Book review: The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexander Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo

"Well, we're mortal, and the old must make way for the young, otherwise there would be no promotion", thus starts the story of Edmond Dantes. With a very promising career and a beautiful fiancee whom he loves so very dearly, this handsome nineteen year old lad has the world at his feet, but it is not meant to be since jealous hearts masterminded a  devious scheme that screwed up everything he should have had.

Told in 1844 by Alexander Dumas, "The Count of Monte Cristo" had attracted and is still attracting readers all over the world in every language it is published. There must be something universal in it:  the story of human endurance, hope, revenge, justice, mercy and forgiveness indeed transcend all race, gender and age.

In this abridged translation of  Lowell Bair I advise the readers not to turn any page unread lest they will be lost as the story unfolds; for not one of the character is unimportant enough to be omitted. Every character plays vital roles in the evolution of the story.

As a reader, I am able to accompany Edmond Dantes through his serial emotional growth and spiritual progress, from innocence and verve of youth through insecurities, doubts, human weaknesses converted to hope, endurance, strong conviction and self confidence, through hate and vengeance transcending to  mercy and magnanimous forgiveness; but of course forgiveness when justice was served and where forgiveness was sought by the avengers: forgiveness that was sadly sought only after everything had already crumbled.

Told at the backdrop of Napoleonic era where human freedom can be easily transgressed by those in power, this story will remain relevant whenever and wherever this freedom is likewise transgressed; probably the very reason why our national hero, a writer himself, was so deeply moved by the novel up to the extent that he paid a personal visit to Chateau D'if.

The 2002 movie adaptation can be enjoyed if the viewer has not recently read the book; but like in almost all movie adaptations, the essence of the book is sacrificed for the sake of commercialism: the plot is usually twisted to suit the audience's taste, for never would the movie come close to the eloquence of the prose.

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