The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)

Description

One of the grandest tales of adventure, Alexandre Dumas’s epic novel of revenge, perseverance, lost love, and self-invention—now a PBS Masterpiece miniseries starring Sam Claflin and Jeremy Irons “My desert island book . . . No matter how many times I revisit it, I find new lines to appreciate, new narrative corners to explore.”—V. E. Schwab, The New York Times Book Review Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of the Château d’If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to use the treasure to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Robin Buss’s lively translation is complete and unabridged, and remains faithful to the style of Dumas’s original. This edition includes an introduction, chronology, explanatory notes, and suggestions for further reading. Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. Review: Possibly the best book ever. - This has to be one of the greatest novels of all times. It was almost ten years ago when I first heard of this book. Everyone around me told me that I should read this book, but back then, I was intimidated by the volume of this novel that I actually put off reading it until two years ago. I first read it in Japanese and the series that I read was seven parts long. It took me three weeks to read it. And recently I decided to take the journey again by reading it in English. This book was brilliant. Right from the start, you are familiarized with the historical events of that time and you are drawn into the story with a magical touch. Then, next thing you know, Edmond Dante’s is arrested for treason and is sent to the darkest prison in the middle of nowhere. His so-called friends set him up. And this day forward, his battle for justice and revenge begins. The book is full of emotions. The moment you start reading it, you become the character and you and Dante’s together, will set out on a long journey of revenge. This is more than a five star book. Words can’t express how good this book is. It’s a must-read. Review: デュマの遠大な構想力。読後の充足感は他に類をみない。 - 1243ページの超大作。読むのに時間がかかったが、でも、長すぎると思ったことは一度もなかった。次から次へと展開するストーリーに常にわくわくさせられた。読後の充足感はとても高い。長く時間をかけて読んだ物語であるだけに、読後の余韻はなかなか消えない。 この本、今朝日新聞に連載されている筒井康隆の読書歴のなかで彼が少年期に読みふけった一冊として紹介されているが、同様の体験を有する識者・文化人の数は多い。だから、50代になった自分としても、遅まきながら、一度は読んでみたいと思っていた。読んでよかった。デュマの遠大な構想力には恐れ入った。ついでながら、1９世紀のヨーロッパ社会はこんなだったのかと垣間見ることが出来たのも良かった。 なお、自分は当初岩波文庫で読み始めた（岩波の翻訳は良いと思う）のだが、本屋（と言うか、ブックオフ）で全巻揃えて購入するのは結構大変だったので、注文してこのPenguin Classicsの英語版で読むことにした。それに、値段的にも岩波文庫全巻を揃えるよりも安上がりになる。ただ、この一冊は重くて嵩張るので通勤電車の中や旅行時の携帯には難があった。なお、Worsworth Classicsからもこの本が出版されているが、どうやらそれは抄訳であり、訳もPenguinの方が読みやすいとの評である。