The Count of Monte Cristo
- 52 hrs 41 min
- Classic adventure, first published in the 1840s
- Rated 4.8 ★ on Audible
Peter’s Verdict
One of the greatest adventure stories ever written, and Bill Homewood’s narration is superb. It’s an intimidating length and I usually don’t enjoy classics, but once I adjusted to the writing I was completely engrossed. Highly recommended.
Originally published in the 1840s, The Count of Monte Cristo follows Edmund Dantès, a young sailor about to be promoted to captain of his ship and marry his longtime sweetheart. That perfect life is destroyed when three jealous compatriots falsely accuse him of treason.
Dantès is locked away in the infamous Chateau d’If prison for fourteen years. After a daring escape, he begins the long and careful process of seeking revenge against the people who wronged him. Along the way there’s romance, power struggles, clever disguises, buried treasure and solemn promises.
Bill Homewood’s performance is exceptional. Each character gets just the right amount of emotion and energy, and I was completely captivated and transported into Dantès’s world.
I was reluctant to start this audiobook, but I found myself engrossed.
I’ll be honest: I was reluctant to start it. At close to 53 hours it’s an intimidating listen and, quite honestly, I tend not to enjoy classics. Once I had adjusted to the writing, which another reviewer described as “wordy and flowery but delicate and spellbinding,” I found myself engrossed.
To sum up: the plot is riveting, Dumas’s writing is beautifully poetic, and the narration is exceptional.
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Listen if…
- You want an epic revenge story you can sink into for weeks
- You’re curious about the classics but intimidated by them
- You enjoy a long, character-rich audiobook with a standout narrator
Skip it if…
- You want something short: it runs over 50 hours
- You prefer modern, plain prose: the writing is ornate and takes some adjusting to
Where to listen to The Count of Monte Cristo
Audible has several unabridged editions. This link goes to the Bill Homewood recording.
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I still have not yet dived into the world of audio books. I really like Dumas, though. This sounds like a good performance of his story.
I see from your blog you just finished The Three Musketeers and loved it. I was thinking of listening to it soon – John Lee narrates it as well which is a big attraction.
Peter