The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo: Edmond Dantes is accused of being a Bonapartist by three jealous friends, and is sent to the eerie Chateau D'If for life. At If there is also an abbe called Faria, who over ten years has dug a tunnel connecting the two cells. Faria mentors Dantes, provides him with the means of escape and puts in him an all-consuming passion for revenge on his betrayers. After fourteen years at If, Dantes resurfaces, now as the rich and enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo.

This is a creepy book, but wonderful because of it. Monte Cristo is mysterious and disgustingly rich and has several pseudonyms all at the same time and is amazingly foresighted in his revenge. He is a hero, but sometimes I was unsure- to want to kill Mercedes's son Albert because he was Fernand's son as well? But he loves Mercedes! And then to want to kill himself because he swore he wouldn't kill Albert? Heroic to eventually refuse to duel, but cowardly to say your honor's gone. Needless to say, Monte Cristo is far more complicated than most protagonists. I vote that we start writing them like that- no victories are clear-cut; no one is exactly who he seems to be; everyone is mad and despairing: yet it ends well and satisfying.

It is not a good idea to read a book that requires lots of special letters in the report- accented Es, arrowed Is- and has its names in a language that is not spelled as it sounds. Someone please tell me if any of this is spelled wrong!