"Revenge is a dish best served cold"
What does that quote even mean? Does anyone really know? I feel it refers to the process of revenge. Drag it out. Calculate. Enjoy the sweet journey! If that is in fact the definition of this oft-used quote, then it undoubtedly applies to the Count of Monte Cristo.
I took on this epic from the recommendation of an English teacher I know. Out of respect for this persons privacy I won't mention her (darnit, just eliminated half the population) name. But she's intelligent, affable and damn she knows how to suggest a book!! I have to say this is the best classic I have ever read. When I read a classic, lets face it, my mind tends to wander (hockey ... work ... Scarlett Johansson), but in this novel, there was little if any "wandering".
Before taking on "Count" I read some reviews and the synopsis on Goodreads. Following this "pre-read" research, I mistakenly thought this book was solely a story of revenge. The novel isn't entirely about retribution. The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel! It's a story of growth and remorse. It's historical, social, political, benevolent and psychological. Dumas makes social and political statements throughout the novel.
Before we discuss the book, let's take a look at Alexandre Dumas. Brief and concise, just the facts maam - Dumas was born in 1802 and died in 1870 (68 for the mathematically-challenged). Dumas started his career as a journalist and then a playwright producing dramas and comedies. Another of Dumas's works is The Three Musketeers. I'll be taking on that one very soon!! Dumas and his father had a falling-out from which the two never reconciled. His father was a general in Napoleon's army. Dumas was a great admirer of Napoleon, and this is seen from time to time in the Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas made a pretty penny from all his works. With his wealth he built the Chateaux de Monte Cristo just outside of Paris. If I ever get around to seeing France, a visit to this museum will be on the itinerary for sure.
Now, on to the novel. The Count of Monte Cristo was written in literature's Romantic period (1830 - 1870). It was originally published in serial form for magazines. Imagine how profitable that would have been for a magazine to publish little chunks (weekly/monthly) of this great, epic piece of work! The story takes place right after Napoleon's exile to Elba. It begins with our protagonist - Edmond Dantes, arriving at Marseilles on board a ship called the Pharaon. The Pharaon is owned by Dantes's amiable boss named Morrel. Now Dantes is a great guy - he's kind, very smart and hard-working. He's got a great-looking girlfriend (Mercedes) who he is about to marry and is all set to receive a big promotion from Morrel to the position of Captain. I'd even like to hang out with him for crying out loud, but he has his innocent-flaws ... to a fault! He's a tad too trusting and credulous. To quote Deadpool:
"Life is an endless series of trainwrecks with only brief commercial-like breaks of happiness"
OK Dantes - it's time to return to our regularly scheduled programming. Unbeknownst to poor Dantes, there are people conspiring to do him in. Firstly there is Danglars. He's a shipmate of Dantes who wants the Captain spot. He's cunning, nasty and a knave. Then there is Fernand. Fernand wants Mercedes and we all know how ugly jealousy can be. There is also a drunken, cowardly imbecile named Caderousse who is, well - a drunken, cowardly imbecile. Fernand and Danglars hatch a plan to frame Dantes for treason. Their plan works and Dantes is sent to prison. The prosecutor named Villefort has his own agenda and he has a hand in putting Dantes away for life.
Dantes is sent to a prison cell in the dungeon of Chateau d'If (pronounced like "beef" only with a D) where he is cold, alone and going basically nuts. Eventually he meets a fellow prisoner name Abbe Faria. He becomes good friends with Faria. He teaches Dantes all sorts of worldly stuff. He also shows Dantes how to find out who it was that double-crossed his sorry ass. Faria then has a number of small strokes. Finally (and sadly), Faria dies but not before he passes along some valuable info to Dantes - a treasure! This treasure is located on, none other than - the island of Monte Cristo. Dantes escapes and gets his hands on the loot. With his newfound knowledge and the treasure he begins to exact his revenge on the four men responsible for his misery.
The Red Sox beat my Yankees in the ALCS and I was bummed. Like most Yankee fans I refused to watch the World Series between the Sox and the Cards. I bet this occurs often in sports - when a rival team advances, the beaten team's fans refuse to watch any further. Now I rarely miss the fall-classic and being a big baseball fan I tore myself away from my busy day of turning oxygen into carbon dioxide and tuned in to the game. 
