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 notice that Madame Danglars promised Villefort that no one knew about their liaison. But that isn't true is it? Danglars did.

Yes! He knows alright!

I like that Villefort is starting to get suspicious of the Count

I've caught up again and got a bit ahead as it's got really good!
Thanks for the read along, it's made the experience so much less confusing.

I am still enjoying that a quick switch of outfit makes the Count totally unrecognisable to most people. Makes me laugh every time

The two of them also comment on how the count didn't eat any of the food at his sumptuous dinner. It reinforces the idea that he's not Edmond but a sort of not really human engine of revenge. Could he even be a ghost.

I loved today's chapter. Will Villefort rumble Edmond?

He does, but how? I don't think we know.

I think just by being more observant than Madame Danglars had given him credit for. His wording is: "I saw and I have always seen. In roughly the past sixteen years you may have hidden a thought from me, but never a step, an action or a sin." I guess he was keeping a close eye on her!

I thought they had an open relationship.

I didn’t think Danglars particularly knew about Villefort but he very directly told her he knew she had been pregnant with another man’s child (when married to her first husband). He didn’t bat an eyelid at Lucien in her bedroom whilst she was in her negligee. I understand their marriage has been over for years, but I think I’d still be a bit peeved in this scenario, but Danglars is pretty self absorbed.

A relationship like this wouldn't have been at all unusual at the time, but discretion was vital.

Also, I don't think any relationship would be that open that you would admit to burying a stillborn child in the garden - which is what Villefort and Madame D are most concerned about here.

I don't think Albert comes across well with his attitude to Mlle Danglars. He doesn't like the girl and basically can't abide her. He shudders at the idea of marrying her but would take her as his mistress?!

Not very nice! I can understand why he might not want to marry her but why have a relationship with her if she is that odious? That's off-putting. It's like using her. I quite liked the count's comment of 'snob!' I would add a few other words!

Yes Albert’s a bit of an entitled git!

I’m wondering whether Villefort knew all along that the baby was still alive when he buried it, but wanted to get rid of any evidence of the affair - or is that making him more of a villain than he actually is? (He’s bad enough without that, I know)

Exactly! He seemed remorseful and like an ordinary person with feelings. Hmm!

I'm still wondering if the Count likes Albert because he's Mercedes' son or if he dislikes him because he's Fernand's son and is just using him to get close to the Morcefs. This is at least the second time we've seen Albert be a snob about something so I suspect that's going to be part of the way the Count gets his revenge on Fernand.

Poor Mercedes 😥I don't think it's unreasonable to marry when your fiancé disappears off the earth. Did he really expect her to wait for him forever?

She was a very young woman, left totally alone, in 1915 South of France. What else was she supposed to do?

I agree, the Count is being quite hard on her.

I do like the fact that she's the only character who has recognised the Count so far, and that they both know she knows, but are speaking enigmatically to each other. Very tense.

I'm enjoying the novel a lot right now and am tempted to read ahead, but I'm trying not to! Although I may get started on Monday's chapter, The Promise, as that looks very long.

I very much agree with you all!
He's being hard on her.

I’ve not read the chapters this week and am saving them for tonight/tomorrow morning over a nice coffee to read altogether.

@AgualusasLover enjoy!

Enjoy Agualusa

Agree it’s a really enjoyable part. I’ve been able to engage with the audiobook again, which I can’t do in the harder going sections. I really enjoy seeing the Count and Mercèdes too, as well as the Count’s changes of character.

I think The Promise is 30 pages compared to the usual 10 or so, so be prepared for extra time!

I've read ahead and it's an exciting chapter though!

Obviously I meant 1815! 🤦‍♀️