The Count of Montecristo: A Classic Not To Be Ignored

Raise your hand if you're afraid of books over 500 pages. Even the most avid readers can be intimidated by a rather substantial volume. Not to mention the more or less reverential fear that the word “classic” can evoke. Classics are often labeled as difficult or boring, and if they are also larger than average, the result is a terrified reader who will never decide to tackle them. However, there are some wonderful exceptions, and today I'm going to tell you about one of them.

The Count of Montecristo is a tome of over a thousand pages, but despite its impressive size, it reads like a dream. When it comes to classic bricks, the first ones that come to mind are definitely the Russians. If Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Bulgakov, and co. scare you, there is no syllogistic reasoning why you should also fear The Count of Montecristo. While Russian narratives are usually slow and dwell more on the psychology of the characters than on the events themselves, in Dumas' work you will find a succession of events that will keep you glued to the pages. The plot is very dense, references and characters reappear after some time, events that seem apparently unrelated to the development of the plot turn out to be essential, and in the end everything perfectly fits together in an intricate narrative. It is a mix of genres, as is typical of the great serial novels of the 19th century - adventure, coming-of-age, love story, with gothic elements and well-defined, original characters (for those who have read it, the character of Eugenie Danglars is an extraordinarily modern female character). In short, it is a rich work in many ways.

But let's talk about him, the one and only protagonist: Edmond Dantès, the Count of Montecristo. Rarely have I become as attached to a character as I did with Edmond. We meet him as a young boy, naive and innocent, in love and full of hope for the future. We see him grow into a mature man who no longer has that sparkle in his eyes, who becomes charming, mysterious, even macabre and disturbing. Edmond's story is very famous and is inspired by a real event in 19th-century France. Edmond Dantès is unjustly imprisoned on his wedding day to the beautiful Mercedes, he's accused of Bonapartism in Restoration France and incarcerated for fourteen long years, at the end of which he manages to escape and finally begin his elaborate plan - to take revenge on those who unjustly imprisoned him. From that moment on, Edmond Dantès no longer exists. He becomes The Count of Montecristo.

From the opening scene, in which the ship Pharaon returns to the port of Marseille after a long voyage, there is a relentless succession of events and action, very much in the style of an adventure novel. Edmond's life changes during his period of imprisonment. He grows up, experiences pain, hunger, and suffering, borders on madness, and hits rock bottom. But these are also years of friendship, learning, and growth, which lay the foundations for the person he will become. Only after being deeply unhappy will Dantès be able to appreciate true happiness. His revenge is almost a divine plan. The count feels like an emissary of Providence and is changed forever. It is difficult to talk about a book like this without risking spoilers, so I will stop here.

With its fast pace, a beautifully drawn protagonist who has much to teach and whom you grow fond of as if he were a friend, and a dense plot rich in characters and events, The Count of Montecristo is a narrative masterpiece capable of keeping even the most reluctant readers glued to its pages. What else can we say, except read it!

Until next time,

Chiara