The count of Monte Cristo

Long have I been desirous of writing on my favorite book. But loath enough to procrastinate it this long. The book goes by the title of this blog. "The count of monte cristo" by Alexandre Dumas appearing first in French and then translated to English.

When I was a kid, I used to be enamoured of books that spelt out treasure. Be it Enid Blyton where childish treasures were hidden and discovered to the books of pirates, Tom Sawyer, lost gold and refound. Even Tintin has a story wherein Captain Haddock comes off his inheritance though I forgot the title.

This book as I read it abridged as a child of 10 was hardly 80 pages long. But it sufficed my imagination at that period. Punished by fate, rewarded by destiny and riding into the sea's morning calm were all that the book spoke of. But it sustained enough enthusiasm in me to get the book (atleast borrow it) when I was in college and finish it in a frenzy. If there is a book that I like better than any other book in the world, it is this.

Going into a small prelude of the story :

Edmont Dantes is a young sea faring sailor soon to wed his beloved and become the captain of his own ship. Jealousy and ego of the people he calls friends force him into a prison : the most dreaded Chateau d' If. He cultivates a rich friendship with the guy in the next cell :Abbe Faria. They spent 15 years in the prison enriching each other's knowledge. On his death bed the abbe talks of a treasure of which Edmond becoms the master of soon after.

He begins a trip back to his past. Ghosts are revisited and hearts ripped apart. His father is dead. His beloved has married his rival. Everything good has been undone and the criminals flourish.

The story talks of the tale of repaid generosity and vengence the nemesis invokes on his enemies.

You may think that it is really a drama of tamil cinema : villains. Hero punished. Rescued by providence. Rewards good people. Punishes evil ones. Lives happily ever after.

But it is not so and to find why it is not so you GOTTA READ THIS BOOK.

Dumas remains one of my favorite authors for the single fact that the emotions behind his writing forces itself through the pages and into your eyes, soul and mind and makes you emote with the character. Along with the three musketeers, he has created a masterpiece : an epic saga of love, rivalry and vengence that intertwine in melliflous and harsh tones providing the symphony of the highest order.

I belong the old school of writing. My interests span the pre modern era. I dont identify or empathize with the book of today which you read with your mind. Not the heart. It forces you to logicize, reason out and struggle to interpret the author's view and ends open leaving you to make a conclusion.

Here are my favorite lines from the book. Though not the only ones.

""And now," said the unknown, "farewell kindness, humanity, and gratitude! Farewell to all the feelings that expand the heart! I have been heaven's substitute to recompense the good - now the god of vengeance yields to me his power to punish the wicked!""

Uttered by Monte cristo when he turns to play God to his enemies..

Click the title for a link to the book. Have a good read!!