Le Comte de Monte Le Comte de Monte CristoCristo

““Dantès”Dantès”

The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel by is an adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas. It is Alexandre Dumas. It is often considered to be, often considered to be, along with along with The Three The Three MusketeersMusketeers, Dumas's , Dumas's most popular work.most popular work.

The book takes place in France, Italy, The book takes place in France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean and the islands in the Mediterranean and the Levant during the historical events Levant during the historical events 1815–1838, just before the 100 days of 1815–1838, just before the 100 days of Napoleon. Napoleon.

The French Revolutionary and The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars pitted France against Napoleonic Wars pitted France against various coalitions of other European various coalitions of other European nations nearly continuously from 1792 nations nearly continuously from 1792 onward.onward.

In the book, Dumas tells of the return of In the book, Dumas tells of the return of Napoleon I in 1815 and alludes at least Napoleon I in 1815 and alludes at least once to the contemporary events when the once to the contemporary events when the governor at the governor at the Château d'IfChâteau d'If is promoted to is promoted to a position at the castle of Ham.a position at the castle of Ham.

The book was translated into virtually all The book was translated into virtually all modern languages and has never been out modern languages and has never been out of print in most of them. of print in most of them.

There have been at There have been at least twenty-nine least twenty-nine motion pictures based motion pictures based on it ... as well as on it ... as well as several television several television series, and many series, and many movies have worked movies have worked the name 'Monte the name 'Monte Cristo' into their titles.Cristo' into their titles.

Edmond DantèsEdmond Dantès

In 1815 Edmond Dantès, the young and In 1815 Edmond Dantès, the young and successful merchant sailor recently successful merchant sailor recently granted his own command by his dying granted his own command by his dying captain Leclère, returns to Marseille to captain Leclère, returns to Marseille to marry his fiancée Mercédès. marry his fiancée Mercédès.

Leclère, a supporter of the exiled Leclère, a supporter of the exiled Napoléon I, has charged Dantès to deliver Napoléon I, has charged Dantès to deliver two objects: a package to Maréchal two objects: a package to Maréchal Bertrand (exiled with Napoleon Bonaparte Bertrand (exiled with Napoleon Bonaparte on Elba), and a letter from Elba to an on Elba), and a letter from Elba to an unknown man in Paris. unknown man in Paris.

On the eve of his wedding to Mercédès, On the eve of his wedding to Mercédès, Fernand (Mercédès' cousin and a rival for Fernand (Mercédès' cousin and a rival for her affections) and Danglars (who is her affections) and Danglars (who is jealous of Dantes' rapid rise to captain) jealous of Dantes' rapid rise to captain) send an anonymous note accusing Dantès send an anonymous note accusing Dantès of being a Bonapartist traitor. of being a Bonapartist traitor.

Villefort, the deputy crown prosecutor in Villefort, the deputy crown prosecutor in Marseille, while initially sympathetic to Marseille, while initially sympathetic to Dantès, destroys the letter from Elba when Dantès, destroys the letter from Elba when he discovers that it is addressed to his he discovers that it is addressed to his father who is a Bonapartist. father who is a Bonapartist.

In order to silence Dantès, he condemns In order to silence Dantès, he condemns him without trial to life imprisonment.him without trial to life imprisonment.