Our Books-On-Screen Reading Challenge for March is a big one … literally. With 1,000-plus pages, we are tackling Alexandre Dumas’ thrilling historical classic: The Count of Monte Cristo. This revenge tale never loses its appeal thanks to its universal themes of justice, betrayal, power, hope, redemption, and lots more.
And just in time, there is a new small-screen adaptation to go along with our reading. Airing on PBS Masterpiece, The Count of Monte Cristo stars Sam Caflin (the crooning frontman from Daisy Jones & the Six) and Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons.
Need further convincing to add this super-sized French novel to your TBR list? Consider these five reasons why The Count of Monte Cristo should be your next read.
Dive in to The Count of Monte Cristo today!
No 1: This Much Is True
Who doesn’t love the lore of a true story? The Count of Monte Cristo has plenty as Dumas was allegedly inspired by a French shoemaker, Francois Picaud, who was wrongly accused and imprisoned for being an English spy. The events that consequently unfolded are what Dumas used to create the drama surrounding his protagonist Edmond Dantès. What’s more, Dumas crafted the literary details of Dantès time in jail from his own father’s imprisonment.
No. 2: Island Life? Not Quite.
Like the details of the plot, the location of Monte Cristo is also loosely based on a real island and fortress. Dumas was once commissioned to play tour guide to Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew and sail him around the seas of Italy where they came across the Tuscan archipelago, Montecristo. This remote nature reserve still exists today, though would-be treasure seekers will find it hard to make landfall on its shores as visitation is strictly limited and requires advanced booking. The French fortress, Château d’If, where Dantes was imprisoned exists as well off the coast of Marseille and is open for tourism.
No. 3: Classics Inspire Classics
Just as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice inspired many enemies-to-lovers stories post-publishing, so too did The Count of Monte Cristo. Less than 40 years after Dumas released his epic novel, another classic author, Lew Wallace, published his fictional tale of wrongful imprisonment and revenge via the best-selling literally classic Ben-Hur (its 1959 big-screen adaptation also went on to win a slew of Academy Awards). Monte Cristo is also mentioned in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn via Tom Sawyer, and is also thought to have influenced Bram Stoker while writing parts of Dracula.
No. 4: Cinematic Gold
Like the works of Shakespeare and Dickens, Dumas’ literary works have been adapted to the big and small screens plenty of times — more than 40 for The Count of Monte Cristo alone. Since the beginning of the 20th century, filmmakers have attempted to bring this heroic story to life, most notably with the classic 1934 version starring Robert Donat, and more recently with the swashbuckling 2002 version, which went a bit off-script. The brand new TV series is promised to stay true to the original book and includes eight episodes streaming now.
No. 5: Don’t Forget the Love Story!
With all this talk of revenge, prisons, and action-adventure one may not think of Monte Cristo as a romance, but don’t be fooled. There is, in fact, a love story within this book just waiting to be realized. Did we mention that Dantès’ 14-year imprisonment keeps him from the woman he loves? After years pass, she also believes him to be dead and moves on with another man, one of his so-called “friends.” Talk about drama! Will they end up back together after his escape? Read the book—or watch the show—and find out.