The Count of Monte Cristo

By: Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 46 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Solo Narration - Male, 2009

Dashing young Edmond Dantès has everything: a fine reputation, an appointment as captain of a ship, and the heart of a beautiful woman. But his perfect life is shattered when three jealous friends conspire to destroy him. Falsely accused of a political crime, Dantès is locked away for life in the infamous Chateau d'If prison. But it is there that Dantès learns of a vast hidden treasure. After 14 years of hopeless imprisonment, Dantès makes his daring escape and follows his secret map to untold fortune. Disguised now as the mysterious and powerful Count of Monte Cristo, Dantès seeks out his enemies - and nothing will stand in the way of his just revenge.

Filled with thrilling episodes of betrayal, romance, and revenge, The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the greatest adventure stories ever written.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

awesome

the story and the narrator were awesome. this book helped me keep get out walking so I could listen to more.

Simply the best.

A long, but most worthwhile journey. Amazing to the very end. Hats off to John Lee for a splendid job.

Divine writing of Dumas and magical voice of Lee

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, Absolutely. There is no better writer nor a story teller than Alexander Dumas bringing to life such complex characters as those on display in the story of Count of Monte Cristo. Every line of this very long but gripping and fascinating story is essential to the overall plot line and every character is so exquistely endowed with a range of emotions, life experiences and the very contradictory forces present in all of us that we could relate to all of them and even feel sorry for those who we know are evil and have done so much wrong in their past lives yet at the moment they are humbled through adversity by Monte Cristo's design we can not but feel their pain and wish that they could have been spared their punishment as just as it may be.

The reson this audio book is so enjoyable apart from the actual story is the excellent narration of John Lee who switches effortlessly between so many diiferent characters. His voice is rich, warm and exciting and makes the read of the book an absolute joy.

What did you like best about this story?

The complexity of the characters and the humanity that Dumas offers to those characters who deserve it the least.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I have just got the three Musketeers and can not wait to listen to it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Monte Cristo visits his old cell at chateu D'IF and revaluates his feelings towards those who sent him there and those who abandoned him there and realises that although he took his revenge too far he was right to feel so wronged and hurt by them. It was the only time apart from the very begining of the book that Monte Cristo was back in touch with his emotions and was unguarded about expressing his feelings and rememebred tenderly and reverendly the Abbe Faria. In a strange way it was in that cell that Monte Cristo was free to be himself again and think of his life not by the measure of the revenge he had exacted on his enemies but by how far he had come in realizing that no revenge was going to bring back what was lost to him be it his wasted youth in prsion or his old father dying of hunger or poor Abbe Faria who never manged the escape from prison he so desperately sought.

Any additional comments?

SO far the best audio book I have listend to. Highly recommend to everyone but mostly fans of Dumas.

Love! It consumed every free moment!

I love this book! What an incredible story! The narrator was perfect as the Count and as every other voice he chose to use for the different characters. Have searched for more books by this narrator, John Lee and to my delight, there are so many to choose from. Great work and many thanks!

Awesome book for sure a classic

John Lee is by far my favorite narrator!!! He truly did this book justice. He makes the story come alive.

Wonderful

I loved every bit of it. The narrator is superb. Excellent story. I would listen to it again.

Entertaining revenge

Once you pick this book up, it will be hard to put down. Outstanding!

Brilliant Novel - Must Listen

I only have 1 novel I love more than this (Atlas Shrugged). This book is an absolutely amazing journey with splendid characters, tremendous development, and all the adventure possible.

You will not regret getting this novel.

Timeless!

Such a lovely story and read here by an incredibly skilled man! This story is so complicated yet I was never at a loss as to who spoke.

Outstanding!

My kids were doing a play based on the book, so I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did. I didn't know anything about the story before I began, but after a chapter or two, I was hooked. Some reviewers were confused by all of the characters, many with multiple identities. As long as this book is, I expected that could be an issue. It wasn't. The book was easy to follow through many twists and turns over four or five decades. It was a consistent "page turner" for me. I looked forward to the traffic jams on my way to work. That got me more time to listen. It took about a month to get through, but when it was over, I wanted more.