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

As we travel throughout the Mediterranean, in European palaces, at the court of Ali Pasha, behind the scenes of politics, and on pirate islands, Dumas speaks about timeless issues through an exciting adventure.

"Although," emphasizes translator Orion Arkomanis, "the book was written about 170 years ago, you would think it was written yesterday because of the way it raises issues such as betrayal, political persecution, the need for justice, unconditional love, greed, power, the power of money, judges, soldiers, and nouveau riche."

Count of Monte Cristo is considered the first "superhuman" in literature, and his story has been adapted many times in 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 thieves. "Finally, he is a avenger; his revenge starts as personal, but when he is able to take revenge, he has not only individual motives. He avenges evil, and that is why he became an archetype," writes Orion Arkomanis in the introduction.

The edition also includes: An excerpt from the Conversations of Alexandre Dumas, 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 "Tower of Monte Cristo" that Dumas had built after the success of the book. Detailed chronology and filmography.