The Count of Monte Cristo

Le comte de Monte Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo) is a classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. It is often considered Dumas' best work, and is frequently included on lists of the best novels of all time. The writing of the work was completed in 1844, and released as an 18-part series over the next two years. Dumas collaborated with other authors in the writing.

Rewards

Dantès returns to Marseille in order to reconnect with his loved ones, however he finds only despair. Taking on several personae, those of the Abbé Busoni and Lord Wilmore, Edmond Dantès is able to confirm his suspicions through Caderousse, whom he visits under the pretence of an Italian Abbé fulfilling Edmond's last wishes. From his old neighbor he learns that all those who betrayed him have succeeded in life; Fernand has become a Count and a peer of France, Danglars a Baron and the wealthiest banker in Paris, and Villefort the embodiment of Parisian justice as the Procureur du Roi. What is more, Fernand has married Mercédès, and they have a son, Albert.

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At the start of the novel, M. Morrel is the affluent and amicable proprietor of a booming ship-owning business. Yet during Edmond's imprisonment, Morrel has suffered a never-ending series of setbacks and at the time of Edmond's return to Marseille, all that is left his two children, Julie and Maximilian, and a few loyal retainers. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and Morrel is poised to commit suicide; knowing all of this Dantes aids the company and the family, though the identity of their benefactor is unknown to them for the aid came by one calling himself only "Sinbad the Sailor".

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