The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (16+)

I would love to say that my hiatus these past few months has been owing to being absorbed into the thrilling world of The Count of Monte Cristo, but instead, I was focusing on my university studies! Exam season was tough, but I am excited to return to a regular update schedule this summer (follow me on Linkedin to stay-up-to-date with my progress)!

Having said all this, I guess to some extent I have been wrapped up in Monte Cristo’s story, as its 1,276 pages did take a while to get through…

Its complex plot and plethora of twists and turns mean that every page captures an important component of Dumas’s thrilling classic, published serially from 1844 to 1846 in France.

Widely considered one of the best adventure novels of all time, The Count of Monte Cristo follows Edmond Dantès, a kind-hearted sailor who seems to have it all: a devoted crew that regards him in the highest esteem, status as the soon-to-be captain of a well-regarded vessel, the most beautiful woman in Marseilles as his loving fiancé, and the ever-present admiration and respect of nearly everyone in his vicinity.

Yet, this idyllic life is short-lived, as the ireful jealousy of those closest to him steals everything by falsely imprisoning Dantès for this time period’s most unforgivable crime.

Soon, the acclaimed sailor – considered the best in the entirety of France – finds himself locked inside the Château d’If, France’s most impenetrable and infamous prison for only the most hardened of criminals.

His unjust confinement showcases the terror and anxiety of such a situation, where Dantès must overcome his own mental battles before he can turn his attention elsewhere.

Yet, though his future may seem bleak, hope has not completely disappeared for the young man, as, by chance, he meets the Abbé Faria through the wall of his cell.

His cell-neighbour, the Abbé Faria, is committed to breaking out of his cell and finding a legendary treasure beyond their wildest dreams, which he believes to be hidden on the deserted isle of Monte Cristo.

As he becomes a paternal figure to Dantès, he shares not only his treasure map, but his treasure trove of information on everything from high-society manners from his upbringing in a noble Italian family, to his many languages and academic pursuits – such as history and politics.

Dantès being a fast learner, it isn’t long before the Abbé Faria has passed all of his knowledge onto his surrogate son – as well as developed an unlikely father-son relationship within the Château d’If prison walls.

However, tragedy strikes in the most unexpected of ways and Dantès is forced to make a desperate dive (pun intended – you’ll understand how clever this joke is once you’ve read the book) into the unknown in efforts to escape.

Conflicted as he may be, Dantès makes a promise to himself that he will find the Abbé Faria’s prized treasure and enact revenge upon those who wronged him.

This kick-starts a thrilling decades-long adventure across the world, where Dantès embraces his new identity: the mysterious and unimaginably rich Count of Monte Cristo.

As he re-enters society armed with a vast fortune and a genius revenge plot — which the reader only pieces together as the novel unfolds, so the plot twists are definitely intense! — the intricate narrative follows not only the Count of Monte Cristo, but also the many others that become involved in his elaborate scheme over the years.

Given how complex this plot is, no wonder this famous adventure novel is over 1,000 pages!

Having said that, do not let this long-haul read put you off exploring this brilliant quest for revenge. Not only is it a rewarding read — plus bragging rights of telling people you’ve read it — but a great test of patience.

In the digital world of immediate gratification, it’s easy to default to other mediums of entertainment that involve less focus and commitment than an intellectually stimulating read.

In fact, the average human attention span has dwindled to eight seconds, which is even less than that of a goldfish … As such, I encourage you to test if you can focus on reading this book for at least a little longer than a goldfish by embracing the Count of Monte Cristo challenge!

On a final note, I’d also like to hear your thoughts on my column; for any comments on The Count of Monte Cristo or simply to give me a book recommendation of whatever you’re reading at the moment (I appreciate all messages from members of our community!), contact me at bookspacebda@gmail.com to tell me all about it.