The Count of Monte Cristo

The lightning transformation of Edmond Dantes, blameless sea captain with hair "dark as the raven's wing," from joyous manhood to dungeon wretch is one of the great first acts in literature. Dantes is a Frenchman, but we--as Americans--expect our classics read with an English accent. And so Richard Matthews is spot-on for this sweeping and voluptuous romance. Our imprisoned hero educates himself--yes, students, you mustn't neglect your homework--escapes the dread dungeon of the Chateau d'If, and becomes rich beyond the dreams of avarice. He returns and wreaks a terrible vengeance on the treacherous. Man, woman, French nobility, and Italian banditry, Matthews has the range for a variety of accents and emotions. Excellent performance, great sound. B.H.C. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Edmund Dantés returns from a sea voyage expecting to marry his betrothed. But a trio of jealous compatriots frames the innocent man, who goes to prison for 14 years. His subsequent acts of vengeance form the majority of Dumas's story. John Lee imbues this classic with exactly the right balance of solemnity and compassion. His light accents for characters of various nationalities give them individual personalities without overdoing them in the slightest. Lee works with Dumas's text to give each character complexity and emotion. The listener regrets the story's end, wishing to live with Edmund and his adventures just a little longer. R.L.L. Winner of AudioFIle Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Dumas's sweeping adventure tale of the wrongly imprisoned Edmond Dantés, his transformation into the Count of Monte Cristo, and the long and elaborate course of his revenge on his enemies could certainly be a challenge for audiobook listeners. The intricate plot and dozens of characters require 52 hours in this unabridged production. Fans of the book will likely appreciate the care taken in the creation of this ambitious production. The recording is crisp and clean, narrator Bill Homewood's pace matches the action well, and the volume is consistent throughout. Homewood invests each character with personality and heart, and throughout the tale his reading remains clear, forceful, and committed. M.G. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine