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.

It is a classic for a reason

This was the first school assigned reading I actually enjoyed and is still one of my favorite stories.

Amazing storry

Beautiful story read by a wonderful narrator. Some characters had too good of a memory and made the story drag at times, but overall a great listen

Great book and narrator.

I really enjoyed this book and how the narrator brought the words to life. I will put this in my library to read each year.

Classic

great narration. A favorite in middle school holds up well despite the pomposity of the main character.

Pleasing and long.

I have read several reviews of this book and I first read the book when I was eleven. I would read it once every few years and my biggest problem at that time was keeping all the French names straight. I didn't know how they were pronounced and got easily confused until I kept a list of all the names with a description of each character. It slowed down my reading but this is not the type of book to read using the Evelyn Wood technique. I like being able to hear it now with the occasional French phrase. I prefer this translation at this time. When I want to read a book this old I want to read it as it was written. I want the phrasing to be different than modern books. I want words that I might have to look up. I don't want it modernized to make it easier for me to understand. I don't want my books all changed to a fourth grade level. I didn't like that even when I was in the fourth grade. I need the French translated into English but I don't need the English dumbed down. Nobody does. How can people learn anything if everything is made too easy? This translation, as far as I can tell, is the story as Dumas wanted to tell it. The foreshadowing is still there and and the interesting formal way of speech. You have the feeling of being in that time. As for the narration the characters sound the correct age. There is a very long review for a newer translation on Audible and I listened to that version and the characters sounded like they were 102 years old when they were 20. It was ridiculous. I listened to that translation and then this one so I could see how much was changed and missing between them. This is the version I recomend. Go for it. You don't have to be afraid of it.

Best book ever!

Climaxes increased throughout! From just after the middle, one received the kind of climaxes one usually finds at the end of books. Filled with many revelations and mind-blowing 'aha' moments

Excellent Narration!!!

John Lee is one of my favorite narrators. I've listened to 6 or 7 of the excellent sci-fi books he has narrated over the years. When I was looking through the list of his works to find my next book to listen to, I decided to try this classic I had never gotten around to reading.

The story is excellent and the narration is perfect. There is a reason it is a classic.

My favorite part was Bertuccio telling his story about Villefort, Benedetto, and Caderousse to the Count. The combination of Dumas's writing and John Lee's narration was amazing. I felt like I was standing there listening to Bertuccio tell his terrible tale.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great book to listen too.

Epic!

This is a wonderful book narrated masterfully! I listened to it every chance I had and enjoyed every moment of it.

Excellent!

Wonderful, sweeping, epic book, beautifully read. A compelling tale of heartbreak and revenge. A must read. Really pulls you in.

great story

it was very long and would not have finished it without the audio but was entertaining and tells a great story. I have read better books but this was fun.