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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
OP posts:
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15
Buttalapasta · 02/03/2025 18:41

Thank you @AgualusasLover !

MonOncle · 02/03/2025 18:35

Thank you @AgualusasLover / @LeylaOfCircassia I’ve downloaded the character sheet.

The ‘free’ Sundays are turning out to be very helpful for catching up (she says, just starting Rise and Fall).

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 02/03/2025 18:32

I absolutely applaud your efforts here Captain

LeylaOfCircassia · 02/03/2025 18:21

Not my best work.

Bienvenue à Marseille | 2025 The Count of Monte Christo, read-a-long
LeylaOfCircassia · 02/03/2025 17:18

This is Agualusa with my laptop account (don't ask)!

I have found a very helpful visual character map. In terms of spoliers it will show:

  • who Villefort had his affair with
  • aliases (is that a word) related to a character
  • the death of someone and who is responsible
  • also who are friends/allies and lovers

But the good news is, I can probably pull a list from it and delete the bits above, I think.

Original poster
AgualusasLover · 02/03/2025 16:46

I am about to catch up, but wanted to post next week’s chapters first. Looks like there are more characters coming.

This week should have included and ended with,

Rise and Fall

Next week’s chapters:

Monday
Major Cavalcanti
‘Neither the count not Bapistin had lied …’

Tuesday
Andrea Cavalcanti
‘The Count of Monte Christo went into the neighbouring room…’

Wednesday
The Alfalfa Field
‘Our readers must allow us to take them back …’

Thursday
Monsieur Noirtier de Villefort
‘Here is what has happened in the crown prosecutor’s house…’

Friday
The Will
‘As Barrois went out, Noirtier looked at Valentine…’

Saturday
The Telegraph
‘When M. and Mme de Villefort returned to their own apartment …’

Sunday – day of rest

OP posts:
CornishLizard · 02/03/2025 16:42

I’m enjoying him knowing everything too cassandre. I love the count’s comment in Robert le Diable about sending regards to Countess G from her friend the Vampire - he even knows that she said that about him! And yes it was great when Albert said he’d rather upset his father than his mother (though we know there’s self interest in that too as he’s not too keen on his father’s choice).

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 02/03/2025 14:30

That would be great thanks @AgualusasLover

cassandre · 02/03/2025 14:13

Good luck @lifeturnsonadime , I'm sure you'll be great!

I also find myself getting confused about which character is which. It's tricky now that the three original villains all have wives and grown children. In the 'Robert le diable' chapter at the opera, it took me awhile to realise that 'Moncerf' is Albert, whereas the Comte de Moncerf, who makes a late entrance into the chapter, is Albert's father, aka Fernand.

Whom is Mme de Villefort so keen to poison, I wonder? And how does the Count know she wants to poison someone? That last question isn't really serious, because obviously the Count just knows everything, ha. (Haydee: look! That man betrayed my father! Count: Really? Why don't you tell me all about it.)

It clearly speaks well of Albert that he is so keen not to upset his mother. And it speaks well of his mother (Mercedes) that she can't stand the Danglars family.

Buttalapasta · 02/03/2025 09:07

@AgualusasLover If you have the time and the inclination, it would certainly be appreciated!

lifeturnsonadime · 02/03/2025 08:49

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/03/2025 18:06

Yes I think so! Best of luck in your new job!

Show quote history

Thanks, it's been a bit daunting because I've had an extended career break to supervise educating my children who have sen needs which made school difficult.

I'm getting used to it now though, although it's making me feel very old so far, all the other new starters are at least 20 years younger!

Original poster
AgualusasLover · 01/03/2025 21:49

Checking in - when I do next weeks chapter list tomorrow, I’m happy to try and create a bit of a character list (I’ve read it before so anything I encounter will just be reminder).

I can create it fully but post updates as we
encounter new people

OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 01/03/2025 18:35

There is a character map for TCOMC but it's full of spoilers apparently.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/03/2025 18:06

lifeturnsonadime · 01/03/2025 14:54

Just checking in, I've started a new job this week so haven't had much time, I think i'm up to date now though, just read Rise and Fall, is that right?

Yes I think so! Best of luck in your new job!

lifeturnsonadime · 01/03/2025 14:54

Yes I'm struggling with the plot a bit, I wish I'd started off by doing a spider map (or something ) of how all of the characters interconnect!

lifeturnsonadime · 01/03/2025 14:54

Just checking in, I've started a new job this week so haven't had much time, I think i'm up to date now though, just read Rise and Fall, is that right?

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/03/2025 13:34

I know what you mean 😄 @EineReiseDurchDieZeit

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/03/2025 13:32

I am caught up now @FuzzyCaoraDhubh but still it meanders so much I'm never sure what is going on!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/03/2025 13:10

Aw @EineReiseDurchDieZeit !
Where did you stop? I'll try and fill you in!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 01/03/2025 12:33

I have fallen behind and am a bit lost.

Tarahumara · 01/03/2025 09:07

A couple more Shmoop summaries:

Ch 52 Toxicology

  • Potion and poison time.
  • At the Villeforts', the Count and Mrs. Villefort discuss various potions and poisons.
  • The Count and Mrs. Villefort's paths crossed once before in Rome.
  • While in Rome, the Count had a reputation of being a great doctor, apparently.
  • The Count tells Mrs. Villefort about certain concoctions that can heal someone in small doses but that are lethal in larger doses.

Ch 53 Robert le Diable

  • Once again, it's opera time. The Count and Haydée arrive in style and everyone's eyes are on them.
  • The Count pays a visit to the Danglars's box at the opera (frequent opera-goers and wealthy families often own a whole section of seats at the opera). He chats them up, along with Fernand, Albert, and Eugénie, who are also there.
  • Down below, Haydée sees something and practically passes out from what she has seen.
  • The Count leaves the Danglars's box and returns to Haydée.
  • Haydée tells him that she caught sight of Fernand, the man who sold her into slavery and who turned her father over to the Turks.
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/03/2025 09:02

Is today's chapter 'Rise and Fall'?
And tomorrow is a day off?

I liked the chapter at the opera. I was thinking how irritating it must have been for people who were there for the opera to have all the people coming and going and talking around them.

BiscuitsBooks · 28/02/2025 13:42

Loved yesterday's chapter 'Toxicology'. Edmond at his best (or worst, depending on your point of view) navigating the conversation so that he can talk at great length about poison to Mme de Villefort.

TonTonMacoute · 27/02/2025 16:07

Dumas was obviously going through a Shakespearian phase when he wrote these chapters, there are a couple of references in Edmond’s conversation with Mme de Villefort.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 27/02/2025 13:29

DuPainDuVinDuFromage · 27/02/2025 12:20

Meanwhile, today’s chapter is very “Chekhov’s poison” - wonder when we’ll see the outcome of that story thread and who it’ll be??

If I were Villefort, I'd be keeping two eyes on my glass of wine ;)