I've more or less been a devout fan since I read both versions of The Count of Monte Cristo. X3 Dumas is pure brilliance.

Currently, I'm enjoying munching through The Three Musketeers. Oh Athos, how I love thee, that you continually serve to amuse...

... I feel so oldskool.

Who else here shares my classic literature geekistry?

Do I get points for creating new vocabulary and using it in a grammatically pleasing configuration? ](Just kidding. ._. )

I love The Count of Monte Cristo myself.
I was reading it in my Classical Reading class.
Everyone in there hated reading the classicals
and I was like but they are so interesting!

I haven't read as many of his works as I'd like. I've read through The Count of Monte Cristo, but it was in the original language so I'm fairly sure that most of it went right over my head. I'll have to go back over it sometime and buy the novel in English. =)

I've never really read his books. I did scan The Three Muskateers last year. Next year, though, I have to read The Count of Monte Cristo, for English class. :?

I'm actually reading the Count of Monte Cristo right now.

I've always loved the Three Musketeers. (I think I actually have three copies floating around in different locations.) I really wish they'd had us read the Three Musketeers or the Scarlet Pimpernel in High School.

I just got the Complete Musketeers (The Three Musketeers and the Four Musketeers on DVD for Christmas.) I've also got the really chopped up but fun version by Disney. :p

I just finished reading the Dumas Club yesterday, it actually has a lot of neat stuff relating to Dumas. It's a mystery novel about rare book collectors, the occult, and Dumas.

I've also got a copy of Twenty Years After laying around somewhere waiting to be read. Has anyone read it yet?

Oh and has anyone read the Musketeer Mysteries?

jessieomer - I agree, it's interesting. XD I didn't get to study it when I was in school. Instead we got Edgar Allen Poe. 8B

Knerd - You can read a bit of French? That's awesome, though. If you're looking for the English versions you should get your hands on the Penguin Classics publication (if you want really detailed reference notes and annotations throughout the whole story... It can be interesting to see where he got his ideas from for certain specific things...) - but there are abridged and non-abridged versions of the book out there. When I first read Monte Cristo, I didn't realise I was reading the abridged version, so when I found out I felt compelled to hunt down the full version which was about three times as long. XDD

Alaunt - Aww, I hope you enjoy it anyway. There's always the danger of texts becoming boring when they're studied in class though, just because from the exercises and discussions you're sort of forced to pick apart the entire story and over-analyse everything. It happened with Shakespeare in my English classes. >_< It can take away from simply enjoying the story. But maybe you'll still find the count interesting, after all, the whole story is about cold sweet revenge. Haha.

Jania Solo - Ooh you must be reading the unabridged version, right? What part are you up to? XD

I'm about halfway through the Three Musketeers at the moment, I know that Twenty Years After and another book are meant to serve as sequels to Three Musketeers and I might think about checking out once I finish this one.

Ooh I remember seeing one other Musketeer movie than the one made by Disney... but I think it might have been The Man In The Iron Mask. I really want to see the 1970's film version of the Three Musketeers, apparently that one was one of the best versions made (and there were so many! @[email protected])

The butchery going on in the Musketeer plot for the Disney movie was pretty dodgy and hilarious. But I agree, it was a bit of fun. I think the person they managed to hit anywhere near the target was probably Porthos... XD

Haha, I haven't read the Scarlet Pimpernel, but that is another book I definitely want to check out some day... :3

xD.
I learned about Alexander Dumas in French class.
His books sound interesting though.

Mumbo - Yeah, did you get to learn about the scandals? hahaha from what I've read he was a pretty wild guy, I think he had some exuberant amount of mistresses and love affairs in his lifetime. But I guess he could easily woo with his fluency and talent in the genre of romantic action/adventure stories, and since those were very popular and appealing, he had a wide audience whom he could always captivate. He was a clever man. Haha

Hehe, Alexandre Dumas is nothing short of amazing. The Count of Monte Cristo is just brilliant. It's definitely my favorite book. It has the most exciting plot and the most wonderful and believable characters. Has anyone read the recent translation of The Knight of Maison-Rouge? I believe it came out only a few years ago. Before then, it had never been officially translated to English. Either way, I highly recommend the novel. It's about a group of individuals who attempt to rescue the imprisoned Marie Antoinette before her execution. It's not some random Alexandre Dumas novel... it's really one of his best, even though it may not be one of his most popular or well-known stories. Anyway, just check it out if you have a chance.

I have read some of his books, I would tell not bad :) some were too difficult, but I was younger when I was reading them. but still he is great writer. maybe I should read some of his books again ^_^

Originally Posted by Viéko

Jania Solo - Ooh you must be reading the unabridged version, right? What part are you up to? XD

I'm currently up the Dappled Greys, where he revives the child with his miraculous anti-spasmodic. Unfortunately, due to your asking, I realized that I actually have an abridged version. >.<
I probably wouldn't have noticed because it looks almost the same in length as my copies of The Three Musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask which are both unabridged... (Bad Jaina, for not checking.)
I'm going to have to buy an unabridged copy the next time I go to the book store. I hate abridged copies... it's like raping a book.

I'm about halfway through the Three Musketeers at the moment, I know that Twenty Years After and another book are meant to serve as sequels to Three Musketeers and I might think about checking out once I finish this one.

I actually didn't even realize there were sequels until sometime about a year ago. I don't have the third one yet.

Ooh I remember seeing one other Musketeer movie than the one made by Disney... but I think it might have been The Man In The Iron Mask. I really want to see the 1970's film version of the Three Musketeers, apparently that one was one of the best versions made (and there were so many! @[email protected])

I enjoyed the Man in the Iron Mask.

And the Complete Musketeers (1970s)Is an awesome version. It's the best version I've seen. The fight screens are absolutely hilarious. I love when they steal a bunch of food from the tavern. xD

The butchery going on in the Musketeer plot for the Disney movie was pretty dodgy and hilarious. But I agree, it was a bit of fun. I think the person they managed to hit anywhere near the target was probably Porthos... XD

I agree, but I think one would be hard pressed to miss Porthos. Maybe if they made him skinny and dignified.

Haha, I haven't read the Scarlet Pimpernel, but that is another book I definitely want to check out some day... :3

You should, it's awesome. There are also two very good movie versions. One has Ian McKellen when he was younger and the other has Leslie Howard from GWTW.
I haven't seen the mini-series yet but I'd really like to.

Edit: I noticed you mentioned scandals. I know he had ghost writers and blew his money on partying and mistresses. His last mistress was supposed to be very wild for the time, allowing herself to be photographed with her neck, arms, and legs showing. Ooo la la. lol
I think it's commendable that he lived his life the way he wanted to. ^_~

Originally Posted by Jaina Solo

I'm currently up the Dappled Greys, where he revives the child with his miraculous anti-spasmodic. Unfortunately, due to your asking, I realized that I actually have an abridged version. >.<
I probably wouldn't have noticed because it looks almost the same in length as my copies of The Three Musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask which are both unabridged... (Bad Jaina, for not checking.)
I'm going to have to buy an unabridged copy the next time I go to the book store.

Ooh yes. definitely get the unabridged version (even though it's a brick @[email protected] and if you were previously used to taking the book around with you to read on the train or something you might notice the difference.. ahaha..) but the abridged cuts several years of character development out - and this entire scene (as far as I can remember that wasn't in the abridged book) where the Count brings Franz on a.. uh... magical mystery tour. XD You can find out what that's all about though.

I hate abridged copies... it's like raping a book.

lol I agree with you. XD

And the Complete Musketeers (1970s)Is an awesome version. It's the best version I've seen. The fight screens are absolutely hilarious. I love when they steal a bunch of food from the tavern. xD

Ahahaha another person who rates it! I really have to get my hands on it, you make me want to even more now. XD I found some poster art for it recently, and it was all dynamically illustrated in true 70's fashion glory. It was gold.

I agree, but I think one would be hard pressed to miss Porthos. Maybe if they made him skinny and dignified.

I only have one thing to say to that: LOL.

You should, it's awesome. There are also two very good movie versions. One has Ian McKellen when he was younger and the other has Leslie Howard from GWTW.
I haven't seen the mini-series yet but I'd really like to.

I'll definitely try to track it down. I've been told good things about the Scarlet Pimpernel too.

Edit: I noticed you mentioned scandals. I know he had ghost writers and blew his money on partying and mistresses. His last mistress was supposed to be very wild for the time, allowing herself to be photographed with her neck, arms, and legs showing. Ooo la la. lol
I think it's commendable that he lived his life the way he wanted to. ^_~

LOL yes, and he had a bloody lot of mistresses. Apparently they found a piece of Dumas' writing that had been lost since his death and only recently uncovered. I can't remember what it was about (might have been a continuation on one of the historical stories) but it's a never-before-seen story that he never finished, and I think they were working on completing it and publishing it.

I too think it's commendable that he lived his life the way he wanted to. He was definitely onto something, even if he did go a bit overboard with his ways. And it was definitely not "proper" the way he lived for those times. But I can believe that you probably have to be a bit crazy and daring to be brilliant as well. Haha

Originally Posted by Lady Zelos

Hehe, Alexandre Dumas is nothing short of amazing. The Count of Monte Cristo is just brilliant. It's definitely my favorite book. It has the most exciting plot and the most wonderful and believable characters. Has anyone read the recent translation of The Knight of Maison-Rouge? I believe it came out only a few years ago. Before then, it had never been officially translated to English. Either way, I highly recommend the novel. It's about a group of individuals who attempt to rescue the imprisoned Marie Antoinette before her execution. It's not some random Alexandre Dumas novel... it's really one of his best, even though it may not be one of his most popular or well-known stories. Anyway, just check it out if you have a chance.

Couldn't agree with you more. I'd be hard pressed to hail a book more clever and memorable than Monte Cristo.

I haven't read The Knight of the Maison-Rouge but it sounds really interesting and thanks for recommending it. :) It sounds worth checking out.

I'm really glad I came across this thread. It reminded me that I have a big stack of Dumas books on the shelf that I haven't read, yet.

I've seen several different versions of the movies that were made off the books, and I enjoyed the story line in all of them. I've been wanting to read them for ages, but I always forget they're there on the shelf.

I think that stack is going to have to be next on my "to read" list after I finish Ai Yori Aoshi.

I have never read his books but mybe i will get to it.

oh, alas, I was in the middle of that book and left it on my dresser at home! T__T That and crime and punishment! I need to remember to grab them both for my trip back up to school after spring break.

I'm a fan. I have been since I was old enough to care really. I love The Three Musketeers. It's been one of my favorite stories since I was little and watched the movie. When I was old enough to want to read the book and could understand it I read it and have three times since then. I read The Count of Monte Cristo when I was about 15 I think but I haven't read it again since then. I've seen the movie adaptations and the anime though since then and they've all entertained me. I need to go back and read the book again some time.

my daughter is really into his books. I think she reads everything she can get her hands on. I had never heard if him till my daughter talked about him.

I've only seen the movies, but I knew he wrote the books. Just haven't read them. T_T

I just recently bought The Count of Monte Cristo ^^ I haven't had a chance to read it though. I enjoyed the great illustrated classics version as a kid so I thought I'd step up to the real thing now xD

I know about Alexander Dumas~! He's one of my all time favorite authors. I've read the majority of his books and have loved alllll of them. The Count of Monte Cristo was the last one I read, but prior to that I'd read all the books about the Musketeers.

Definitely the unabridged books are great, but I'm sure I could crush a baby with them if I dropped them. :c Which I have.

Dropped one right on my foot. It hurt so much that I coudln't stand, so I just sat down and read it.

I've loved Dumas for years. I read all the Project Gutenberg e-texts of Dumas last summer. I need some actually hard copies of his other stuff, though. I love a good swashbuckling adventure. I think that Count of Monte Cristo is such a great story. My sister-in-law kept gagging at me all summer, because she got sick of Dumas after having to read him every year at school in France. She looks at me funny when I read Hugo, too.

Anyone who hasn't read the Scarlet Pimpernel should be put to death, by the way. And someone who likes adventures should read a bit of Raphael Sabatini, too.

If I remember correctly, "The Black Tulip" was written by him. I read it many, many years ago, but it was one of my favorites back then. I haven't been able to re-read it, but I distinctly remember him as being the author. It was a wonderful book and I would totally recommend that. =]

I've been dipping into the Count of Monte Cristo lately.
I used to just recognize that it was a good book and that people loved it.
But finally I just had to see for myself after a long discussion with my friend about the general plot.

I've fallen in love.

It is one of the best books I have read, I can honestly say.

So anyway...

I suppose my point is, what's your favorite scene or character? Do you think Edmond was justified in what he did and accomplished? And do you think it was okay that Mercedes ran off with another man after her lover had been gone for only so long? Or is there something else you loved/hated?

I'm curious of other people's opinions..

Lovely book; I periodically came back to Alexander Dumas when I was back in primary school. I also very much enjoyed the French miniseries adaptation with Gerard Depardieu - I can recommend it if you find the opportunity to see it.

Back when I read the book, I suppose my favourite character was Edmond. The air of mystery that surrounds him, even when we know his history and what he's doing; I tried to imagine it from the perspective of the other cast. Well, I was younger then and the adventurer of adventure novels was the clear hero.

As for Edmond's revenge, I couldn't say it would be justified today. But in the context of the book and time it was very much appropriate and accomplished in an epic manner. Obviously, the book wouldn't be the same without it.

I'd recommend Dumas' Three Musketeers when you find the time as well.

I got to watch the anime for it before reading it, but still. I absolutely loved it.
If you haven't seen the anime, it's really good. It's from Alberts point of view and set in the future.

I can't really say who my favorite is... I mean, I love the Count and Albert and Franz and... Oh, I really don't know. In the book, I'd have to say that it's a tie between Haydee and Edmond. I loved those two so much.

And his revenge. It was amazing. I agree with Lazarous in saying that it wouldn't be justified today, but... I don't know. If the person who I truly loved and were supposed to be married to didn't wait for me.... I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive them.