u/karakickass

At least we have something good to root for!

Synopsis:

Maximilien is in the garden with Valentine. She tells him the bad news of her grandfather's death and that the marriage contract will be signed that night. She makes a big scene where it seems she will accept her fate, but eventually Maximilien convinces her to run away with him (phew!).

He comes back later that night, but doesn't find Valentine in the garden. Alarmed, he enters the house and finds M. Villefort talking with the doctor. It seems that Mme. Saint-Méran has also died, but not by natural means, by poison! A poison that normally is delivered in small doses to Noirtier.

Maximilien penetrates the home deeper and finds Valentine sitting vigil by her grandmother's body. Together they find Noirtier and tell him of their plan. The old man indicates they should not run away together, but instead, he has a different idea.

END OF BOOK THREE

Discussion:

1. Valentine really resisted Maximilien's attempts to rescue her. Do you think this was a case of propriety, tension or Dumas being paid by the word?
2. Poison. POISON. Do you think it is the poison, or just some other poison?
3. Noirtier has had an interesting arc, from usurper/murder to only hope for some good characters. What is Dumas telling us about the nature of goodness and evil with him?

Next week, chapters 74 and 75!

If it's not one thing, it's another thing...

Synopsis:

The Count joins Mercédès in the garden and all kinds of irony ensues. Mme. Morcerf asks if they are friends, and the Count says "yes," but even though he says there is no greater sign of friendship in Arabia than the sharing of bread and salt, the Count still refuses to eat. She asks if he has suffered greatly, and he says "yes," she asks him if he has loved, and he describes a thinly veiled allusion to their own love. Then Franz bursts in with the news that Valentine's grandfather as died.

Our attention shifts to Mme. de Saint Méran and the death of M. de Saint Méran. It seems she has had visions of her dead husband since his death and is convinced her own death is at hand. She wants to see Valentine married before that happens and is anxious for the return of Franz so the marriage can take place. The chapter ends on a whisper to Valentine from Maximillien.

Discussion:

1. What is the deal with the Count refusing to eat?
2. How do you feel about Mercédès? What is unsaid between her and the Count in this scene?
3. Will some last minute surprise save Valentine? If so, how do you think that might come about?

Next week, chapter 73! (And the end of Book 3, look how far we've come )

Whoever made up this schedule is torturing us with this cliffhanger!

Synopsis:

"Someone" (who we are later told is Villefort), uses their contacts to find out who in the city knows anything about the Count. They come up with two names: Abbé Busoni and Lord Wilmore [cue the deep sighs.] It seems both of these men maintain residences and both have had some comings and goings, so they are known.

First, Busoni is visited. He lives in a humble abode where he focuses on study. He says that he knew MC as a child and that he was born in Malta, the son of a sailor, did a tour in India and bought his title. His family name is Zaccone. When asked about the house at Auteuil, he says his plan is to turn it into a house for lunatics. MC is well-loved by Busoni.

Next, he sees Lord Wilmore, who walks in at exactly the appointed time and only speaks English. He seems to have nothing but contempt for MC and think the house at Auteuil is part of some mineral waters scheme, like many of the counts schemes, including an electric telegraph. The Englishman also claims that the two have fought 3 duels, each time resulting in a wound for Wilmore. The men take their leave, and once alone, Wilmore takes off a wig, a false jaw and a scar, and is back to being the Count of Monte Cristo.

We also get a peek into the Ball this week. We see some guests arrive and get a feel for the decorations and who is in attendance. MC wastes no time in finding Danglars and telling him of yet more financial misfortune for him and needling him about who he will be once his wealth runs out. But then Mercédès wants more people to visit the garden, so she decides to set an example and asks MC to accompany her there.

Discussion:

1. Do you find it believable that the count had already created the characters of Busoni and Wilmore?
2. What new angle is the Count working with the backstories he invented? What does he want Villefort to conclude from them?
3. The Ball scene allowed us to see our characters mingling. Were there any conversations that you found interesting, revealing or significant?

Next week, chapters 71 and 72!

The Count is not the only one running a scheme!

Synopsis:

Danglars goes to visit the Count and sees “Abbé Busoni” enter the apartments. Once he finally is able to see MC, the two men discuss Danglars’ recent loss in the markets, including someone named Jacopo who has gone bankrupt and cost Danglars another million. MC makes a subtle dig at Danglars for a having “third-class” fortune and implies that a few more losses and Danglars will be completely ruined. Danglars protests that he does business, so it is a second-class fortune, then the conversation turns to the Cavalcantis. It seems Danglars is not at all happy with the betrothal of his daughter to Albert Morcerf and thinks that perhaps Andrea Cavalcanti would be a better match. The conversation ends with Danglars and MC agreeing to share any further dirt they dig up on Count Morcerf’s escapades with Ali Pasha.

Then we zip to Villefort’s office where Mme. Danglars has gone to see him. Dumas is at his finest in drawing out this scene with unnecessary details, but eventually we learn that Villefort knew the baby was dug up and was alive! He tracked it as far as the Foundling hospital, but then lost it. He also knows that MC couldn’t have mentioned the dead baby innocently. He vows to find out who this Monte Cristo really is within the week.

In our last scene, Albert Morcerf goes to visit Monte Cristo. After all the attention MC gave to him and Franz earlier, MC is quite cool during the visit. However, Albert convinces him to attend their upcoming summer ball by telling him his mother has requested it. When it comes to other guests, MC insists that, even though he introduced the Cavalcantis to everyone, he can’t vouch for them at all and makes no claim to them. He also lets slip that Danglars may also want out of the marriage to Morcerf, which makes Albert happy.

Discussion:

1. Danglars is twisted in knots of Monte Cristo’s making. Is the Count just that good, or is there something about Danglars that makes him weak to this manipulation?
2. Villefort has some fight in him. What moves do you think he could make that might genuinely surprise the Count?
3. What do you think of MC’s enigmatic reserve towards Albert in this week’s final chapter? Playing it cool? Genuine disinterest?

Next week, chapters 69 and 70!

The web is drawing our villains ever closer together...

Synopsis:

Dinner is served! The guests are delighted, and yet the Count must impress them further by pointing out the two kinds of fish that he is serving, lamprey and sturgeon, one of which comes from Russia and the other from Naples, kept alive until dinner time by his machinations and ingenuity. Not one to let the guests settle their stomachs on a lovely meal, the Count then pivots to bring up the possibility of insider trading and the discovery of an infant child buried on the grounds. Such a good host, our Count!

With a few taking ill, the party disbands, but before Andrea Cavalcanti/Benedetto can hustle away, a beggar accosts him. This wretch turns out to be Caderousse who has had dealings with Benedetto before. Caderousse rides into Paris in the Cavalcanti carriage and then Benedetto pays him to scram.

Finally, we get a bit more insight into the Danglars marriage. We see Debray in the Mme’s boudoir, but then the lovers are interrupted by Danglars coming to visit his wife. He makes a simple request, since he gives a kick back to Mme. Danglars when he makes money off of her tips, it is only fair that she shares in his most recent -- and heavy -- loss. Surely this reasonable and fair arrangement will restore the peace.

Discussion:

1. The Count does everything for a reason. What do you think he’s trying to communicate to his targets with the fish?
2. The Cad returns! What’s your impression of the Benedetto/Caderouse relationship?
3. The Danglars' had their own dramatic moment in this last chapter. What is your feeling on the power dynamic between these two?

Next week, chapters 66, 67 and 68!

Dumas dropped a bomb on us this week!

Synopsis:

We're back in the garden with Valentine and Maximilien. This time the lovers are delayed because Eugénie Danglars is visiting. The women admit that they don't want to be married to their betrothed, but it seems each has a different reason (including a wink, wink, nudge, nudge, knowhatimean?) Eventually the lovers meet. We learn for sure that it is Valentine who has the solid inheritance and that Maximilien recently won a bunch of money from the Count. Young Morrel is optimistic that the Count may help him in the future, but Valentine is skeptical. 

Then we go into the house where, while Valentine is being lovey with Maximilien, the elder Villeforts are telling M. Noirtier that Valentine is to be married to M. Franz de Quesnel, Baron d’Épinay. We have heard this Quesnel name before, it is the General that it was heavily implied Noirtier had killed for betraying the Bonapartist cause! Franz is apparently this man's son. This makes the old man very upset and he calls for Valentine.

Valentine comes, and through her expert knowledge of how to communicate with him, she determines that Noirtier wants a notary. The lawyer comes, and through many communication hoops, it is determined that Noirtier intends to disinherit everyone if Valentine marries Franz. The arrangements are made.

Discussion:

1. I think many of us have assumed the Count knows about Maximilien and Valentine, because the Count knows everything. But do you think it's possible that this secret love could be hidden from him, as these two seem to think?
2. Many modern stories have an "Economy of Characters" meaning even seemingly unimportant characters will later be revealed to be important. Dumas seems to be an expert practitioner. How do you feel about all this interconnectedness?
3. How do you feel about the little family drama that just played out for us?

Next week, chapters 60, 61 and 62!

🍁 Happy Canada Day!

It has been almost a year since we announced our new Community Rules and hopefully kicked off a new vibe here on our local sub. In that time, we've banned several bot/spam accounts but only one wannabe edgelord, so a big thank you to everyone else for contributing to the health of this community!

By the Numbers

• Of the top posts of all time, 6 have been posted in the last twelve months
• The top post this year was about snow falling sideways and was memetastic.
• The most upvoted posts are from locals about County Life
• Top topics are from visitors asking for advice

We know there is a balance to be struck between visitor support and not feeling like a customer service desk. You have been voting with your downvotes on the visitor questions, but you haven't been providing much content to offset it. We want to help.

Show Us a Good Time

To keep this community healthy and vibrant, our challenge to the loyalists is to post a little more. Share a picture of that great sunset, share the cool find at an antique store. Show us what regular life is like for those that live here.

To incentivize you, you might notice that our subreddit is missing a top banner. If you want your photo to be featured there all you have to do is tag it with the new post-type "Eye Candy" and we will know you're happy for us to put it there. Upvotes will influence what gets selected! (But to avoid a Boaty McBoatface situation, we reserve the right to curate.)

Tell Us You Care

We've also enabled User Flair. This should help you and us identify the regulars from the drive-bys, and show that you're invested in building this community.

And dare we ask...

Everyone loves to tell unpaid volunteers what to do, but no one wants to be an unpaid volunteer. For now, we're open to suggestions. Be nice and it can stay that way.

That's it. Thanks for being here and let's have a great season and another great year!

We did it! We reached the halfway point! Later today, join our Dumas Expert AMA!

Synopsis:

The Count and Albert have a nice chat, including topics of money. It turns out Madame Morcerf doesn't want Albert to marry Eugénie Danglars, also Franz is on his way back from Italy. They conclude by the Count saying he will be hosting all our colorful characters at his home in Auteuil. And he can't possibly join them now, because he has someone coming to see him, and lo, here he is!

In comes Major Cavalcanti, but even the densest readers will notice immediately that this man seems to be playing a part in order to secure some reward. Then in walks "Andrea Cavalcanti" who is described as red-haired (where might we have heard of a red-haired knave before?) who is equally shady. The count secretly watches as these two imposters confess the scheme to each other, but agree to keep up the ruse for the sake of the money. What honest criminals!

Discussion:

1. Mercédès is against the marriage of Albert and Mlle Danglars, why, do you think?
2. Oh-ho! Something theatrical might be going down at Auteuil, what do you think the Count has planned?
3. What do you think of the Count's practice of paying people who are basically bad? Do you think that's justified?

Next week, chapters 57, 58 and 59!

I'm excited to announce a special event next week! A good friend and Dumas scholar, Vittorio Frigerio, will visit the subreddit to answer all of your questions.

Vittorio is an Emeritus professor of Dalhousie University in the French department and has published many scholarly articles about Dumas and The Count of Monte Cristo.

He has also been lurking in this subreddit and is very curious about what is happening here. ❤️

Next Saturday, June 27th at 1pm, he will be online with us for a couple of hours to answer your questions related to the book. But you can get your questions in now!

So Monte Cristo fans, what do you want to know?

https://preview.redd.it/6qv3cjzt3p8h1.jpg?width=3060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85818e3f4404dc69e7d4afeea9c6f6498439628c

The end of Volume 2 and the start of Volume 3 sees the Count become much more aggressive...

Synopsis:

Still at the home of Danglars, Monte Cristo meets Madame Danglars. The two make polite conversation, with MC making a good impression on the lady when the Madame is interrupted by her maid who tells her that her horses — the dappled greys — are not in the stable. Soon it is revealed that Danglars has sold them for quite a bit of money. Although, this is not before MC mentions that he has recently acquired some horses for not very much money. Danglars tries to defend himself by asserting how dangerous those horses were. The madame doesn't care, she wants her fabulous horses back, she has promised to lend them to Madame de Villefort. Soon, the truth is out, it is in fact MC who has bought her horses! But in a gesture of goodwill, MC gives the horses back as a gift.

Later, back at his home in Paris, he confirms with Ali that he can stop the horses with a lasso. Soon, somehow just as he said, Madame de Villefort and her son Édouard are in a runaway carriage, pulled by the dappled greys. Ali stops the horses dead and the mother and child are rescued and brought into MC's home. They are very grateful. However, this creates an obligation for M. de Villefort.

Finally, we have the Justice's visit. Dumas gives us a quick sketch of the man, now full in his power. He is the law. We also learn that the current Madame de Villefort is his 2nd wife. Rather than play it cool, Monte Cristo challenges Villefort immediately, engaging him in a philosophical discussion whereby MC claims to be an agent of God. He also alludes to the fact that every man has some sin in his past, or even "a crime." Villefort rejoinders that MC should visit his home and meet his father, who was struck down by a stroke or apoplexy, and is now reliant on Villefort's daughter for everything — implying that no man is all powerful, that even the most willful and skilled man can be brought low. [Little does he know who he is talking too, hmmm?]

Final Line: “I am going to madame’s chamber — have the carriage ready at one o’clock.”

Discussion:

1. There were some ladies this week! What did we learn about them and the men in their lives in these short encounters? And how do you think MC will make use of them?
2. Now that we have seen all the villains again, who is the most interesting to you?
3. MC came out swinging at Villefort in a completely different way than he did the others. Why? Do you think MC believes all that he said?

Next week, chapters 49, 50 and 51!

Do you think someone told Dumas to "up the stakes" or something... ?

Synopsis:

Bertuccio concludes his tale by telling how the jeweller goes to bed upstairs. Then later there are some suspicious sounds followed by a gunshot. Blood begins to soak through the floorboards in a "shower of blood" on him. He breaks free of his hiding place and witnesses the last dying moments of the poor jeweller. The scene comes to life for him. La Carconte has stabbed the jeweller and TheCad has shot his wife. Bertuccio's pursuers find him just then and he is arrested — his bloody clothes telling a different story than what happened.

Luckily for him, he has heard the name of Abbé Busoni. The man is searched for and after months is found. The Abbé hears Bertuccio's confession and works to free him. [We know that Busoni and MC are the same person, but Bertuccio doesn't...] Once freed, Busoni tells him to find Monte Cristo and now our dear Count has a servant who is highly motivated to serve him.

Next, we see Danglars try to pay him a visit. MC plays coy and then demands that Bertuccio buy the horses from him (MC must have the best horses, after all!) There is a curious moment where MC and Ali talk "for hours" despite Ali being mute? Hmm. And there is also an exchange with this valet where MC shows he has allowed the valet to steal, but MC is also investing money on his behalf? HMMMM.

Then MC visits Danglars and in a battle of manners and wits, MC bests him into unleashing "unlimited credit" by deploying displays of ample wealth and many letters of credit. I'm sure that will end well for our most excellent banker! Then MC is introduced to Danglars' friends and soon to his wife.

Discussion:

1. Yikes! Did you think TheCad and La Carconte had that in them?
2. What is your reaction to the way MC seems to accumulate and retain favours/servants?
3. Why must MC have the best horses?
4. Why do you think Danglars was bested in this scene? What weaknesses did MC play on?

Next week, chapters 47 and 48!

The plot thickens even further in new and familiar ways!

Synopsis:

At the Count's new home, Bertuccio begins to act weird. The Count pushes him and eventually it is revealed that this home belonged to the Saint-Meran family (whose daughter was married to Villefort). Eventually, after more pressing, Bertuccio reveals that he once committed a murder here.

Bertuccio eventually tells his tale, it winds all the way back to the 100 days and the lawlessness that reigned. His older brother was killed and he went to Villefort to seek justice, but Villefort was indifferent, so Bertuccio swore a blood oath -- a vendetta -- against him.

In order to make good on this, he tracked Villefort, which eventually leads him to Auteuil. It is implied that Villefort is having an affair and the girl is pregnant. One night he sees someone he assumes is Villefort emerge with a baby and bury it. He stabs this person, killing them, then rescues the baby. He manages to revive it baby and then, after some diverging, his sister-in-law gets the child and she raises it as her own. The child -- Benedetto -- has red hair and is a little villain, and when he is grown, Bertuccio gets him a job on a ship.

Somehow this leads to Bertuccio hiding out and overhearing what happens after the Count (as Abbé Busoni) gives the diamond to Caderousse and La Carconte. He witnesses the negotiation and the 2 innkeepers feeling ripped off by the jeweller. The jeweller tries to leave, but a storm drives him back, and ominously is forced to stay in the inn with the people he has just made a deal with.

Final Line: "...La Carconte double-locked the door behind the jeweller.”

Discussion:

1. We see more of Villefort here, how has this illuminated his character and role in the novel?
2. We see another father/son relationship. Why do you think the child is such a rogue?
3. Caderousse is somehow back in the story and Bertuccio is there to witness! What is the relationship now between The Cad and La Carconte, who is the real villain between them?

Next week, chapters 45 and 46!

In which mostly polite things are said, and yet, so much might have been said.

Synopsis:

After Albert's other friends have left, he takes Monte Cristo to his attic where he stores all his treasures. There, MC continues to delight him with his worldliness and knowledge. MC also notes a portrait of a Catalan woman, looking quite in the fashion of her people, staring longingly out to sea. Albert tells that he loves the portrait of his mother, but it caused some strife between his father and her when she first had it commissioned.

Leaving with Albert, Monte Cristo arrives at the home of the proper Count de Morcerf. He notes the heraldry seems to be of the old kind, and not the new kind. [I confess I was a bit out of the loop on all the significance there.] This seems to imply that their family is truly connected by blood to an old family, which was mentioned before, and they are not some new money aristocrats -- which they most definitely must be, considering Fernand is also a Catalan!

MC is introduced to Morcerf and flatters him properly, then Mercédès comes in and she is strongly affected by seeing MC. Although words are said between them, not much other than thanking him for saving her son is said, then MC is off to his new home and with his shiny new sportscar horses.

Once he is gone, Mercédès is quite stricken. She questions Albert then admonishes him to "beware." But Albert dimisses thiis and she gives in.

Finally we see MC order around Bertuccio in a casual way, and spread the money around with the Notary. However, we get a hint that the house he bought is actually a key part of the grand plan.

Final Line: It was unexampled for a servant of the count’s to dare to dispute an order of his, so the steward, without saying a word, followed his master, who got into the carriage, and signed to him to follow, which he did, taking his place respectfully on the front seat.

Discussion:

1. Fernand appears to be misrepresenting his pedigree, not dissimilar to how MC is also misrepresenting his. What do you make of this development and the parallelism of this?
2. Put yourself in Mercédès' headspace. What do you think she was thinking?
3. MC seems to be "in character" most of the time. That whole scene with Bertuccio... real? Or just a way to build his reputation?

Next week, chapters 43 and 44!

I tells ya, it's the truth, it happened to a friend of a friend of mine...

Synopsis:

Albert has some of his friends over as he awaits the arrival of the Count of Monte Cristo. The friends delight in their privilege while Albert builds anticipation for the arrival of his new acquaintance.

The Count arrives perfectly on time. The men get to know each other. The Count, for his part, spends some time illuminating his character, with reference to his servants, foreignness, chemical prowess, wealth and international connections. In exchange, the Count learns that he is in the company of Maximilien Morrel, M. Morrel's son and that Albert also knows Baron Danglars.

Discussion:

1. Compare Albert to the other young men in this scene. Dumas spends a lot of time on their conversation and the setting, what do you think he has tried to show us?
2. The Count is making a big deal about his foreign origin and foreign connections. What purpose is this serving in his grand scheme?
3. The Count was surprised to see Maximilien Morrel and then dropped the name "Thomson and French" to bait a reaction. This must be unplanned. Why do you think he did this?
4. Do you find the yarn the Count is spinning to be believable? Should our young men be more skeptical of this mysterious stranger? And why aren't they?

Next week, chapters 41 and 42!

It might be a good idea to know this Count guy... I guess we can keep him around.

Synopsis:

Franz gets some bad news. Albert has been abducted! The mysterious woman was actually a bandit in disguise! They are demanding a ransom! And the amount is more than Franz can pay!

Thinking quickly, he goes to the Count and asks for help. While the Count could easily pay it, he instead chooses to confront Luigi Vampa. Together, Franz and MC travel to the catacombs of St. Sebastian and tell Vampa to release Albert. The whole scene has a relaxed air, with MC and Vampa conversing as respected equals. Albert is unharmed and they return to the hotel safely. The Count and Albert shake hands and MC can't help but let a shudder escape at his touch.

The next day, MC asks for the favour to be returned by Albert in the form of opening the doors of Parisian high society to him. They agree to meet in 3 months at a precise time. Franz shakes MC's hand and it is cold like a "corpse."

MC takes his leave and Franz expresses worry about their new acquaintance. He finally reveals all of the many things he has witnessed related to MC that might make him seem a shady character. Albert, however, dismisses these concerns and is even more committed to meeting the man again at the appointed time.

Discussion:

1. You have now encountered the famous Luigi Vampa. What is your impression of him?
2. Franz witnesses some interesting details about the Count in these chapters. How is your picture of him evolving?
3. What is your impression of the 2 young men as their Roman escapade concludes?
4. MC has managed to get an invite to Parisian society. How would you rate his plan? Lucky? Or ingenius?

Next week, chapters 39 and 40!

Just a light-hearted escapade, with mysteries and romance, leading to an abrupt and ominous ending.

Synopsis:

The young men finally get to have the fun they had been hoping for. Albert following a mysterious woman in a carriage, Franz meeting again with Countess G----. In the morning Franz witnesses the dramatic end of the carnival with the candles getting extinguished seemingly all at the same time. However, he does this alone, as Albert has gone off on a rendezvous with his mysterious paramour.

Final line(s): The Carnival was over.

Discussion Questions:

1. The tone shifted in this chapter, to one of joy and adventure, but the ending was quite abrupt. What did you feel reading it, and where do you think it's leading?
2. The Count seems to have plans on top of plans, where do you think he disappeared to? Do you think he had any fun at all?
3. The wearing of masks is both thematically interesting and useful for intrigue. What do you think about how the young men conducted themselves in their masks?

Next week, chapters 37 and 38!