Another good Dumas story.

First the story. This book has all of Dumas’s trademarks, plenty of characters, a semi-flawed hero, romance, an engaging setting, and a tense conclusion. I was not particularly gripped by this story but it is certainly memorable and once the action starts near the end I really was unsure as to what would happen next.

Dumas does a great job establishing a gorgeous island setting. Maybe it’s not as moving now when we can look at tropical pictures anytime we’d like, but I’m sure the setting really captured 1840s readers.

The titular Georges is a likable protagonist but is overly prideful. Some have complained that there is another character that outshines him as a hero, which I could see, but Georges is still a worthy hero for the novel. In fact, it is clear while reading that much of his characterization is re-used for the Count of Monte Cristo himself.

Many may be interested in reading this to see it’s perspective on race. In that regard there is some food for thought. The overarching story is one of breaking down prejudice and seeing beyond race. On the other hand, this book itself is racist, at least by modern standards. Slavery is not outright condemned, and there are several racial stereotypes in the novel. This novel is an interesting study in a work that is forward thinking/progressive but still a product of its time.

On the whole this is a solid tale and especially of note for Dumas fans. The many heroes and villains of this tale will stay in my mind for a long time to come and I will not soon forget this literary trip to the Ile de France. For Dumas fans this is a treat as this was written before his masterpieces, and Count of Monte Cristo fans should definitely read this to see Georges as a sort of proto-Edmond Dantes. Overall a classic adventure with some interesting racial elements.