Jó, hát a Sárkány nevezetű főgonosszal pont megszívják hőseink az elején, de szerintem ez csak a kivétel, ami erősíti a szabályt. Pláne, hogy Verne már eleve úgy írja le a csávót, hogy attól mindenki vágja, mekkora egy sudribunkó őkelme – hogy pont Sándor Mátyásnak nem esik ez le rögtön, az csak azért van, mert Verne meg őt írta meg úgy, hogy pont neki ne essen le.
**** És ezt meg azért nem raktam spoilerbe, mert tudom, úgyis rájöttetek. Mert ez az egész könyv eleve úgy van felépítve, hogy nem nagy kunszt rájönni, miféle hihetetlen és elképzelhetetlen csavar fog jönni a következő oldalon. Mert mindig az a csavar jön, ami ugye a realitás talaján a legvalószínűtlenebb, de az írói képzelet számára a legpraktikusabb.
Profile Image for Vasilis Manias.
381 reviews103 followers
May 23, 2020
Μέσα στην καραντίνα που λέτε με επισκέφθηκε ο προσωπικός μου βιβλιοπώλης, φέρνοντάς μου μία ντάνα με τις παραγγελίες μου, στην κορυφή της όμως ήταν ένα παράξενο βιβλίο που εγώ δεν είχα ζητήσει.
«Στο έφερα από τη βιβλιοθήκη μου, το θέλω πίσω» είπε και έφυγε γελώντας, αφήνοντάς με να κοιτάζω αμήχανα ένα βιβλίο των εκδόσεων Αστήρ, δεν ξέρω αν τις θυμάστε, αυτές με το χοντρό σταχωμένο ζωγραφισμένο στο χέρι εξώφυλλο, όπως εκείνο το σινεμά δίπλα στον πύργο της Βόνταφον στους Αμπελόκηπους που δε θυμάμαι πια το όνομά του.
Το όνομα του Βιβλίου;
Ματίας Σαντόρφ. Και πάνω πάνω με χοντρά γράμματα ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΒΕΡΝ!
Δε θα μεγαλώσω άλλο την εισαγωγή, και βασικά δε θα μπω και σε λεπτομέρειες για την πλοκή του, είναι γραμμένο σα φόρος τιμής στον Κόμη Μοντεχρήστο οπότε τα σχόλια περιττεύουν νομίζω, θα πω όμως πως είμαι τρομερά ευτυχής που μικρός, σε μία εποχή χωρίς κινητά και ταμπλετ, είχα μπει στη διαδικασία να διαβάσω ΟΛΑ τα βιβλία του τεράστιου αυτού συγγραφέα τον οποίο γνώρισα ένα πρωινό στη Βικελαία βιβλιοθήκη όπου και γίναμε αστραπιαία φίλοι. Έχοντας δε ήδη ξεκινήσει την 800σέλιδη ενήλικη «Μυστηριώδη Νήσο», συνειδητοποιώ μέρα με τη μέρα πως η επίδραση μερικών ανθρώπων στη ζωή άλλων, γίνεται τουβλάκι το τουβλάκι και μάλιστα τις περισσότερες φορές ασυνείδητα, οπότε καταλήγω πως αν εγώ στη δική μου ζωή μου σήμερα κατάφερα να σκέφτομαι με κάποιο συγκεκριμένο τρόπο, νομίζω ο θείος Ιούλιος με τους κόσμους του και τα φανταστικά του πλάσματα, είναι σε μεγάλο βαθμό υπεύθυνος για αυτόν.
Προτεινόμενο, σε κάθε περίπτωση όπως και όλα τα βιβλία του Βερν, σοβαροί να μαστε, δεν περιμένατε δα και μένα να το μάθετε, είναι στα φανταμενταλς.
Profile Image for Viera Némethová.
408 reviews56 followers
March 6, 2022
Knihu o maďarskom vlastencovi Matyášovi Šándorovi, ktorá vo všetkom pripomína knihu Alexandra Dumasa vraj Verne napísal ako poctu autorovi. Mne v 21. stôr pripomína skôr " literárnu vykrádačku" ako inšpiráciu knihou alebo poctu.
V niektorých častiach kde Verne akoby " nevedel kam z konopí" nemá problém pomôcť si aj časovým alebo vecným nezmyslom, ktorý nemá so sci-fi či fantáziou nič spoločné. Z vyhnanca a utečenca z väzenia urobí rozprávkovo bohatého človeka s neobmedzenými možnosťami spôsobom, že nadobudnutie jeho bohatstva vysvetlí na pol strany. Do príbehu autor zakomponuje romantickú linku nešťastnej lásky slabošského chlapca, ktorý si na život siaha ( vďakabohu neúspešne) hneď pri prvom nezdare svojho života. Vykašle sa na matku, ktorú ako autor deklaruje patetickým spôsobom veľmi miluje, radšej sa postrelí. Matyáš Šándor hypnotizuje zloduchov a vtláča im svoju vôľu na obrovskú diaľku aj zblízka, vytvára šok Petrovej matke, ktorej zinscenuje divadlo so zmŕtvychvstaním jej syna priamo na cintoríne.
Grófovo vlastenectvo a príslušnosť k maďarskému národu je témou asi tretiny knihy. Aj túto linku autor rýchlo opúšťa a až do konca knihy už ide iba o pomstu. Kniha je najslabším príbehom ktorý som od Julesa Verna čítala a do svojho hodnotenia som prihliadala aj k okolnostiam jej vzniku, roku prvého vydania- 1887, spôsob písania, vedecké objavy, ktoré ešte len čakali na svoje využitie ( ponorky- v tomto prípade s názvom Elektrika 1 a Elektrika2). Knihu som čítala v starom, krásnom vydaní z roku 1956 v preklade a úprave R.J. Martinskej a ilustráciami Zděňka Buriana.
Profile Image for Jose Moa.
519 reviews79 followers
June 19, 2016
There is another novel parallel to the Count of Montecristo and is Matias Sandorf by Verne perhaps written as a tribute to the acclaimed novel by Dumas.

The plot is very similar ,the novel begins in the city of Trieste where the Count Matias Sandorf is involved in a political plot and jailed in a fortess,but Sandorf gets away and to plan revenge of his enemies and the restitution of his good name and fortune.

The best part of the novel is the first where appear a series of puzles to solve,the second half is more weak and naive.

Is a relatively long novel,but as many of Verne has detailed descriptions of the geographic locations of the novel,in this case : the city of Trieste,the coast of Istria and Dalmacia,the Malta island and othe parts of the Mediterranean sea
Profile Image for Uli_iM.
19 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2023
Утону в пучине вод,
Все забудут, всё пройдёт.
Через много-много лет
Ты не вспомнишь всех тех бед.
И вернусь я лишь тогда,
Когда стихнет вся молва


Прошло наверно около 4 месяцев, после того как я прочла Матиаса Шандора. И если бы писала сразу, то отзыв был бы явно другим. Анализируя прочитанное через время, поняла, что возможно я где-то чересчур романтизировала данную книгу. Не буду забегать наперёд.

Что понравилось?
Жуль Верн до безумия прекрасно описывает ландшафты Хорватии, Италии, Венгрии. Это наверно самые точные и чёткие описания, которые мне было не лень читать и я правда оказась во всех этих местах

Привязка к историческим событиям, хотя книга является скорее как фентези-детектив. Понравилось следить за тем, как развивались события мятежников и как их судьбы переплелись в будущем.

Первые главы было очень интересно читать и я так втянулась в процесс разгадывания шифров и тайн, что было забавно понять шифр быстрее, чем герои повести и почувствовать себя Шерлоком. Так же отмечу большое количество научных фактов и интересных преспособлений, которые описывались в книге, специально помечала себе стикерами.

Сюжет не идёт прямой линией, он стопорится на месте, заворачивает и не даёт тебе до конца понять, что будет дальше. Это затягивает.

Что не понравилось?
Импульсивность и отсутствие холодного рассудка у большенства персонажей, как по мне самый адекватный перс - это Борик. Борик тащил всю катку на себе)
Возможно черезмерная импульсивность и безбашенные поступки здесь для большей эпичности ( испугать воскрешением маман, псевдо смерть и тд). Послевкусие ебанцы так и тянулось за главным героем и второстепенными)

Странные мотивации во взаимоотношениях. (Матэуацию нада паднят) Создалось ощущением, что главный герой слепо тянет за собой всех кто под руку подвернётся для достижения цели и мести, не задумываясь о последствиях. Где-то за злодеями было даже интереснее следить в этом плане.
Любовные линии - та же история. Мне как будто не хватило причин для того, чтобы я поверила во все эти совершаемые поступки героями. Какая-то в них была наигранность. Хотя может я просто уже доебалась) кто знает..
Единственное исключение это акробат и силач. Их тёплые взаимоотношения, поддержка друг друга и готовность помочь в трудную минуту были максимально понятны и так умиляют. Чуть ли не в дёсна долбились, ну просто зайки.

Итоги:
Сюжет 7/10
Персонажи 5/10
Общее повествование и слог 9/10
Борик 10000/10

P. S. Подключение по дискорту к книжному клубу замотивировало меня писать отзывы. Катюша - большое love you 💕
Profile Image for Justė.
457 reviews147 followers
October 6, 2021
Montekristo šešėlyje

Grafą Montekristą esu įsimylėjusi. Su jo antrininku Matiju Šandoru susidraugauti užtat sekėsi sunkiau.

Pats Jules Verne knygos dedikacijoje prisiduoda, kad panašumo siekta ir jo negalima nuneigti - romanas iš esmės yra atpildo ir keršto už senas skriaudas istorija, kurį vykdo turtingas po nauju vardu besislepiantis žmogus. Tačiau Verno romane viskas man rodėsi kaip blankus Diuma šedevro atgarsis. Svorio Montekristui pridėjo tai, kad nusikaltimo jis nepadarė, tuomet labai ilgus metus sėdėjo kalėjime ir tik tuomet praturtėjo pasakišku būdu. Nieko panašaus nenutiko Matijui Šandorui, kuris nors ir kilnaus tikslo siekdamas nusikaltimą padarė, o iš kalėjimo bemat sugebėjo pabėgti. Pasakos elementų daug abejuose romanuose, bet atsitiktinumų šiame Verne romane nors vežimu vežk ir tiesą sakant hipnozės magijos ir stebuklingų elektrinių laivų man jau buvo kiek per daug.

Atsitraukus nuo lyginimų turiu pasakyti, kad pasakojimas įtraukė ir veikėjų likimas man rūpėjo. Verne yra puikus pasakotojas ir netgi jo aprašymai man patiktų, jeigu jis nebūtų užsimanęs aprašyti kone kiekvieno Viduržemio jūros kampo. Stiprūs ir ne itin teigiami 20 000 mylių po vandeniu’ prisiminimai plūdo skaitant apie stebuklingai greitus laivus ir nuodugniai aprašinėjamas jų aplankomas vietas.

Tai graži istorija apie taurius herojus ir pasiaukojimą, niekingus niekšus ir atpildą, bet manęs iki galo nepalietė.
Profile Image for Alvin Hallberg.
1 review
November 23, 2025
I picked up Mathias Sandorf after loving The Count of Monte Cristo, and it turned out to be exactly what many readers describe: Jules Verne’s heartfelt homage to his friend Alexandre Dumas. This is a rich, old-fashioned adventure novel filled with betrayal, revenge, heroism, and touches of romance, following a wronged man who returns under a new identity to settle old scores against the backdrop of the Mediterranean and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Verne writes with such confidence and detail that it often feels as if he has personally witnessed every conspiracy, escape, and storm at sea. At the same time, his famously elaborate explanations and digressions sometimes pull focus from the core story, while a few key emotional moments feel surprisingly rushed and could have used more depth. Still, like many readers, I see this as an underrated, Dumas-like gem in Verne’s oeuvre: a panoramic, passionate, and ultimately very rewarding novel.
Profile Image for Μιχάλης Παπαχατζάκης.
373 reviews20 followers
April 5, 2024
Η Ιστορία ξεκινάει το 1867: Ένας ούγγρος πατριώτης, ο κόμης Ματίας Σαντόρφ, συνωμοτεί με άλλους δυο ομοεθνείς του, τον Λάντισλας Ζάτμαρ και τον Στέφανο Μπατορύ, για να ξεκινήσουν εθνική εξέγερση κατά των αυστριακών και να αποκόψουν την Ουγγαρία από την Αυστροουγγρική Αυτοκρατορία. Οι κινήσεις τους λαμβάνουν χώρα στη Δαλματία, όμως ένα κρυπτογραφημένο τους μήνυμα στο πόδι ενός περιστεριού πέφτει στα χέρια ενός άθλιου υποκειμένου, του Σαρκανύ που, καταφέρνοντας να το αποκρυπτογραφήσει, σκέφτεται να τους καταδώσει και να εισπράξει την αμοιβή της αστυνομίας, την μισή περιουσία του Σαντόρφ (που θα δημευτεί) και την κόρη του για γυναίκα όταν ενηλικιωθεί. Συνεργάζεται με τον αμοραλιστή τραπεζίτη Σίλας Τοροντάλ και τα καταφέρνει. Δεκαπέντε χρόνια μετά ένας μυστηριώδης "γιατρός Αντεκίρτ" εμφανίζεται στα ίδια μέρη και πιάνει επαφές με τη χήρα και το γιο του Μπατορύ, αναζητά δε διακριτικά τον Σαρκανύ και τον Τοροντάλ....

Ο Ιούλιος Βερν δίνει ρέστα -κατά τη γνώμη μου- σε τούτο το μυθιστόρημα που δεν γνώρισε τέτοια διάδοση όσο άλλα. Φτιάχνει χαρακτήρες ενός ανιδιοτελούς πατριωτισμού και υψηλότατου ηθικού φρονήματος σε μια εποχή που όντως παρήγαγε πολλούς τέτοιους. Στον αντίποδα, φτιάχνει χαρακτήρες ποταπούς και ελεεινούς, άρα είναι και ηθικοπλαστικό το βιβλίο του.
Profile Image for Phillip.
335 reviews
November 2, 2009
When I was a young teen I stumbled across William Pene Dubois illustrated edition of Jules Verne's "Dr. Ox's Experiment." Although The illustrations were a great enhancement to the whimsy of Verne's social experiment, the real draw to the book that kept me checking it out of the library time and time again was the extensive bibliography of that massive outpouring of extraordinary journeys from this literary phenomenon that extended far beyond the more famous trips under the sea, around the world and to the center of the earth. As a bonus, this bibliography included facsimilies from the woodcut illustrations created for the original French editions. (I know you are all waiting for me to get to the point and here it is. The most exciting and stimulating to the my young imaginations were the illustrations from "Mathias Sandorf." How I longed to read this book, but it took me over forty years to find an edition in English. (I've owned a french edition for fifteen years but that has profited me little save for a complete collection of the illustrations from that novel.

Was it worth the multi-decade year wait? They say that the cat that was killed by curiosity was brought back by satisfaction. I do feel a sort of satisfaction from the standpoint that now I know the contents of this, until now, illusive tome. As an adventure it has loads to offer, battles on sea and on land, escape from prison fortresses, hairbreadth rescues. It provides the (sometimes predictable) melodramatics craved by the audiences of his time; heroics, thwarted romance, a lady in peril, comic sidekicks, skulduggery and treachery. This adventure even includes some science fiction elements like electric boats, super duper explosives and the use of the telephone, although they are brushed off as being common place in Sandorf's world rather than exceptional. If there is anything emphasized here beyond the ordinary it is the use of some hyper-sensitive hypnotism called magnetic sleep.

But in my mind, the elements do not pull together well and in the end the a key character comes off unlikeable in his obsession. A key moment in the book is when this character realizes the cost to others his search for revenge has exacted, but the moment passes without any further exploration.

Perhaps I am forcing my personal sense of morals upon a novel written at a time and in a society where revenge was more justified. So, with that grain of salt added, I that it makes the next person's reading of "Mathias Sandorf" a little more palatable.
Profile Image for Keeley.
601 reviews12 followers
November 10, 2018
I haven't read Verne in probably thirty years. It recently came to my attention that his oeuvre was a lot more extensive than I was aware of as a kid, and included this book that someone described as an homage to The Count of Monte Cristo. I'm a big Dumas fan and needed something to read, so I downloaded a huge collection of Verne in translation on Kindle.
Note: I don't think my review is about this edition. Can't find the edition I read in Goodreads.
The bad news first: the edition (published by Pandora) was pretty bad. There were so many stupid OCR errors like "yon" for "you" and "m" for "in." I would have been much better off reading the Google Play Books version that is just images of the pages from the 19th century edition that haven't been stupidly misinterpreted by OCR. There was some intense French nationalism. And the plot twists extended to the ridiculous, like hypnotism.
The good news: it was an enjoyable story with some memorable characters, particularly the impoverished but intelligent acrobat Point Pescade and the serious young man Pierre Bathory, who correctly identifies the worthlessness of vengeance. If the titular character had figured that out, the plot would have had fewer twists and more happiness. The settings were interesting and the French nationalism was only sporadic. The plot twists were no weirder than Walter Scott's orangutan in Count Robert of Paris. All told I will probably read more Verne; I just wish I had saved my 99 cents.
Profile Image for Håvard Christensen.
1 review
August 29, 2020
The first part was fine, but the characters became too flat and the plot too predictable in the latter part of the book. Often too many descriptions of landscapes and trivialities rather than emotions and drama.
Profile Image for ~Calyre~.
306 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2018
« Entrez donc ! Entrez donc ! Suivez le monde ! répétait en s’époumonant le pauvre Pescade. Vous verrez là ce que vous n’avez jamais vu ! Pointe Pescade et Cap Matifou aux prises ! Les deux jumeaux de la Provence ! Oui… deux jumeaux… mais pas du même âge… ni de la même mère !… Hein ! comme nous nous ressemblons… moi surtout ! »

« Qu’est-ce que ce docteur Antékirtt ?
– Un fameux médecin ! Il vous guérit de toutes les maladies, même de celles qui viennent de vous emporter dans l’autre monde !
– Est-il riche ?
– Pas le sou !… C’est moi, Pescade, qui lui donne son prêt tous les dimanches !
– Mais d’où vient-il ?
– D’un pays dont personne ne sait le nom !
– Et où est-il situé, ce pays-là ?
– Tout ce que je puis dire, c’est qu’il est borné, au nord, par pas grand chose, et, au sud, par rien du tout ! »

À ce moment, le docteur ferma les yeux du jeune mort ; puis, il se releva, quitta la chambre, et on aurait pu l’entendre murmurer cette sentence, empruntée aux légendes indiennes :
« La mort ne détruit pas, elle ne rend qu’invisible ! »

Dix minutes après, pendant que la lutte continuait de part et d’autre, Cap Matifou reparut, poussant devant lui une grosse boule de neige. Puis, au milieu des blocs que les marins continuaient à précipiter sur les assaillants, il lança cette boule, qui roula sur le talus, passa à travers la bande de Zirone, et s’arrêta, cinquante pas en arrière, au fond d’une petite dépression de terrain. Alors, à demi-brisée par le choc, la boule s’ouvrit et donna passage à un être vif, alerte, «quelque peu malin » comme il le disait de lui-même. C’était Pointe Pescade. Enfermé dans cette carapace de neige durcie, il avait osé se faire lancer sur les pentes du talus, au risque d’être précipité au fond de quelque abîme. Et, libre maintenant, il dévalait les sentiers du massif en gagnant du côté de Cassone. Il était alors minuit et demi. À ce moment, le docteur, ne voyant plus Pointe Pescade, craignit qu’il ne fût blessé. Il l’appela.
« Parti ! dit Cap Matifou.
– Parti ?
– Oui !… pour aller chercher du secours !
– Et comment ?
– En boule ! »
Cap Matifou raconta ce que Pointe Pescade venait de faire.
« Ah ! le brave garçon !… s’écria le docteur. Du courage, mes amis, du courage !… Ils ne nous auront pas, ces bandits ! »

« Pour réussir au jeu, monsieur, il faut s’appliquer à perdre les petits coups et à gagner les gros ! Tout le secret est là ! »

La plus solide de ces vigoureuses bêtes, cependant, restait quelquefois en arrière. Il n’aurait pas fallu la mésestimer pour cela : elle portait Cap Matifou. Ce qui amenait Pointe Pescade à faire cette réflexion :
« Peut-être eût-il été préférable que Cap Matifou portât la mule, au lieu que la mule portât Cap Matifou ! »
Profile Image for Ramil Kazımov.
407 reviews13 followers
April 7, 2021
Jules Verne Mathias Sandorf kitabını Alexandre Dumas'ın hatırası için yazmış. Ve de kitabı Dumas'ın "Monte Cristo Kontu" kitabını fazlasıyla hatırlatmakta. "Mathias Sandorf" kitabı için ikinci "Monte Cristo Kristo" demek mümkün. Benim şahsen çok beğenerek okuduğum harika bir macera eseri "Mathias Sandorf". Vernenin harika dünyasına seyahet etmek ne harika bir şeymiş arkadaşlar)) Ben daha önce "Monte Cristo Kontu"nu okudum. Kıyaslama yaparsam, "Mathias Sandorf" kitabı Dumas'ınkına kıyasla biraz fazla romantik ama tadından doyulmaz bir harika roman. Verne severlerin ve "Monte Cristo Kontu"nu okumuş ve beğenmiş herkesin mutlaka okuması gereken bir macera ve intikam romanı 😎 😏
Profile Image for Nešo Shonery.
Author 10 books32 followers
May 26, 2017
One of the best books written by Jules Verne...
Profile Image for Merve K.
191 reviews27 followers
March 10, 2025
Monte Cristo o kadar iyi bir kitap ki yeniden yazımları da harika oluyor. Mathias Sandorf, bir Monte Cristo hikayesi. Alexandre Dumas'ın Monte Cristo kitabını defalarca okumuşumdur. Nerede bir uyarlaması varsa orada biterim. Jules Verne'in böyle bir kitabı olduğunu bilseydim çok daha önce okurdum. Gerçi Jules Verne kitaplarını da yeni okumaya başlıyorum.
Öncelikle bu kitabı Monte Cristo'dan önce okumanızı tavsiye etmiyorum. Bence önce ana eser olan Monte Cristo'yu okuyun.
Kont Mathias Sandorf, Macar bir yurtseverdir. İki arkadaşıyla birlikte bir komplonun içine girerler ve paragöz iki adamın onları ihbar etmesiyle idam cezasına çarptırılırlar. Bu noktada üçlü zindandan bir şekilde kaçmaya çalışır ama yalnızca Kont Mathias Sandorf başarılı olabilir. Aradan yıllar geçer ve Mathias Sandorf, arkadaşlarının ölümüne sebep olanlardan intikam almak üzere planını uygulamaya başlar.
Kitap biraz uzun olsa da çok sevdim. Hadi şimdi ne olacak diye merakla okudum aslında ne olacağını çok iyi bilmeme rağmen.
Muhteşem bir yeniden yazım olmuş.
Profile Image for Farseer.
731 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2022
(27) Mathias Sandorf (Mathias Sandorf, 1885) (3 volumes) 154K words


The 27th Extraordinary Voyage takes place at several different locations along the shores of the Mediterranean. Verne dedicated the novel to the memory of Alexandre Dumas père, expressing his hope that Mathias Sandorf would be the Monte Cristo of his Extraordinary Voyages. After the dedication, the book also includes a warm response from Alexandre Dumas fils, calling Verne his brother and the true literary heir of his father.


First read or reread?: First read for me.


What is it about?: In Trieste, 1867, three Hungarian patriots (Count Mathias Sandorf, Stephen Bathory and Ladislas Zathmar) are conspiring to liberate their country from Habsburg-Austrian rule. A couple of petty criminals, with the help of a corrupt banker, discover the plot and form a plan to deliver the conspirators to the Austrian authorities in exchange for a rich reward. Fifteen years later, the renowned physician Dr. Antekirtt sets out to avenge his friends. Enlisting the aid of two resourceful French acrobats, Pescade and Matifou, he scours the Mediterranean seeking to reward the surviving relatives of the conspirators and punish those who planned the betrayal. Rich beyond all imagination and master of an island fortress filled with advanced weaponry, Dr. Antekirtt will not rest until justice is done.


Although the details are different, there's no doubt that the central conceit of this story is taken from Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. Since Verne openly acknowledged this, I will call it a homage rather than a rip-off.

Nevertheless, when one imitates a masterpiece one is open to comparisons. And I have to say, this Verne novel is inferior to Dumas' magnum opus. I don't mean this as a way to put down this story. It's just that The Count of Monte Cristo is such an excellent adventure tale.

Mathias Sandorf does not have the same epic weight as Dumas' novel. Its characters do not have the same psychological depth. This is a known limitation of Verne as a writer. He is into adventure, exploration and the wonders of human knowledge, but not into deep characterization.

Having said that, this novel is a lot of fun to read, despite its flaws. The first part, detailing the conspiration, the betrayal and the doomed efforts of the main characters to escape their execution, is almost perfect. We get several of Verne's typical techniques, like starting the story from the point of view of the villains or the use of cryptograms (decyphering a secret message is key for the villains to find proof of the conspiration).

After that, the plotting is not as tight as in some of Verne's best novels. The story becomes a bit rambling, which allows Verne to explore different locations on the Mediterranean shores, from Trieste down the Adriatic coast, to Sicily and the shores of North Africa. "I wish my readers to learn everything they should know about the Mediterranean," Verne wrote his editor," which is why the action transports them to twenty different places". Several of the settings come from Verne's own travels, and others from his reading and research.

Like its model, Mathias Sandorf is rather convoluted and melodramatic, perhaps too much so (I did not understand, for example, why the heroes had to simulate Pierre Bathory's death even to the point of driving his aged mother to dispair, it seems drama for drama's sake. Or why Sarcany couldn't force Sava to marry him already, given that she was in his power, even if the ceremony was just a sham).

The irony of how revenge can be self-defeating is explored here less than in Monte Cristo, another reason why this novel is inferior. Verne plays it straight, not stopping to wonder whether the revenge is justified in all cases (after all, even though they are undoubtedly villains, one could argue that the betrayers owed no loyalty and, although they committed other crimes, the main reason for the revenge was that they denounced a conspiration to the authorities, even if it was just for money). Don't spend too much time feeling sorry for the villains, though, they are very bad apples, particularly the ruthless and intelligent Sarcany.

As an example of Verne's signature technological wonders, we have Dr. Antekirtt's electric ships, which the heroes use to travel fast through the Mediterranean Sea, or some of the weapons used to defend his island. Nevertheless, the main reason for this novel to be called SF&F is the fact that Dr. Antekirtt is able to use something called "magnetic hypnotism". Basically he has a superpower, which occasionally enables him to enslave the mind of some weak-willed people. Apparently the concept was popular at the time the novel was written, and Verne treats it as a legitimate scientific effect.

Despite its flaws, the story is never boring, even though it's one of Verne's longest novels (only three of his Extraordinary Voyages were published in three volumes, the others being "In Search of the Castaways" and "The Mysterious Island", both of those longer in fact than "Mathias Sandorf"). Certainly this one is nowhere as long as The Count of Monte Cristo, which Dumas, publishing it as a serial, extended more than he should have.

I read it in Spanish, but for those reading in English, a reminder: Verne's contemporary English translations were not very good, so when possible seek a modern translation, in this case the 2011 translation by Edward Brumgnach.


Enjoyment factor: I enjoyed it, acknowledging that it's not in the same league as its model. The plot was a bit rambling and melodramatic at times, but the story is epic and Verne always entertains.


Next up: The Lottery Ticket


See all my Verne reviews here: https://www.sffworld.com/forum/thread...
Profile Image for Dórian Bachmann.
Author 6 books1 follower
January 13, 2024
Uma conspiração para livrar a Hungria do jugo austríaco domina a primeira parte do livro. Na segunda parte, tudo muda. Embora vinculada à parte inicial, é quase outra história, com novos e cativantes personagens.
Verne aproveita sua habilidade para contar aventuras, cuidando sempre de detalhar a geografia e aspectos históricos regionais. Também traz um pouco da ficção científica, com barcos elétricos e outras tecnologias avançadas. Uma história interessante e absorvente.
Embora explorar coincidências seja comum na literatura, aqui Verne abusou um pouco deste recurso, mas isso quase passa batido pela forma curiosa em que o conto evolui. Sem dúvida, uma das grandes obras de Júlio Verne.
Ótima leitura para adolescente em férias! (eu gostei!).
Profile Image for Susana Sussmann.
Author 1 book7 followers
May 31, 2024
Es el homenaje de Verne al Conde de Montecristo. El Conde Sandorf es un húngaro que quiere ver a su país independizarse de Austria y para ello urde un movimiento independentista, el cual es sofocado gracias a una traición. Los dos traidores, que lo único que quieren es quedarse con la fortuna del Conde, logran que éste sea condenado a muerte. Sandorf logra huir, aunque es dado por muerto. Quince años después regresa buscando venganza (o como dice él, justicia). Como me pasó con el Conde de Montecristo, me gustó mucho y también tardé mucho en leerlo, porque ambos libros son largos.
Profile Image for Juan Carlos Santillán.
386 reviews3 followers
May 10, 2017
"Matías Sandorf" (3/5)

Tres patriotas idealistas están dispuestos a ofrendar sus vidas para liberar a su nación. Dos vividores y un banquero sólo desean ganar dinero sin miramientos ni escrúpulos. El azar cruza sus caminos, enfrentando ambas maneras de encarar la vida. Profundamente maniqueo, éste ha de ser uno de los libros de Verne con giros argumentales más abundantes y dramáticos. Lo mejor es el inicio, costumbrista y casi dramatúrgico.

10.05.17
27 reviews1 follower
Read
December 13, 2020
An outstanding adventure tale that stands the test of time. Verne’s descriptions of Istria were what drew me, and the adventure hooked me. The only bit of “shark jumping” is his reliance on the (popular at the time of writing) concept of “magnetic hypnotism” to drive the plot. Basically the titular character has a super power. Beyond that nit, the story could be updated for today’s world and made into a blockbuster movie.
6 reviews
June 21, 2019
Am currently translating a French novelization of the film from 1921, a film based on this Jules Verne novel which was dedicated by Jules to Alexandre Dumas Jnr in memory of his late father, and which Jules wrote in homage to Dumas Snr's 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. A rollicking tale of adventure and of retribution by heroic, noble revolutionary and scientist Mathias Sandorf.
5 reviews
July 27, 2023
I když miluju Matyáše Sandorfa tak dávám jen 3 hvězdy jelikož oproti Monte Cristovi je tohle fakt slabost vím že tu je hodně lidí co tuto knihu také milují a budou rozčileni ale vyslechněte mne Monte Cristo dělá vše lépe až od útěku z vězení do získání bohatství a konečně finalní odplaty a i když bych bránil Julese Verna celým svým tělem musím uznat že Monte Cristo je lepší... a o dost.
Profile Image for Maria Ripoll Cera.
152 reviews2 followers
January 6, 2024
A los lectores del XXI se nos cae ya de las manos la novela con irremediable final feliz. Todas las peripecias son de mentirijillas para hacer pasar un mal rato, obedecen a las técnicas literarias de la época, y nada se sostiene. Pese a todo, me gustó acompañar las Navidades con las aventuras de Julio Verne.
Profile Image for John Peel.
Author 422 books166 followers
April 8, 2024
One of Verne's lesser-known works. This is basically his take on "The Count of Monte Cristo", though Mathias Sandorf is actually guilty as charged. The book deals with his search to reward his friends and punish his enemies. It may be lesser Verne, but any Verne is better than most other writers, so this is a fun read, with interesting situations and characters.
321 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2025
Estamos ante una obra monumental. El genio de Julio Verne en su apogeo. Una peripecia con un ritmo vertiginoso, resaltando además los ideales de la amistad, del amor paternal y de la justicia. Como siempre, el autor ofrece valiosos datos históricos de su época y geográficos con unas extraordinarias descripciones. Un libro espectacular!
Profile Image for Cristiano Baldini.
87 reviews
June 19, 2023
L'odissea di un idealista ottocentesco e la creazione di un utopia sociale, con la conseguente lotta per la sopravvivenza in un mondo non disposto ad accettarla. Epico è estremamente moderno, uno dei migliori lavori meno conosciuti di Verne.
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