I have to confess - the first time I tried reading this book, I tried reading the unabridged version which turned out to be too much for me. It took me a good chunk of time to get through the first 300 pages. There was a lot of historical information that I didn't find interesting at the time, but I am going to attempt to read the unabridged version again someday because this book is totally worth it.

I devoured the abridged version. The story of Edmond Dantes and his transformation into The Count of Monte Cristo is dramatic and flawless. The wronged Edmond Dantes finds himself confronted with an intense thirst for justice and revenge against the men who condemned him to prison. As the Count of Monte Cristo, he reintegrates himself into their circle and stages the scene for his revenge.

Edmond constantly places justice on the same plate as revenge; but there are times he faces a moral crisis as to whether his vengeance is justified. Nevertheless, he carries out his plan until the end.

Yet, the previously jovial and good-natured Edmond is not completely lost after his experience in prison. As the Count of Monte Cristo, he saves those who are abandoned and good people, earning their loyalty because of his sincere goodness to them. The younger generation of characters which includes Albert and Maximillien also bring an aspect of friendship, love, and loyalty into the story.

The unabridged volume is kind of daunting, but reading this particular abridged version will help draw you into the story and hopefully like in my case, give you a larger incentive to eventually try the unabridged version. Dumas weaves such a splendid narrative, one in which all the characters are connected and none are wasted. I often found myself playing the detective, trying to piece together seemingly separate events that all seem to come together in the end. This is definitely a masterpiece of literature.