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.

Great read

Really enjoyed this, the story is great, the writing is wonderful -- a few very unlikely coincidences, but who cares? Great for commuting. Enjoy!

Fabulous!!

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

With a headline like Fabulous, I'm already touting the merits of Dumas in terms of plot, character development, subject interest. I particularly love the eloquence of language, albeit formal, that Dumas excels in, and the historical social norms and nuances so contrasting with current trends. Pretty cool stuff!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Count of Monte Cristo?

Edmund's escape from prison was pretty riveting.

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

Men narrators struggle more with women's voices than women narrators with male voices, in my opinion, so the Count himself gets the nod. I thought Mr Lee delivered impeccably with French, Italian, English, Turkish accents, transitioning quite seamlessly from character to character, bringing to life this story of betrayal and revenge set mainly in France. Now its on to more Dumas!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Sorry, nope.

Insidiously compelling

Once I got past the first few hours of this classic tale it owned me. I was spending too much time during the day listening. It took 10 or 12 days for me to listen to the 46 hour tome and I found myself thinking about the story throughout the day. Now I understand why the book is an enduring classic. Also, John Lee was masterful in his narration.

Dunton06

I really enjoyed this audio book. I loved the narrator, John Lee, he was a perfect choice in my mind for this book. The beauty of listening to a book like this is that all the foreign names and places are pronounced for you and you don't have to mangle them in your mind as you would when reading the book (for those of us who don't speak French or Italian). John Lee has a wonderful voice and handled the characters excellently. Of course, the story is a classic and an excellent one with wonderful writing.

Fabulous

An explosion of literature adventure intrigue and jaw dropping prose that put me in dreamland for 40 hours. I promise to read more classics. One of the best stories I have ever been exposed to.

John Lee

John Lee is the best narrator for historical fiction
Just wish his ken follett work wasn't so political

Long, Complex, Wonderful

At first I was a bit daunted by the 47 hour length. But this unabridged version and the narrator provide for hours of pure entertainment.

A Timeless Story

This book is a great story with timeless lessons. It is long which might scare some upon seeing it, but I couldn't put it down. It has it all! Action , adventure, romance and heroism. The narrator was excellent in this version; his use of different voices made it so enjoyable. I highly recommend this.

One of the best books I have ever read.

While the story is long, it is a fanastic journey of revenge and well thaught out plans. Happiness taken and happiness given. All of the intricacies of the human experience. Love, war, wealth, poverty, poisons, illness, incarcerations, murder, travel, bandits, sailing, treason, treasure, vocabulary, etcetera. A fantastic story with a great reader. It is well worth it.

My Personal Favorite Audiobook

Would you consider the audio edition of The Count of Monte Cristo to be better than the print version?

Full disclosure - I've never read the print version. Every time I get the urge to try and actually pick it up and read it, I listen to this masterpiece instead.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Count of Monte Cristo?

I have a soft spot for the all the parts with the Abbé Faria.

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

This one is tough. He's such a great reader/performer. Caderousse maybe?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both.

Any additional comments?

BEST AUDIOBOOK EVER. I try and listen to it every few years, and it never disappoints. The length might scare some away, but trust me, it's an amazing ride from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and add this treasure to your library right now.