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Bienvenue à Marseille | 2025 The Count of Monte Christo, read-a-long

984 replies

AgualusasLover · 15/11/2024 13:18

Following the success of the continuing Dickensalongs, Fallen Women and various other classics, please join The Count of Monte Christo read-a-long, kicking off on 1 January 2025.

The ultimate tale of revenge, with swashbuckling, chicanery and bare faced lies - The Count of Monte Christo has it all.

Editions: most important point is an unabridged version, coming in at just over 1,200 pages. This thread discusses the various translations – the Penguin Classics, trans by Robin Buss is very popular and the one I am reading but what you have already is likely fine and the nuances of translation are always fun to discuss.

What’s the best translation of The Count of Monte Cristo? • We Love Translations

I’ve been thinking about the best way to read-a-long. There have been red-alongs by the day, in chunks and every which way.

I think we have two options:

There are 118 chapter and my proposal is we do one a day, starting on 1 January, 2025. (W&P and all the Fallen Women books worked well this way)

We could also convene weekly e.g. no spoilers until Sunday and read it as it was released, in 18 parts c.65 pages per week. (I remember The Woman in White worked well this way and so do the Dickensalongs)

For now, I have assumed a chapter a day as it has served us well so far, if the majority strongly object, I have put placeholders in my copy breaking it down and can update in readiness for January.

Schmoop very handily has chapter by chapter breakdowns. Here is the Intro https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/count-of-monte-cristo/

MN meet up in Marseille 2025!

Bienvenue à Marseille | 2025 The Count of Monte Christo, read-a-long
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MamaNewtNewt · 13/01/2025 22:11

I think Morrell has been doing his best, in fact he's gone above and beyond what I thought he would do. Especially taking care of the funeral of Dantes's father, which is a crime by all accounts. Good to see at least one person with some honour.

BiscuitsBooks · 13/01/2025 21:38

Chapter 13 was a fast-moving one. It appears that poor Dantes is being abandoned by everyone whether intentionally or not.

BiscuitsBooks · 13/01/2025 13:14

Wouldn't it have been better to destroy the clothes rather than hide them?!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 12/01/2025 23:04

I'd say so 😄

MamaNewtNewt · 12/01/2025 23:03

@FuzzyCaoraDhubh Good point! I assume his came from Napoleon, rather than from any King.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 12/01/2025 23:01

It's funny how father and son both have been awarded the legion of honour. Except that Noirtier has just thrown his away with his clothes.

cassandre · 12/01/2025 22:53

Agreed @MamaNewtNewt , it makes a welcome change from Villefort blushing and turning deadly pale every time anything incriminating is mentioned!

MamaNewtNewt · 12/01/2025 22:45

@cassandre very true, I definitely don't see the father as a good guy, I just find his a-murdering style more enjoyable than the son's.

cassandre · 12/01/2025 22:23

Thanks @FuzzyCaoraDhubh and @TonTonMacoute for the tu/vous comments! I should have noticed that but it sailed right over my head.

I can see what you mean, @MamaNewtNewt , about the father being a charismatic character. He certainly has panache and sangfroid! But he seems to share his son's casual disregard for human life. Father and son may be on opposite political sides but they're both ready to do whatever it takes to save their own skins.

MamaNewtNewt · 12/01/2025 21:57

I agree that the relationship between father and son was much more cordial than I expected. It's to Villefort's credit that he obviously loves his father, and isn't willing to betray him at least, no matter how many brownie points it would win him. I quite enjoyed Noirtier, he seemed to have a bit of a twinkle in his eye throughout, and to be enjoying himself immensely.

CutFlowers · 12/01/2025 20:09

I swapped to the Buss translation today. Interesting to hear the tu/vous observation.

CornishLizard · 12/01/2025 20:02

As I’m reading in English, interesting to read what I’m missing on tu/vous.

Great chapter today - veteran Noirtier is cool as a cucumber - shame about the murdering though.

TonTonMacoute · 12/01/2025 16:30

The tu vous thing in this scene is interesting (tedium alert for the readers of the English version).

It changes throughout the conversatIon, the more formal the tone of the discussion vous is used, when he lapses into affectionate father it switches to tu.

His father is so supremely confident that Napoleon will prevail it must be putting Villefort in a bit of a bind. What if Napoleon discovers he has unjustly imprisoned one of his important messengers?

I also note that this point is exactly halfway through volume 1 of my kindle edition!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 12/01/2025 15:20

These two are a lot more cordial towards each other than I had expected.

Before taking his leave of Villefort, Noirtier switches over to the 'vous' form.
I don't quite know why. He still calls him Gérard. He refers to the future. Maybe he's realising that they will always maintain opposing points of view.

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AgualusasLover · 12/01/2025 13:33

I did see Villefort in a slightly more sympathetic light today. He is still his father and whilst he is selfish and has condemned an innocent man, there does appear to be some depth of feeling between father and son.

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AgualusasLover · 12/01/2025 11:17

Chapter 12 - Father and Son

  • Once the valet leaves, M. Noirtier locks all the doors in the room.
  • Villefort asks his father if he knows anything about the Bonapartist club on the Rue Saint-Jacques; of course, he replies, I'm the vice president.
  • Villefort and his father discuss the matter of General Quesnel, spending a lot of time discussing the nature of "murder" in general. Noirtier tells him that the General had been invited to the club under the assumption he was a Bonaparte sympathizer; still, he swore to keep the plan secret. He must, Noirtier continue, have taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in the Seine. He assures his son that there's nothing anyone can do to stop Napoleon, then turns to leave.
  • Villefort stops him and tells him that the police have a description of the supposed murderer.
  • With surprising quickness, Noirtier gives himself a shave and dresses himself in his son's clothing.
  • Noirtier thanks Villefort for saving his life – he's serious – and promises to return the favor. He tells his son to give the king the straight dope on what's happening with Napoleon – in the end, his honesty will help him regain the monarchy's favor, should it be restored. He also assures him that he, Villefort, will get to keep his job in Marseille.
  • And then he's gone.
  • Villefort watches from the windows as he runs from the hotel, then gets to work disposing of his father's old clothing. Soon enough he's back in Marseille.
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AgualusasLover · 12/01/2025 08:41

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit maybe read a few ahead for a couple of days and see if it reels you in?

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MotherOfCatBoy · 12/01/2025 08:11

MamaNewtNewt · 11/01/2025 22:29

So is this king the brother of the king who was married to Marie Antoinette? If so no wonder he's a bit antsy about being usurped.

Villefort is a right little weasel, I don't think he's really built for intrigue and I reckon he's gonna have a stomach ulcer from the stress within ten chapters.

Yes, he is, but I had to look it all up on Wiki. Lots of background history!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 11/01/2025 22:42

Also the fact that he turns bright red and then pale when he's shocked might go against him!

MamaNewtNewt · 11/01/2025 22:29

So is this king the brother of the king who was married to Marie Antoinette? If so no wonder he's a bit antsy about being usurped.

Villefort is a right little weasel, I don't think he's really built for intrigue and I reckon he's gonna have a stomach ulcer from the stress within ten chapters.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 11/01/2025 20:53

I have stuck with it but I'm not connecting properly with it as a tale as yet.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 11/01/2025 20:09

That's a good observation about the chapter headings. A nice parallel between two sets of fathers and sons. Also the two betrothals.

I would put my money on the 'covering his tracks' theory. The description of M. Noirtier made me laugh. It could be nearly anyone! I thought the king seemed sharp enough when he questioned Villefort.

There's no hanging about in this book. I love how Villefort was planning to take the next coach out of Paris and then up pops Noirtier.

TonTonMacoute · 11/01/2025 19:22

Villefort is shaping up as a really weasely player.

I did think it was odd when Louis asked him 'are you going to see your father now?' I assume he was still giving Noirtier the benefit of the doubt as to his loyalty.

JaninaDuszejko · 11/01/2025 18:51

After not finishing the chapter yesterday I've now caught up. How is Villefort's father known to the King and yet his description is only recognised by Villefort? And interesting that Villefort has not yet betrayed his father, is it out of filial love or is he covering his tracks so people can't work out why he put Dantes in prison?

I notice the next chapter is called 'Father and Son' just like the second chapter when we see Edmund and his father meet up for the first time in several months. Presumably tomorrow's chapter won't be quite as affectionate.

Ginsmything · 11/01/2025 18:35

Would recommend Marseille for a short break definitely. We stayed too long but it’s a beautiful place especially the port