The Count of Monte Cristo

A long adventure novel set in France and the Mediterranean in the years after Napoleon's fall. Edmond Dantès is a young sailor with a bright future, but jealousy and political fear lead to his sudden imprisonment. Years later he returns to society transformed, wealthy and mysterious, and he begins to reshape the lives of those connected to his past.

The book is a gripping study of revenge, justice, patience and the limits of human judgment. Its twisting plot, vivid settings and memorable cast made it one of the most popular novels ever written.