The Count of Monte Cristo

"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas is a sweeping adventure about a man named Edmond Dantès and his quest for retribution. The story starts in the lively port of Marseilles, where young Dantès, a sailor, is wrongly thrown in prison. Initial scenes show Dantès' triumphant return and upcoming nuptials which quickly darkens as envy grows among those around him, especially Danglars and Fernand, who plot his ruin. This sets the stage for a tale of betrayal, imprisonment, and ultimate escape, as justice, revenge, and eventual redemption become the major forces that drive the narrative.