Mel Haby

My favourite book of all time, at 40yo I have loved it as much as I did at 20yo, and all the times I have read it in between. The remarkable skill of Dumas to weave enthralling tales within tales within the overall tale always strikes me. It is easy to momentarily forget Edmund when reading of Vampa and Therese, for example. I find the shift of perspective between the time of Edmund and the time of The Count is my only mild disappointment. All the feelings of Edmund are known from the inside, while The Count remains observed from the outside. It is clearly a deliberate shift by Dumas, but leaves me somewhat wanting in detail of The Count’s thoughts and feelings. Some may criticise the attitudes towards women portrayed in the book, however to paint a portrait of free and independent women before 1900 would have been to write a century or more before his time. It is a snapshot of its time, much like the work of Austen or Bronte, and should not be judged against twenty first century standards of equality. The finale to the story of Eugenie, though, is likely to be a very pleasant surprise. The theme of vengeance is distasteful to some. I find it quite eloquently executed however. The Count does not go on a blood-thirsty rampage, he merely greases the wheels of justice. It unfolds beautifully with one exception, which The Count marks with deep regret. Despite all, he is still human to the end, and justly revenged. Until we meet again, Edmund, in a few years - farewell for now. I will always revisit. Side note - avoid the 2002 film at all costs. It is appalling.