The Count of Monte Cristo

Book excerpt: The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the great literary adventures, indeed William Thackeray was so enthralled he began reading 'at six one morning and never stopped till eleven at night'.The hero is Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who, falsely accused of treason, is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of Chateau d'If. After staging a dramatic escape he sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo and catch up with his enemies. A novel ofenormous tension and excitement, Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge, with Dantes, believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', pursuing his vengeance to the bitter end before realizing that he himself is a victim of fate.This new edition uses the classic, anonymous translation that has been in print since the nineteenth century.