Welcome to this online blog of my draft for the book I am writing that will reveal to you the missing years from Alexander Dumas' novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. Fans of the book will have noticed 9 years of Edmond Dante's life is missing.
It was whilst I dwelt on this sudden jump in the text that I began wondering, 'how did he become this master of revenge and vendetta?' and 'how has he become so skilled at meating out his punishment upon the unrighteous?'
As I read and re-read the novel, I realized that through-out the novel, Dumas offers tantalizing glimpses and clues to these missing years. So, I searched to see if anyone had written about or tried to fill in this huge gap in such a captivating and exciting story.
So far I have found nothing, only sequels that pick up from where Dumas left off at the end of his book.
The best so far is the series 'The Sultan of Monte Cristo' (I've read these books by the Holy Ghost Writer) a talented writer who has created a great story.
The book can be found here on good reads www.goodreads.com/[...]the-sultan-of-monte-cristo
Or purchased and read here, at amazon www.amazon.com/The Sultan of Monte Cristo (Vol 1.)/
And volume 2 here, on amazon www.amazon.com/The Sultan of Monte Cristo (Vol 2.)/
Yet they do not answer the question I have of what happened in those missing 9 years.
So I decided to take up this project. I would write these missing years, and so far, it has taken me far longer than I thought to get to this point. I am returning to the project after a few years of living away, getting married and all the other distractions of life. However, the project started with much research, question asking, learning about how to actually write a novel (which I am still learning)... I have finally reached the point where I have a workable storyline.
I am slowly posting, chapter by chapter, scene by scene the story that I am writing that I hope will open up your eyes to how Edmond Dante's became the Count of Monte Cristo. Please note that you are often seeing second drafts (I wouldn't wish a 'first draft' on my enemy). So they are a bit rough and ready.
I hope the story, though, surprises you, shocks you and entertains you. It is dark and grubby whilst also being elitist and elegant; as we follow, or more accurately, chase Edmond Dante's as he rubs shoulders with the 1840's social elite and shakes hands with the grimy underworld of the 1840's crime-world. Shaping him into the Count of Monte Cristo of Dumas' book.
'The Count of Monte Cristo: The Lost Years' is going to change, challenge and be challenged as a controversial addition to the Edmond Dantes story. My main aim though is to entertain and help you discover how and what happened to create such a man.
As an aside, I just wish to clarify that this is a work in progress and what you will read at this time, is merely the first of the drafts that are being written. The aim right now is to get the story plot down on paper, the editing will come later, but for now, relax and kick back as you read about the adventures and exploits of Edmond Dantes as he tears through 19th century Europe hell-bent on revenge.
Enjoy,
Chris
