Adventures in Classic Readings Sponsored by the FOL's Ruth D. Bogen Memorial Fund

This reading group, facilitated by Dr. Laury Magnus, Professor of English, will feature great classic works — ancient to contemporary — as well as participatory reading out loud of selected passages. This month, our selection is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

Set during the Napoleonic Era, this bildungsroman is a great adventure tale and love story that follows the checkered career of Edmand Dantès, a young man whose promising future as a ship’s captain is thwarted by the treachery of his seeming friends, all of whom are jealous of Edmand’s many early successes both in his naval career and in love. They draft a letter accusing Edmand of treason, and on the day that he is about to be married, he is arrested and imprisoned.  Here he meets Abbé Faria, a priest and political prisoner, who undertakes Dantes’ education in the philosophy, literature, and the arts, and on his deathbed, bequeaths him a hidden treasure. The story of Dantes’ education, escape from prison and reunion with his love, Mercedes, has thrilled readers—and especially young readers, for centuries. As usual, books will be available for those registered.