The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas (père). It is one of the author's most popular works, along with The Three Musketeers. Dumas completed the work in 1844. The story takes place in France, Italy, islands in the Mediterranean, and in the Levant during the historical events of 1815-1838. It is an adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy and forgiveness, it focuses on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune and sets about getting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. However, his plans have devastating consequences for the innocent as well as the guilty. The book is considered a literary classic today. According to Luc Sante, "The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of Western civilization's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, Noah's flood, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood."
This English translation was originally published in 1846 by Chapman and Hall, London.
Set in Dagestan in the middle of the Caucasian War, "The Ball of Snow" follows the story of Iskander as he is tasked with an impossible mission to achieve for the well-being of Derbent. Fighting with brigands and dilemmas, Iskander shows the complexity of an unbending Caucasus where tradition is rich, echoing vividly in the minds of the modern-day reader. This new edition of "The Ball of Snow" is witty and humourous, reflecting the unique style that contains all the talent of Alexandre Dumas.
