Count of Monte Cristo (French)

5b Alexander Dumas. Paris: Bureaux du Journal Le Siècle. 28 September 1845 – 1 February 1846. Rare large bound edition of original feuilleton.

Description

Second feuilleton edition of The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) published in serialized form in the Parisian newspaper Le Siècle, and one of the very first editions of Le Comte de Monte-Cristo. Serialised as the first volume of the Oeuvres complètes d’Alexandre Dumas in the supplement to Le Siècle, this edition was published partway through the serialisation of Le Comte de Monte-Cristo in the newspaper Le Journal des Débats, the novel’s true first edition, which ran from 28 August 1844 to 15 January 1846. Le Siècle began a second serialisation on 28 September 1845, issuing one part per week for 18 weeks, before concluding the novel on 1 February 1846, just two weeks after Le Journal des Débats finished its run, with a single, large instalment that included the novel’s final two-thirds. The volume is complete with its title page (dated 1846), a table of contents, and the story of "François Picaud", from which Dumas drew inspiration.

In this period of the serial Dantès, as Monte Cristo, reappears in Parisian society, dazzling the elite with his wealth, intellect, and exoticism. He secretly aids the good (like Maximilien Morrel, son of his former employer) and manipulates the downfall of his enemies. He unearths dark secrets, including Villefort’s buried family crimes and Fernand’s betrayal in the Greek War of Independence. The Count skillfully orchestrates financial ruin and personal disgrace for Danglars, emotional devastation for Fernand, and exposure of Villefort's hidden sins.

By the end of the 1845 chapters, Dantès’s vengeance is well underway, but his internal struggle between justice and mercy begins to emerge.

Notes

Contemporary half calf and marbled boards. Spine gilt and blind ruled in compartments. Lettered directly in gilt; EL Conde De Monte-Christo. Marbled endpapers. Some rubbing on four edges, bottom front lower edge has some tearing, front and back end papers. Second tissue page torn out, otherwise intact. Good condition.