zarici t1_itk2jbm wrote on October 24, 2022 at 5:47 AM

Did you read the unabridged version?

It's quite possibly the most perfect book written, ever page of this massive tome is engaging. I go back and read this every couple years and am always fascinated by it. Truly a masterpiece of literature.

ComicsNBigBooks OP t1_itl0tu1 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 12:59 PM

Yes, I read the unabridged version. :-)

close_my_eyes t1_itmyev9 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 8:47 PM

I’ve had the unabridged version sitting here for years. I really need to dive in, but it’s in French and I know it’s going to take me a while and a dictionary to get through. But you’re inspiring me.

ZeMastor t1_itlomcx wrote on October 24, 2022 at 3:52 PM

You can still get a lot out of the abridged version, or even the comic book version, or the one for kids. Just a case of getting the RIGHT one.

It's even possible to co-run a subreddit r/AReadingOfMonteCristo for an entire year and ONLY using abridged versions (on purpose) to summarize and discuss the book. I'm doing this to prove that "abridged doesn't suck" and nobody's complaining there.

Abridged gets a lot of hate because there are several poorly-done abridgements, but there are 2 excellent ones as well.

Thatgoodice t1_itlt4s3 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 4:22 PM

I just got a used version of this, but it's the abridged version (Barnes and Noble version). Is it worth it to get unabridged? Or does it matter? Either way, I'm excited to read this one.

SydneyCartonLived t1_itly66m wrote on October 24, 2022 at 4:54 PM

If you get the Robin Buss translation I would say absolutely. Not only does he do a fantastic job with the footnotes, but he adds things back in that were excised because of Victorian sensitivities. Is it enough to make it worth it? I like so, it is just much richer and fuller than any of the Victorian era translations.

ZeMastor t1_itn7k9z wrote on October 24, 2022 at 9:48 PM

OMG no, go and donate the B&N abridged version. That's one of the poorly-done abridgements. In the end, Dantes only bats .50 as far as getting revenge and TWO of the culprits are completely off the hook (due to selective editing and dropping of pertinent chapters).

Read these instead:

Unabridged- Robin Buss on penguin Books

Abridged- Lowell Bair on Bantam Books.