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Dominoes Three
The Count of Monte Cristo
In a specially adapted version for young readers by Mitsu Yamamoto
After fourteen years in a dungeon, Edmond Dantes escapes by taking a dead man's place. Because Dantes is starting life over as a penniless sailor, his pursuit of vengeance will only be possible if a huge treasure, revealed to him by a babbling, dying prisonmate, actually exists on the Island of Monte Cristo. Follow Edmond Dantes as he discovers the long-lost treasure and becomes the wealthy, powerful and hard-hearted Count of Monte Cristo, whose one aim in life is revenge on the three men responsible for his imprisonment.
Cover illustration by Al Leiner.
After fourteen years in a dungeon, Edmond Dantes escapes by taking a dead man's place. Because Dantes is starting life over as a penniless sailor, his pursuit of vengeance will only be possible if a huge treasure, revealed to him by a babbling, dying prisonmate, actually exists on the Island of Monte Cristo. Follow Edmond Dantes as he discovers the long-lost treasure and becomes the wealthy, powerful and hard-hearted Count of Monte Cristo, whose one aim in life is revenge on the three men responsible for his imprisonment.
Cover illustration by Al Leiner.
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
December 6, 2022
3.5stars?
I listened to the "abridged" version, because reading a 1000 page book does not appeal to me. \_("-)_/
Uhm, a lot of people died, don't ask me who because I lost track and I should probably re-read it, but I got the overall gist of it, so I likely won't be doing so anytime soon.
*Very different from the movie as far as the ending goes*
I listened to the "abridged" version, because reading a 1000 page book does not appeal to me. \_("-)_/
Uhm, a lot of people died, don't ask me who because I lost track and I should probably re-read it, but I got the overall gist of it, so I likely won't be doing so anytime soon.
*Very different from the movie as far as the ending goes*
March 3, 2024
it was a really good book I really want to read some more classics
April 8, 2025
Read this aloud with Eli. What a great story and a great adaptation for children!
April 2, 2019
I really liked this book. I've heard So STINKIN MUCH ABOUT IT that I had to read it for myself. I'm so glad I finally did.
~My thoughts~
1. This is a historical goodie! *not true story, btw*
2. It was a relish of the moral JUSTICE. After Edmund Dantes is attacked by three mongrels who ruin his life, he finally gets revenge.
3. It was an easy fun read.
4. I love the illustrations
5. Characters were well developed and the plot flowed nicely.
6. I recommend this to kids, I would recommend a less abridged version to teenagers+adults.
7. I WANNA WATCH THE MOVIE NOW!
Let me know in the comments below if you think the movie is worth watching!
Thanks, Amy
~My thoughts~
1. This is a historical goodie! *not true story, btw*
2. It was a relish of the moral JUSTICE. After Edmund Dantes is attacked by three mongrels who ruin his life, he finally gets revenge.
3. It was an easy fun read.
4. I love the illustrations
5. Characters were well developed and the plot flowed nicely.
6. I recommend this to kids, I would recommend a less abridged version to teenagers+adults.
7. I WANNA WATCH THE MOVIE NOW!
Let me know in the comments below if you think the movie is worth watching!
Thanks, Amy
November 24, 2021
This is my favorite novel by Alexandre Dumas, and this condensed adaptation is very good; it's fast-paced, easy to understand, and great for all readers, young and old.
March 3, 2023
I've never read this book, but it was really good. Not sure I could get through the thick, grown-up version lol
May 26, 2020
I have always wanted to know this story. However, the original text is such a huge under taking. This condensed version accomplished what I wanted: learn the story of the Count of Monte Cristo & provide a fun read.
May 20, 2019
My 10 year old and I enjoyed reading this one.
April 30, 2025
The story itself is excellent, but this adaptation rushes through Edmond’s revenge so quickly that it feels almost unnecessary. With better pacing this would have been a much better adaptation.
Owen’s Review: 3/5 peanut butter sandwiches - I’d like to avoid spending years and years in prison, but finding secret treasure on deserted islands sounds pretty cool.
Owen’s Review: 3/5 peanut butter sandwiches - I’d like to avoid spending years and years in prison, but finding secret treasure on deserted islands sounds pretty cool.
July 20, 2020
The count of monte cristo is a awesome book! I recommend reading it because there is adventure and treasure! I hope you enjoyed the book as much as I did! Have a wonderful and happy day!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
My book group is reading the real book, and I just couldn’t face such a long book right now, after reading David Copperfield and Lonesome Dove. I do feel a little guilty, but this children’s abridged edition had the most delightful illustrations!
January 7, 2024
Such a great and quick alternative to the original. Read it in a few hours and absolutely loved it! I’m hoping to read the big scary long original version eventually but this was a great place to start and get into it!
December 20, 2022
What can you say about this classic - it's got it all and on a basic visceral level clear to all ages and intellect. Thoroughly enjoyed rereading this children's classic adventure\ suspense\ romance\ thriller.
August 21, 2018
Dumas is another author whose works I have heard much about but really haven't explored. Since most of them are Classics they are the types of books that I shove away since I don't feel like challenging myself to figure out what the author is saying and/or to keep all the crazy plot tracks straight.
In this particular edition you get a very frank and straightforward story to read. Unfortunately I did some more research afterwards and was really quite surprised to see how much of the story was actually removed to be able to make this more accessible to children. So is the story lacking?
For an adventure tale that makes for a quick read it will do the trick but shouldn't be relied on if you looking for a complete read. The characters aren't as built-up nor as numerous while at times it does seem quite linear more than it would have with any original telling.
Like many of the Illustrated Classic types this book does have nice sketch drawings on every other page. As a result the book can be used as miniature coloring book if you want to add some color.
As an introductory book it was a good read but for those who want more of a handful the original shouldn't be overlooked.
In this particular edition you get a very frank and straightforward story to read. Unfortunately I did some more research afterwards and was really quite surprised to see how much of the story was actually removed to be able to make this more accessible to children. So is the story lacking?
For an adventure tale that makes for a quick read it will do the trick but shouldn't be relied on if you looking for a complete read. The characters aren't as built-up nor as numerous while at times it does seem quite linear more than it would have with any original telling.
Like many of the Illustrated Classic types this book does have nice sketch drawings on every other page. As a result the book can be used as miniature coloring book if you want to add some color.
As an introductory book it was a good read but for those who want more of a handful the original shouldn't be overlooked.
June 10, 2012
I read this book last summer and I absolutely loved it. It is a super long read (1400+ pages I think?), but it is totally worth it. Dumas plays the long game here and sets up loads and loads of intricately woven plot lines that at the time seem insubstantial or negligible, but in the end all get woven together to form an incredible tapestry. It easily has the most satisfying ending that I have ever read. The character's are pretty great too. Monte Cristo always seems aloof and high class throughout the entire book, but knowing what he is hiding adds meanging to what he says and does. His every move is carefully calculated, and the book ends up having a very strong psychological aspect as you come to realize how much of a master Monte Cristo is at manipulating people. At times you can track the outcomes of his actions four of five major events back in the book and it is almost astounding that he could make such brilliant manoeuvres. It really is a masterpiece of classical fiction.
November 3, 2016
This book was well written, intriguing, and just great. It will definitely go down as one of my favorite books.
If you're a person who preferes books in which the lead is a near-to-perfect being, this book might not be for you. Although Dantes (the main character), is someone to root for - especially in the beginning - his quest for revenge is the main theme of the book, and dims ones good feelings towards him. But (slight spoiler alert!) he does sort of learn his lesson in the end. He at least realizes that he took things way too far.
Great book: I recommend it.
If you're a person who preferes books in which the lead is a near-to-perfect being, this book might not be for you. Although Dantes (the main character), is someone to root for - especially in the beginning - his quest for revenge is the main theme of the book, and dims ones good feelings towards him. But (slight spoiler alert!) he does sort of learn his lesson in the end. He at least realizes that he took things way too far.
Great book: I recommend it.
February 9, 2024
In my annual preparation to watch V for Vendetta I happened to find this on the free shelf of my local library and wanted to learn the story. A delightful tale of patience and revenge, I see why V admires Edmond Dantes so much!
November 18, 2009
I really liked it. It is very different from the movie (big surprise) but I think that I like the ending in the movie a little better.
April 4, 2012
I read this book in French and English. It loses something in translation, but it is still an amazing book. I'm looking forward to rereading it soon.
November 30, 2021
Alexander Dumas's book, The Count of Monte Cristo
[ Abridged Version ] presents an idea to the reader that not everyone is a friend, some can be deceiving, and how the power of backstabbing can genuinely destroy a life of a person.
Although this book provides entertainment and adventure to entertain the reader, the actual theme comes from the purpose of the experience and what the protagonist faced complex challenges throughout the story.
The protagonist, Edmond Dantes, lived in Marseilles, France. It was 1815, during Napoleon's fall of his empire. He was an ordinary sailor who worked at the docks to earn a living.
His goal was to marry Mercedes, a beautiful woman in France. Even though his life seemed quite chipper, happy, some people despised him, which may turn his life around for the future.
Alexander Dumas expressed the personalities of all the essential characters, and not just the protagonist, making the reader connect to the characters or feel them on an emotional level. His use of expressing the feelings of the characters makes the story more lively and more relating to the reader from the book. He has this distinctive writing style of using punctuation like someone is speaking like a natural person in the story, as can also be said with the use of more uncommon or complex words etched into the dialogue of the story.
Dumas's way of writing makes the reading enticing and not-so-time consuming to those who read the book. This work of literature possessed feeling, perhaps empathy on some level, to the perspective of the reader.
Any teenager would love this book, or perhaps adults, too, but the value of its theme and passion for adventures, twists, and turns, can bring the people into a book that is true to a heart of an adventurous reader.
[ Abridged Version ] presents an idea to the reader that not everyone is a friend, some can be deceiving, and how the power of backstabbing can genuinely destroy a life of a person.
Although this book provides entertainment and adventure to entertain the reader, the actual theme comes from the purpose of the experience and what the protagonist faced complex challenges throughout the story.
The protagonist, Edmond Dantes, lived in Marseilles, France. It was 1815, during Napoleon's fall of his empire. He was an ordinary sailor who worked at the docks to earn a living.
His goal was to marry Mercedes, a beautiful woman in France. Even though his life seemed quite chipper, happy, some people despised him, which may turn his life around for the future.
Alexander Dumas expressed the personalities of all the essential characters, and not just the protagonist, making the reader connect to the characters or feel them on an emotional level. His use of expressing the feelings of the characters makes the story more lively and more relating to the reader from the book. He has this distinctive writing style of using punctuation like someone is speaking like a natural person in the story, as can also be said with the use of more uncommon or complex words etched into the dialogue of the story.
Dumas's way of writing makes the reading enticing and not-so-time consuming to those who read the book. This work of literature possessed feeling, perhaps empathy on some level, to the perspective of the reader.
Any teenager would love this book, or perhaps adults, too, but the value of its theme and passion for adventures, twists, and turns, can bring the people into a book that is true to a heart of an adventurous reader.
January 12, 2023
One day my family and I were taking a day trip to pick up some work gear for my husband. The boys were bored and asked us to tell them a good story. I had recently read the complete Count of Monte Cristo so I started telling them the story. This sparked an interest to read aloud an abridged edition to the boys. The many interweaving plots and characters were a challenge to follow. We created a character list and kept track of what each of them were doing throughout the book. In the end, I'm so glad we traveled through this book together and I think the richness of the story really captivated the boys. It was more difficult to get through than a book written for their age level but it was a lot more rewarding.
As far as the quality of this abridgement, I don't have anything to compare it to. There were several confusing passages (even to me) and I had to stop to explain what was happening to the boys many times. However, I feel like this is something to expect when reading a 250 page version of a 1300 page novel.
As far as the quality of this abridgement, I don't have anything to compare it to. There were several confusing passages (even to me) and I had to stop to explain what was happening to the boys many times. However, I feel like this is something to expect when reading a 250 page version of a 1300 page novel.
September 22, 2020
I have very ambivalent feelings about Great Illustrated Classics in general (though my view has improved somewhat since I have seen younger readers and English learners gain access to stories they otherwise would not be able to read). Certainly a tremendous amount is lost as these stories are simplified, in terms of detail , character development, etc. I don't read them, but occasionally will compare the beginning of one to its unabridged counterpart as an object lesson for students. However, in this case, curiosity got the best of me. I had just completed the unabridged, nearly 40-hour audio book. I knew it would be brutally cut for the GIC version, and it was, but I have to admit nonetheless, they did maintain the primary thread without altering its course. And truly, Dumas' version is a hugely wandering tale, with lots of side characters and side plots with excessive amounts of detail, so overall it was not a total devastation.
September 2, 2024
Excellent abridged format with great pictures and a wonderful little size.
I used to have Moby’s version of Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskerville as a boy and read it so many times. I eventually lost it but all I could remember was that it was small and had illustrations every other page. I loved that book and have tried so hard searching online and in person for 20+ years.
My wife and I were at a coffee shop and found this book and it instantly dawned on me that it was the same series! Since we were currently reading the unabridged Monte Cristo for summer book club, I had to have this.
Now as for the actual book? It’s excellent. It’s accessible for kids too. There is no Benedetto/Cadarousse story here, but much of the rest is there. This did a better job than the 2002 movie IMO.
I used to have Moby’s version of Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskerville as a boy and read it so many times. I eventually lost it but all I could remember was that it was small and had illustrations every other page. I loved that book and have tried so hard searching online and in person for 20+ years.
My wife and I were at a coffee shop and found this book and it instantly dawned on me that it was the same series! Since we were currently reading the unabridged Monte Cristo for summer book club, I had to have this.
Now as for the actual book? It’s excellent. It’s accessible for kids too. There is no Benedetto/Cadarousse story here, but much of the rest is there. This did a better job than the 2002 movie IMO.
August 10, 2025
I've never read the original, but I loved the 2002 version of the movie, and I thought my son would get a kick out of the story. And these GIC's are generally a lot of fun. You get the gist of the story without too much excess, and then we watch the movie when we're finished with the book.
We had some great conversations about the ethics discussed in the story--when is it "justice" and when is it "revenge"? Why should you tell the truth if you're sure you won't get caught? Why didn't Edmond take his considerable wealth and go off somewhere instead of ruining the people that ruined him, and was that approach good for Edmond? What happens if Edmond had found faith in prison--how would the story have turned out? Lots of good meaty stuff here.
We had some great conversations about the ethics discussed in the story--when is it "justice" and when is it "revenge"? Why should you tell the truth if you're sure you won't get caught? Why didn't Edmond take his considerable wealth and go off somewhere instead of ruining the people that ruined him, and was that approach good for Edmond? What happens if Edmond had found faith in prison--how would the story have turned out? Lots of good meaty stuff here.
July 26, 2021
I think this book is a bit boring and depressing. Not even the pictures could save it for me. If I want to read a revenge book, I want it to be exciting and full of suspense, not misery, misery, misery. At least it wasn't a total copout with the ending, giving the hero everything he wanted like the dumb movie did. I like how the good guy was unable to retrieve everything though, revenge should be more satisfying but at the same time more brutal. This book delivered the brutality, but was scant on the satisfaction factor.
April 28, 2023
I had never heard of this book until reading about a character who referenced it in "The London House." My 10-year-old and I read it aloud. It's a great adventure book for boys. There was lots of action, drama, betrayal, death, romance, loss, lessons learned, character, life on a ship, and imprisonment for years. It definitely kept our attention from the moment we picked it up. After that, we did not want to put it down. The Count of Monte Cristo falls in love and is falsely accused, but the lessons he learns are essential for who he will become.
May 15, 2022
I love these illustrated classics, it's a great way for people especially kids to gain first exposure to stories that would otherwise be beyond them and their reading abilities. The story is rather simple but there's something very compelling in it. I enjoyed it but my main issue with it is that it has a lot of coincidence driving the narrative.
I enjoyed the kids version, the movie and I look forward to reading the original novel.
I enjoyed the kids version, the movie and I look forward to reading the original novel.
June 22, 2024
The book that got me into reading-- given to me by my second grade teacher. This, Charles Dickens, and Oliver Twist were my roman empire. This was my favorite book growing up, probably still is, and it is a lovely adaptation to make the story more accessible to younger readers. I will always be so grateful for this book. If the book intimidates you, this is perfect. The illustrations are beautiful, too. I adore it.
August 9, 2022
Finished this one pretty quickly, with both boys wanting us to read more than one chapter a night just about every night. Watched the movie afterwards (Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce version) and the boys were excited at how parts of it were different. Definitely our favorite "big people story" we've read so far.
July 19, 2020
since the book is so short compared to the original it is easy to read but it definitely leaves out the details. it is a great summary book and fun to read since there are pictures on every page. enjoyable:)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews