Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas



The Count of Monte Cristo 
by
Alexandre Dumas


Edmond Dantes is on the verge of adult life. He has just been made captain of a ship and is about to marry his
beautiful fiancée, Mercedes. But he has enemies who envy him. And he has been foolish. At the dying request of the previous captain of his ship, the Pharaoh, he has carried a letter to the exiled Napoleon who has in turn given him a letter addressed to someone in Paris.
Edmond’s enemies denounce him to the local judge, Villefort, who recognises the name on the letter as his
father’s and is terrified that he will be linked with plots against the monarch. He sends Edmond to the Chateau
d’lf, a prison where men go and never return. 
After some time he makes contact with another prisoner, Faria, who has made a secret pathway under the prison. They meet regularly. Faria teaches Edmond about many things, and tells him about the Spada treasure on the island of Monte Cristo.
Faria dies and Edmond sees his chance. He changes places with the dead Faria, is thrown into the sea and rescued by a smuggling ship. He finally makes it to Monte Cristo and finds the treasure.
He returns to Marseilles a rich man, to find Mercedes at the home of his dying father. The novel ends happily, with Edmond and Mercedes sailing out of the harbour on his new boat.

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