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

[AgualusasLover]

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!

I'm looking forward to that. I'm betting she won't recognise him.

Edmond not showing his best side at the Breakfast, with his boasts of his slave mistress, the boys seem impressed though.

Agreed! That really was jarring. Not a good look!

Shmoop is back in sync again! I think they did two chapter summaries in one and now the numbering and titles are back to normal.

Ch 41, The Presentation

• Albert gives the Count the grand tour of his house.
• The Count shows off his big brain muscles; he is a very educated dude and knows lots about all kinds of subjects. He's like that secretly smart kid in class who just seems to know everything about everything.
• Alberto shows the Count a portrait of his mom in which she gazes sadly out at the sea. Albert's dad apparently hates this painting, and that's why Albert keeps it in his house.
• Next, we meet Albert's dad who is none other than Fernand, the Count's sworn enemy. Fortunately, Fernand doesn't recognize the Count from all of those years back, and he actually warms up to the Count right away.
• That means that Albert's mom is none other than the beautiful Mercédès. She recognizes the Count instantly, but she doesn't say anything.

I want to comment but have to wait till I'm done with work!

Seems Mercedes recognises Edmond, but sees the profound change in him. She warns Albert to be wary.

She seems so sad. And half certain? I can’t wait to see more interactions.

I've caught up after being a day behind. Why does Alfred not know his parents were poor peasants? Have they hidden this from him. That's interesting...

Mercedes is the only person to have recognised Edmund. Although, did Max Morell ever meet him? Maybe not.

She recognised him! I'm completely sure about it (and was wrong about guessing she wouldn't).

It's amazing to think of the three of them meeting up many years later (twenty years at least) in these sumptuous circumstances so far removed from their origins. I'm trying to understand what Fernand is up to, saying that his family is one of the oldest in France. He was conferred with the title of what was it Baron or Count de Moncerf but he also inherited the family tree? Eh?! It's far removed from the Catalan village outside Marseille where he was born and raised...

It's interesting how Edmond is now Monte-Cristo and Fernand is Moncerf. They are totally different people and nothing like they were before. Transformed into noble people.

I thought the story about the painting was sad.

Ch 42 Monsieur Bertuccio

• The Count buys a new house in Auteuil.
• The house has an interesting history – it was once owned by the Marquis of Saint-Meran, the father of the lady who married Villefort (the district attorney who sentenced the Count to life in prison so many years before).
• Coincidence?

I was mainly confused by Bertuccio's reaction to the name of the property and didn't register the link with Villefort. Are we reading a chapter tomorrow?

I thought of Villefort as well.
Apologies, I got the name wrong last night when I posted (too much excitement). Morcerf.

I'm wondering what the notes are that Edmond keeps in his secret wallet. Someone's confession, it seems.
I don't mind if we don't read a chapter tomorrow. Whichever is fine

I seem to remember he took the confession when he looked at the prison records in Marseilles. It could be that.

I’ve been lagging behind recently and have finally caught up with book and thread. I struggled with the Rome chapters…

I also didn’t pick up the new house’s connection with Villefort, was it mentioned in earlier chapters? I’d be clueless if it wasn’t for this thread!

Oh yes! That's right. Thank you!

I have quietly followed along in the background and kept up with the thread. There have been a few instances where I have had to put an increased effort into stopping at the end of the chapters. It is becoming more difficult as the story unfolds.

Having read this chapter, I completely missed that connection to the attorney.

I will have to pay more attention.

' Waves' I'm still here and now caught up!

Offff I will take a break tomorrow, but I am DYING to read ‘The Vendetta’.

I’m still ahead (sorry) but just to say, the Vendetta is a juicy one!

@MonOncle I agree re the Rome chapters, they were tough going and I found it a struggle at times to motivate myself to pick the kindle up and read them

I’ve fallen behind: I’m still at the start of ‘The Breakfast’ where the Count is meeting Albert in Paris. My focus has gone out the window because I’ve got a rotten cold, and feel like I’ve got cotton wool between my ears. I’m going to get back on track over the next week, but will avoid the thread until I do so I won’t see any more spoilers. A couple of binge-listening sessions will sort me out, I can’t wait to get to the bits where he meets Mercedes and Fernand again!

Ch 43 The House at Auteuil

• New character alert!
• The Count visits his new digs in Auteuil.
• While he's exploring his huge backyard, his new servant, Bertuccio starts to freak out a little bit.
• The Count is like, "You must chill. What is going on?"
• And Bertuccio begins to tell the Count a story.

Looks like Shmoop was a bit forward in telling us the previous owner on Saturday. And Edmund is hiding something from Bertuccio because there's no way the purchase of this house was accidental.

....... and Caderousse is revisited. It appears he continued to be a rogue and married one too.

I can't wait to hear what they do with, if anything, the jeweller. The title of the next chapter may be a hint.

It doesn't look good!
The Count and Bertuccio should have made themselves more comfortable for this long tale. Aren't they still standing in the middle of the lawn out in the back garden?!

It is getting exciting again!

Great chapter! Was very tempted by the next chapter title but I’ve put. the. book. down…

@FuzzyCaoraDhubh haha yes you’re right.