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Best Alexandre Dumas Books | List of Popular Alexandre Dumas Books, Ranked

The Best 22 Books by Alexandre Dumas [PDF] | InfoBooks.org

Nineteen-year-old Edmond Dantès is on the brink of a blissful life — a soon-to-be ship captain, engaged to the lovely Mercédès, and adored by almost everyone in his circle. But his seemingly perfect life stokes the embers of envy among a group of his acquaintances. Danglars, Fernand Mondego, and Caderousse, resentful of Dantès's successes and happiness, conspire against him, accusing him of treason. Although innocent of political involvement, Dantès is arrested on his wedding day due to a favor he had done for his deceased captain — carrying a letter from Napoleon to Bonapartist sympathizers in Paris. Even as the deputy public prosecutor, Villefort, sees through the plot against Dantès and plans to free him, a revelation about the recipient of Napoleon’s letter being Villefort’s father leads to Dantès's life sentence at the notorious Château d’If.

In prison, Dantès befriends Abbé Faria, an intellectual priest imprisoned for his political views. Faria becomes Dantès's mentor, educating him in various fields and revealing the location of a vast treasure on Monte Cristo island. Upon Faria's death, Dantès manages to escape, disguises himself as the deceased priest, and is thrown into the sea, from where he swims to freedom. He then locates the treasure and, believing it's a divine gift for vindication, embarks on a mission of retribution against those who wronged him. Under the guise of Abbé Busoni, he learns that his father died of grief, Mercédès married Fernand, and his accusers are living prosperous lives in Paris. He also saves his former employer, Morrel, from financial ruin, and rewards Caderousse, who regrets his part in Dantès’s downfall.

A decade passes, and Dantès re-emerges in Rome as the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. Leveraging his knowledge gathered over the years, he meticulously sets a revenge plot in motion against Danglars, Mondego, and Villefort. Dantès exposes Mondego's treachery, which leads to his suicide; he manipulates Madame de Villefort's murderous tendencies, resulting in multiple deaths and Villefort's insanity; and he exploits Danglars's greed, leaving him destitute. Meanwhile, Dantès also ensures the happiness of Maximilian Morrel, the son of his kind shipowner, by saving his betrothed, Valentine Villefort, from her murderous stepmother and orchestrating their reunion. Finally, Dantès himself finds love and happiness with the beautiful Haydée.


The Count of Monte Cristo

El Conde de Monte Cristo

Three Musketeers, Book 1

Los Tres Mosqueteros, Libro 1

The captivating narrative follows the journey of four friends, starting with buoyancy and self-assurance, and concluding in a mood of gloominess and skepticism. The climax throws into confusion the traditional values that were once held dear. Despite the friends' valiant struggle against the Cardinal, d'Artagnan's ascension to the rank of lieutenant is ironically facilitated by the same Cardinal. The tale wraps up with d'Artagnan befriending the Comte de Rochefort, a Cardinalist agent, making us ponder if the previous battles were worthwhile or if the efforts were in vain. This sense of potential futility coupled with the return to normalcy after an epic quest are characteristic features of a Romance.

The narrative’s melancholic undertone is further heightened when viewed against the historical backdrop. It appears as if the author, while constructing this romantic escapade that allowed readers an escape from their mundane existence, couldn't ignore the deceptive nature of Romanticism. The conclusion's ambiguous tone is a typical trait of the Romance genre, however, it's hard to ignore the possible denunciation of Romantic values it implies.

The story successfully blends elements of Romance within a historical narrative, providing a unique take on history. Instead of positioning his characters as significant contributors to national incidents, the author audaciously assigns personal motives to historical events. This creative approach to history is part of what makes the tale so compelling, as it provides a more gratifying and entertaining explanation of grand events through the lens of personal affairs. This fusion of Romanticism and the historical genre resulted in a story that was not only universally admired, but also provided reassurance and distraction from the nation's woes.

10 Best Alexandre Dumas Books of All Time

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Three Musketeers

Three Musketeers, Book 1

Twenty Years After

Three Musketeers, Book 3

The Queen's Necklace

The Marie Antoinette Romances, Book 4

The Man in the Iron Mask

Three Musketeers, Book 7

The Forty Five Guardsmen

The Last Valois, Book 3

The Corsican Brothers

The Companions of Jehu

The Sainte-Hermine Cycle, Book 1

The Black Tulip

Ten Years Later

Three Musketeers, Book 6

Sources

What To Read Next

10 Best Alexandre Dumas Books of All Time

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Three Musketeers

Three Musketeers, Book 1

Twenty Years After

Three Musketeers, Book 3

The Queen's Necklace

The Marie Antoinette Romances, Book 4

The Man in the Iron Mask

Three Musketeers, Book 7

The Forty Five Guardsmen

The Last Valois, Book 3

The Corsican Brothers

The Companions of Jehu

The Sainte-Hermine Cycle, Book 1

The Black Tulip

Ten Years Later

Three Musketeers, Book 6

Sources

What To Read Next

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