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

I agree Cornish - I definitely think that the Count would have been happier if he had escaped from jail, taken revenge swiftly, and then settled down to enjoy life while still a relatively young man. All this brooding over and planning for years and years has not been good for him. I appreciate that would have made for a shorter, less interesting book, however!

That all makes sense about the Count being a role, and I’m really hoping for Edmond to get some of his humanity back at the end (although I’ve read it before, I don’t remember anything past the escape from the chateau d’If - beginning to wonder if I actually gave up during the Rome chapters and have forgotten that I actually didn’t finish it! 😄)

I hadn’t fully joined the dots about the fact that all the ridiculous spending is at Danglars’ expense (over and about the telegraph message) - that makes it much more enjoyable!

Finally, today’s chapter: what a coincidence! Wasn’t expecting that blast from the past.

That's very true, MotherOfCatBoy. The Count is a persona. The real person is still there but is mostly closed off from the reader's perspective. Perhaps that is why it is difficult to like him at times.

There’s a passage quite early on, still in prison, where his thoughts turn to revenge - after Faria’s death I think. Especially since Faria helped him figure it all out. I think until then he thought it was all a dreadful mistake, but then it dawns that it was deliberate, and he swears vengeance. You can see why, being denied his marriage to Mercedes, being denied any kind of life at all, left to rot, with his poor father never knowing what happened to his son. And those that did that to him, did it quite casually, without much of a second thought.

It seems being the Count is sort of a role - maybe his primary role, but I’m not sure it’s his real identity. It’s like being Busoni or Wilmore. We just don’t see Edmond from the inside any more, we see the Count through third person eyes. It’s a very effective dramatic device. Only the moments when he is near Mercedes show deep, concealed emotion.

Yes Cornish, it would seem so. We don't know much about Mme Danglars yet. Maybe they are just covering it up and keeping the lid on things?
That's a very good point about the Bank of Danglars footing the bill for the extravagant meal!

It’s an interesting question - at least he might have been happier by finding les elaborate and quicker means of revenge then moving on.

good spot that cavalcanti jr is Benedetto - I wouldn’t have thought of that (in fact I’d somehow forgotten him until that incident was mentioned).

I think the fun of the grotesque overspending is because he’s doing it on Danglars’ unlimited credit?

Great to see so much come together in the dinner chapter, the staging of the scene to devestate Mme Danglars and Villefort was brilliant. But although I’ve been happy to suspend disbelief through most of the book, are we asked to believe that Villefort disposed of their own baby and they are still good friends?

There are so many sayings about revenge, often giving opposing advice - revenge is a dish best served cold, vengeance is mine said the lord. Edmond is clearly taking the former option.

I don’t actually know what happens at the end, but I’m sure there will be some kind of moral to the story.

That's an interesting discussion point, TonTon, whether Edmond had to become The Count or not. Once he gained his freedom, you could argue that he could have become anybody and have lived any life he wanted. Of course it was a point of honour that he took up the quest for revenge. His old identity had been erased in any case. You would wonder if it will bring him happiness. That's a question for later on.

I also enjoyed the humour in the dinner scene. Danglars was oblivious to it all. I suspect Madame Villefort knows about the affair. What is she up to with that little phial of liquid I wonder?! She's very handy with it

I was looking at a part of the trailer for the Depardieu version on YouTube,mand he asks 'Do you think. I want to be TCDMC? He is cold and ruthless. I was happy being Edmond Dantes'. He becomes an instrument of vengeance.

The Dinner is quite funny, with Villefort and Madame Danglars both having conniptions, most of the others blissfully unaware, and the two Cavalcantis wondering WTF is going on!

Well. I just looked at the character table and am not surprised I can't keep up.

I'm enjoying that some people are noticing their past exploits catching up to them and are worried about it. I also really want to how exactly the revenge will take place. Some big show down? Or will he set wheels in motion and ride off as everyone's businesses fall apart?

I continue to be uneasy cheering for the Count. I don't think he has much integrity and it's interesting to see how absolutely entitled the wealth has made him. Had his story continued as it started he would never have been this rich and able to get live fish carried across continents.

Loved the chapter title for Monday having now read it! Looking forward to Dinner..

I am at exactly the right place and can't wait to read Dinner tomorrow (and then come here and have it all explained to me)

@FuzzyCaoraDhubh

Planning on it bug haven't found it for free yet

All the best! Are you going to watch the film at some stage?

Got muddled and read Tuesday's and Wednesday's chapters in the wrong order. Checked the chapter outline (thank you AgualusasLover) and put them the right way round and read them again.

These are very, very good! I really enjoyed the intrigue. Very satisfying.

Sets the scene nicely for the dinner party, modern soaps have nothing on this set up!

I enjoyed La Baronne Danglars virtual eye rolls at the stupid things her husband says.

Ooh good chapter today! It’s all starting to come together…

We will miss you @EineReiseDurchDieZeit but enjoy your other reading!

I am sad to say I'm bowing out. I've fallen too far behind and I've lost the thread of it and don't know what's going on

Thanks for doing this though @AgualusasLover

That makes sense, @AgualusasLover . There's no love lost between Villefort and his father, that's for sure.

I haven’t read the last few pages of messages - I’ve fallen about a week behind the rest of you, ‘cos… well, life stuff 🙄

I’ve popped up because I have a week off work next week, so will be getting caught up shortly, I’ll be damned if I get over half way through, just to flounder whilst the revenge is getting properly going! 👋