This is a masterpiece of vengeance. Edmond Dantes is thrown into prison to further the goals of three men. His cell companion, a wise old man, helps him uncover their treachery. He escapes and acquires a great treasure, and is reborn as the Count of Monte Cristo, determined to exact his revenge for the crimes committed against him. There are a number of things that make this novel amazing. Part of it is the intricacy and detail of the Count's revenge plots. No silly gimmicks like, "I'll get you to confess while the police are listening in!" (I can't believe they used that in the movie. It disgraces the good name of the book.) Everything is carefully planned and woven together as only a mastermind could do. Part of it is the lack of good and evil. The Count's three betrayers are not portrayed as evil men - they simply had to resort to desperate measures in a difficult time. There is none of this foolish "You are my best friend, but I'm going to betray you and then beat my wife and when I find out who you are I'll try to murder you" tripe like they tried to pull in the movie (can you tell that I didn't like the movie?). It's a long book, and slow in some parts, but still a masterpiece.