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Le Comte de Monte-Cristo #2 of 5
The Count of Monte Cristo, Volume II of V
THE RETURN OF DANTES His world had been turned upside down. In 1815 Edmond Dantes, a young sailor, returned to Marseilles with great expectations. But Dantes' shipmate Danglars wanted his new captaincy. And a man named Fernand wanted the gorgeous Mercedes, his fiancé. After Fernand and Danglars wrote a note accusing Edmond of conspiring in a plot to bring the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte back from Elbe. Edmond was arrested on his wedding day and taken before a political turncoat named Villefort. To cover up his own reputation, Villefort had the accused Edmond Dantes imprisoned in the dungeons of Château D'If. But in prison Dantes met and befriended an Italian abbé who educated him and then, in death, helped him escape with a fabulous secret of a treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Now, rich and posing as the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantes returns to France -- To seek revenge!
207 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 2009
20 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Alexandre Dumas
7,188 books12.2k followersThis note regards Alexandre Dumas, père, the father of Alexandre Dumas, fils (son). For the son, see Alexandre Dumas fils.
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 4, 2022
I had to read this book for my English Honors class and I was so sad. I did not want to read this book, but it wound up being incredible! I was so wrong about this book. This was such a good book. I think I am left a little speechless!
(The Count Of Monte Cristo my class and I read was published by Bantam books, but this was the closest book to the one I read that I could find. I am sorry if my review is off on this book, but it's not over this specific edition.)
This book really kept my attention and I wasn't as bored as I thought I would be, though it did get slow once in a while. There was a lot of characters, and that tended to be confusing but I managed to remember and keep up and this book just got better and better. This was a very unique read and I really actually did enjoy it, to my immense surprise. It was so good and I am glad that my teacher made us read it.
(The Count Of Monte Cristo my class and I read was published by Bantam books, but this was the closest book to the one I read that I could find. I am sorry if my review is off on this book, but it's not over this specific edition.)
This book really kept my attention and I wasn't as bored as I thought I would be, though it did get slow once in a while. There was a lot of characters, and that tended to be confusing but I managed to remember and keep up and this book just got better and better. This was a very unique read and I really actually did enjoy it, to my immense surprise. It was so good and I am glad that my teacher made us read it.
July 15, 2023
The Count of Monte Cristo ~ Alexandre Dumas (1845)
One of the most known and loved French classics today, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of our protagonist, Edmond Dantès. Jealousy and hatred decide his destiny, but what he makes of it, is what makes this book such a masterpiece.
Whilst it’s a tome, it’s quite a straightforward read, packed with action and a page turner. It’s one of those that begs for “one more chapter”. The twist and turns in this tale of revenge make it a very entertaining read.
There are so many complex characters but Dantès takes the crown. We meet him very early in his life when he was only 19 and his innocence was intact. Little did he know what was to come. His journey takes us places we don’t really expect. It’s his brilliance and his heart that make him such a brilliant character. Betrayal, hope, vengeance, love and forgiveness are some of the reoccurring themes. Emphasis on vengeance!
Dumas set the time of the novel in the Hundred Days period when Napoleon returned to power. The historical setting gives more character to the book, alongside the many places the action takes place.
Dantès is one of my favourite literary characters and has been since highschool. His relationship with the abbé is so heartwarming but my favourite has to be his love and kindness for the Morrels 🤍 And Mercedes is the most annoying, yawn 🥱 😹.
Rereading this after so many years has been wonderful. I forgot lots of details and I’m happy I did. I feel like I loved it even more. Having a readalong for it last year has made my reading experience much more enjoyable.
So if you haven’t read it yet, add it to your TBR because you won’t regret it.
One of the most known and loved French classics today, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of our protagonist, Edmond Dantès. Jealousy and hatred decide his destiny, but what he makes of it, is what makes this book such a masterpiece.
Whilst it’s a tome, it’s quite a straightforward read, packed with action and a page turner. It’s one of those that begs for “one more chapter”. The twist and turns in this tale of revenge make it a very entertaining read.
There are so many complex characters but Dantès takes the crown. We meet him very early in his life when he was only 19 and his innocence was intact. Little did he know what was to come. His journey takes us places we don’t really expect. It’s his brilliance and his heart that make him such a brilliant character. Betrayal, hope, vengeance, love and forgiveness are some of the reoccurring themes. Emphasis on vengeance!
Dumas set the time of the novel in the Hundred Days period when Napoleon returned to power. The historical setting gives more character to the book, alongside the many places the action takes place.
Dantès is one of my favourite literary characters and has been since highschool. His relationship with the abbé is so heartwarming but my favourite has to be his love and kindness for the Morrels 🤍 And Mercedes is the most annoying, yawn 🥱 😹.
Rereading this after so many years has been wonderful. I forgot lots of details and I’m happy I did. I feel like I loved it even more. Having a readalong for it last year has made my reading experience much more enjoyable.
So if you haven’t read it yet, add it to your TBR because you won’t regret it.
February 3, 2024
Zeerovers, bandieten, corruptie, freules en baronnen, gravinnen en markiezen. En wat een verhaal!! Zalig verteld met hoogdravende discussies en o zo veel intriges. Danku Dumas, t was een fijne reis naar vroeger.
December 9, 2012
This is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. I like it much better than volume 1, although it's impossible to read the one without the other and expect to understand a thing. If you've seen the movie (any of the movies) based upon the books, do not expect to see the same story. The movie has reduced the book to a dramatic love story, while the real story is much MUCH more complicated. I personally had lots of trouble remembering all the characters and telling them apart while reading volume 1, but this problem didn't exist with this one. The story told in a very natural and smooth way, and everything makes perfect sense. I absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fine literature.
October 25, 2025
De verwachtingen waren hoog toen ik begon aan dit omvangrijke en wereldberoemde werk van Alexandre Dumas (en Auguste Maquet), en het stelde geen moment teleur. Van begin tot eind blijft de spanning hoog en het verhaal zit vol wendingen, zelfs al weet de lezer waar het uiteindelijk naartoe zal leiden. Het zit vol met prachtige beschrijvingen van steden, gebeurtenissen, gevoelens, gedachtes en overdenkingen.
Natuurlijk biedt de lengte van het boek volop ruimte om de ontwikkeling van de personages uit te werken, maar dat kan ook het risico met zich meebrengen dat het traag of vermoeiend wordt. Daar is hier echter geen sprake van. De graaf zelf, en daarmee Edmond Dantés, is vanzelfsprekend het meest interessante personage. Vooral zijn drijfveer, de jacht op wraak, maar ook zijn bedenkingen hierbij die hij zo nu en dan heeft, geeft nieuwe inzichten en bijzondere perspectieven. Een ander opvallend aspect is dat dit, voor zo’n veelgeprezen stuk (Franse) literatuur, verrassend helder en niet mystiek of ontoegankelijk is. Dat maakt het een goede keuze voor mensen die interesse hebben om met literatuur te beginnen, ook al telt het bijna 1200 pagina’s. Het is moeilijk te geloven dat de verhaallijn op meerdere waargebeurde gebeurtenissen is gebaseerd, maar dat geeft het boek nog meer karakter dan het al had.
Natuurlijk biedt de lengte van het boek volop ruimte om de ontwikkeling van de personages uit te werken, maar dat kan ook het risico met zich meebrengen dat het traag of vermoeiend wordt. Daar is hier echter geen sprake van. De graaf zelf, en daarmee Edmond Dantés, is vanzelfsprekend het meest interessante personage. Vooral zijn drijfveer, de jacht op wraak, maar ook zijn bedenkingen hierbij die hij zo nu en dan heeft, geeft nieuwe inzichten en bijzondere perspectieven. Een ander opvallend aspect is dat dit, voor zo’n veelgeprezen stuk (Franse) literatuur, verrassend helder en niet mystiek of ontoegankelijk is. Dat maakt het een goede keuze voor mensen die interesse hebben om met literatuur te beginnen, ook al telt het bijna 1200 pagina’s. Het is moeilijk te geloven dat de verhaallijn op meerdere waargebeurde gebeurtenissen is gebaseerd, maar dat geeft het boek nog meer karakter dan het al had.
August 4, 2022
Twee jaar geleden begonnen in deze wel heel dikke klassieker. De laatste dertig hoofdstukken gelezen in de zomervakantie in de achtertuin.
Drama, bedrog, liefde, wraak, eenzame opsluiting, avontuur en alles in de 19e eeuw met de romantiek van struikrovers, paarde koetsen, Parijs en het mooie Rome.
Een sluier van mysterie en oosterse betovering laten je tot het einde op je punt van je stoel zitten.
Drama, bedrog, liefde, wraak, eenzame opsluiting, avontuur en alles in de 19e eeuw met de romantiek van struikrovers, paarde koetsen, Parijs en het mooie Rome.
Een sluier van mysterie en oosterse betovering laten je tot het einde op je punt van je stoel zitten.
May 7, 2022
Groots verhaal over wraak en de impact op de gewraakten en de wraaknemer. Intéressante duiding bij tot stand komen van het verhaal en het leven van de schrijver. Klassieker om te lezen, ook over hoop en wanhoop, eerlijkheid en bedrog binnen die tijdsgeest.
May 4, 2025
Nota: li a versão do circulo de leitores de 445 páginas
June 12, 2021
ESTOU TAO ANSIOSA PARA O ULTIMO LIVRO. Ha partes em q fico confusa por serem tantas personagens e tantos nomes. Eu so nos ultimos capitulos percebi q o Maximiliano é o Morrel hahahaha acho que vou precisar de ler resumos e coisas do género quando acabar o livro para perceber verdadeiramente mas estou a adorar cada segundo. O que me tem feito pensar mais agora é o motivo que faz toda a gente adorar o conde. É algo que nao vamos ter resposta mas é algo interessante para pensar
November 23, 2008
Story of revenge. A very good book.
September 9, 2016
Excellent story combined with excellent style and verbiage.
November 3, 2022
I loved it. The end was quickly convenient but it was such a fun, good read.
May 24, 2025
Wacht en hoop
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews