Dantes-that!

In the fabulous gold mine what French literature, surely this is one of the most beautiful gems! A nugget in the unalterable brilliance and whose seductive power, in 166 years, has still not lost its intensity! And yet, when it was serialized in the "Journal of Debates" in 1844, which could have suspected that this novel would quickly establish itself as one of the masterpieces of our literary heritage?

The secret of its magic? A simple story with powerful springs. Strong characters, nuanced, human. A vibrant energy account for well-appointed adventures, the dynamic prose, to nervous dialogues. Coeur and the book pivot, Dantes shines like a black sun, a vengeful Christ back from hell the Chateau d'If to reward the just and punish the villains. Is he a hero or anti-hero? Both at once, of course, and that's what makes all its ambiguity!

From the first chapters, we totally identifies with him. We love him, we tremble with it, it rots in prison with him. Fear, joy, revolt, melancholy: we share his every emotion ... and it is natural that we also come to share his desire for revenge ... A meticulously planned revenge, masterfully executed, but questions at As it deploys his anger, the very concepts of justice and humanity.

Bypassing the law of man, Dantes stands as indeed relentless Providence, self-proclaimed Supreme Court, deciding in the only secret of his conscience the fate of those who bruised. Or to make yourself the executioner of his executioners, do we not risk, if not losing its soul, at least blacken? Old question as the world! Dumas, he does not condemn the law of retaliation, but he made no apology. He impartially observe the effects.

It may be there, casually, the finest feat of this magnificent novel.