On his wedding day and shortly after being promoted, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. A victim of romantic and professional rivalry, as well as political interests, he remains there for 14 years. From his fellow inmate, he learns about an immense treasure buried on the island of Monte Cristo. He escapes, finds it, and decides to take revenge on those who wronged him.

Taking us across the Mediterranean, to European palaces, the court of Ali Pasha, the backstage of politics, and pirate islands, Dumas addresses timeless issues through a thrilling adventure.

"It may," emphasizes translator Orion Arkomanis, "have been written about 170 years ago, but you feel it was written yesterday because of the way it addresses issues such as betrayal, political persecution, the need for justice, unconditional love, greed, power, the power of money, judges, military men, and the nouveau riche."

The Count of Monte Cristo is considered the first "superhuman" in literature, and his story has been adapted many times for film and television. He is all-powerful; he possesses all the knowledge of his time; he speaks all languages, even ancient Greek; he knows drugs, poisons, magical potions for every occasion; he associates with aristocrats and robbers. "Finally, he is an avenger; for him, revenge starts as personal, but when he is in a position to avenge, he does not have only individual motives. He avenges evil, and that's why he became an archetype," writes Orion Arkomanis in his introduction.

The edition also includes: An excerpt from Alexandre Dumas' Conversations where he describes how he was inspired to write the novel. A letter from Balzac to his beloved expressing his desire to buy the magnificent "Castle of Monte Cristo" that Dumas built after the book's success. A detailed timeline and filmography.