The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin Classics)

This has to be one of the greatest novels of all times. It was almost ten years ago when I first heard of this book. Everyone around me told me that I should read this book, but back then, I was intimidated by the volume of this novel that I actually put off reading it until two years ago. I first read it in Japanese and the series that I read was seven parts long. It took me three weeks to read it. And recently I decided to take the journey again by reading it in English. This book was brilliant. Right from the start, you are familiarized with the historical events of that time and you are drawn into the story with a magical touch. Then, next thing you know, Edmond Dante’s is arrested for treason and is sent to the darkest prison in the middle of nowhere. His so-called friends set him up. And this day forward, his battle for justice and revenge begins. The book is full of emotions. The moment you start reading it, you become the character and you and Dante’s together, will set out on a long journey of revenge. This is more than a five star book. Words can’t express how good this book is. It’s a must-read.

1243ページの超大作。読むのに時間がかかったが、でも、長すぎると思ったことは一度もなかった。次から次へと展開するストーリーに常にわくわくさせられた。読後の充足感はとても高い。長く時間をかけて読んだ物語であるだけに、読後の余韻はなかなか消えない。 この本、今朝日新聞に連載されている筒井康隆の読書歴のなかで彼が少年期に読みふけった一冊として紹介されているが、同様の体験を有する識者・文化人の数は多い。だから、50代になった自分としても、遅まきながら、一度は読んでみたいと思っていた。読んでよかった。デュマの遠大な構想力には恐れ入った。ついでながら、1９世紀のヨーロッパ社会はこんなだったのかと垣間見ることが出来たのも良かった。 なお、自分は当初岩波文庫で読み始めた（岩波の翻訳は良いと思う）のだが、本屋（と言うか、ブックオフ）で全巻揃えて購入するのは結構大変だったので、注文してこのPenguin Classicsの英語版で読むことにした。それに、値段的にも岩波文庫全巻を揃えるよりも安上がりになる。ただ、この一冊は重くて嵩張るので通勤電車の中や旅行時の携帯には難があった。なお、Worsworth Classicsからもこの本が出版されているが、どうやらそれは抄訳であり、訳もPenguinの方が読みやすいとの評である。

モンテクリスト伯をペーパーバックで、読むまえに、村上春樹さんの1000ページ以上ある1Q84の英文で書かれた本や、カフカの海辺などを読みました。日本人が日本語から英語に訳したものと、英語ネイティブがフランス語から英語に訳したものとでは、読解の難度が違います。語彙とか、表現の仕方とか、ネイティブにしか自然にできないことがあり、よほど、ライティングの技術かなければ、ネイティブに近づけないと感じました。 日本人が英文に英訳するライティングには、限度があると感じました。 本書の内容は、個人の持っていり感情が鮮明に描かれ、感情に流されて、悪の行為をする様子がきめ細やかに描かれています。 読んでいて、刺激的で、読み飽きません。 お勧めしたい書籍です。こちらも1200ページあります。

The book is well wrapped, the printing is very clear. Can’t wait to read it !

I just got it, I am super excited to read it and the quality of the book is good overall.

Excellent book with many good notes and commentaries. Thanks a lot for making it accessible to everyone.

The books pages are intact but the corner of it was damaged.

Friends, do any of you share in my aversion for book reviews that go: “I received the book on time and it arrived in good condition”? How does that help us? Is it not the quality of the writing, the beauty of the prose, the context, the enjoyment of the story, itself, that we truly care about? I must begin my review of The Count of Monte Cristo with the confession of an infraction of my own. You see, I made a vow to myself never to write a review without first completing the entirety of a book. From cover to cover. However, in this particular case, I simply couldn’t wait. I am on page 339 of this 1243 page book. I am writing because I am enjoying it so much. I find myself reading a few pages, every single day! This being a classic, I had heard the title many times throughout my life. Yet, to be perfectly honest, I was under the impression that it was going to be a story somewhere along the lines of a Dracula novel. Perhaps my mental association was due to the word “Count” in both titles. As in “Count Dracula.” And that was why I wasn’t particularly drawn to it. That is, until I saw a You-Tuber praise The Count of Monte Cristo as the best book that he has ever read. “I just love this story,” he kept saying over and over again, with true and genuine emotion. I, too, am loving this story. And I now believe in the Power of Beautiful writing. The story is so easily digestible. The writing, so clear, so precise, so simple, that my brain easily captures everything. Every description, every emotion, every experience. I find myself pulled right into the story. I am at the part of the story where everything is finally turning around. Where the bright sun is finally breaking through the dark and thick clouds. There was so much suffering at the beginning, that I found it a bit depressing to reengage in my reading. But I couldn’t stop. I wanted, very badly, to know what was going to happen next. I found myself caring for the good hearted and honest people. The bright and pure souls. I prayed for their freedom from bondage, due to the dark circumstances that unfolded around them. I found myself praying for justice. The writing was so amazing, that I had completely forgotten that this was only a novel. I was reminded of the day when my 16 year old brother was killed by a man who had been a close friend of the family. The man claimed that it had been an accident. My little brother’s personality reminded me of Dante’s. My brother was turning into a fine young man. Young, vibrant, good looking, honest, humble, kind. Although I don’t ever remember hating the man who had taken his life, I did wonder what would become of him. Because he had taken an innocent life. I knew that that burden would always torture his conscience. And not more than two years passed, when one day, while sitting on my living room couch, I was watching the news when suddenly, on the right side of the news anchor’s shoulder, I saw the picture of the same man who had taken my little brother’s life. I quickly called out to my parents who were in the kitchen. They came running in time to see the man’s picture. The new’s anchor said that the man had shot his girlfriend on the head, then turned the gun towards himself and ended his life. “A double homicide,” the news anchor said. Life has its own way of correcting itself. No deed goes unpunished. Nature always seeks balance. I later read an article in the Los Angeles Times about this “double homicide.” Apparently, the man’s girlfriend had made her decision to leave him. He couldn’t accept it. He had become too attached to her. He couldn’t see his life continuing without her. So, he shot her and then ended his own life. The interesting thing is that he never spent a day in jail, in connection to my little brother’s death. Because he had no prior criminal history, the District Attorney had gone easy on him. But it seems that he could not escape the torture of his inner demons. The Count of Monte Cristo expresses a similar pattern. When others act in ways that affect us, and even change the course of our lives, there are always counter-currents created. It is as if we throw boomerangs to hurt others, but eventually said boomerangs must return to clobber the sender. I don’t want to give anything away, but I am enjoying, very exquisitely, what is unfolding. The way that the dark and stormy clouds are breaking, and the rays of sunlight that are breaking through, are shinning upon all those who were always Pure Souls. Everyone that Edmond loved, and who loved him. My journey with this book continues. And to be perfectly honest, I almost don’t want it to end. I’ve fallen in love with all of the good characters. My heart has torn for those good Souls who have passed on. Who did so, in ways that they shouldn’t have. Even this pattern parallels real life. And this book has powerfully reminded me that life, itself, in the Ultimate sense, is nothing more than a living novel that the Invisible Author is delightfully expressing. This, I am certain, is a book that I shall never forget.