Alexandre Dumas (pere)'s 1844/45 novel. Young Edmond Dantes is wrongfully imprisoned by jealous rivals. After 20 years in the island prison of Chateau d'If he escapes, retrieves buried treasure; and disguised as the rich, mysterious and magnetic Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the lives of those who betrayed him, and then takes revenge. Sex, drugs, beautiful women, murder. Robin Buss' 1995 translation is the best.