Adventure · Revenge
The Count of Monte Cristo
Reading level: we suggest CEFR B2–C1 for reading The Count of Monte Cristo in English (it was first written in French). Length: over 400,000 words.
- Suggested levelB2–C1
- Lengthover 400,000 words
- Original languageFrench
The story
On the day of his engagement, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on a false accusation written by jealous rivals. He disappears into the island fortress of the Château d'If for fourteen years.
A fellow prisoner, the Abbé Faria, educates him and tells him of a hidden treasure. Dantès escapes, finds the treasure and returns to Paris as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo — with a plan for every man who betrayed him.
Themes: betrayal, justice and revenge, patience, wealth and power.
Why it's a good book for language learners
Monte Cristo is long, but it is built from gripping episodes, and the first part (arrest, prison, escape) works as a complete story on its own. Dumas uses a great deal of dialogue, so you also practise conversation. In French it is a classic step for upper-intermediate learners.
How hard is the English in The Count of Monte Cristo?
- Flesch Reading Ease71.8
- Flesch–Kincaid grade7.4
- Words per sentence16.9
Measured by PageWalker on the full English text of the book. Flesch Reading Ease runs from 0 to 100 (higher is easier; 60–70 is plain English) and the Flesch–Kincaid grade is a US school grade. These formulas only count sentence and word length, so they miss old-fashioned vocabulary, wordplay and style. That is why our CEFR level, which takes those into account, can be higher than the formula suggests.
What you'll practise
- Legal and prison vocabulary
- Formal speech and social manners
- Reported speech and letters
- Vocabulary of emotion: rage, hope, despair
Reading tip
Treat the book as a series: read the prison chapters first, then decide whether to continue to Paris.
Did you know?
Dumas based the plot partly on a real case from the police archives of Paris about a shoemaker wrongly imprisoned.
The PageWalker adventure
In the adventure you are Dantès, and each choice brings you closer to escape — or keeps you in the Château d'If. You can try the first page in your browser, and the adventure is available in 13 languages with click-to-translate.
The Count of Monte Cristo in other languages
- EnglishThe Count of Monte Cristo
- العربيةالكونت دي مونت كريستو
- DeutschDer Graf von Monte Christo
- EspañolEl Conde de Montecristo
- FrançaisLe Comte de Monte-Cristo
- हिन्दीद काउंट ऑफ मोंटे क्रिस्टो
- ItalianoIl conte di Montecristo
- 日本語モンテ・クリスト伯
- 한국어몬테크리스토 백작
- PortuguêsO Conde de Monte Cristo
- РусскийГраф Монте-Кристо
- TürkçeMonte Kristo Kontu
- 简体中文基督山伯爵
Questions about The Count of Monte Cristo
What reading level is The Count of Monte Cristo?
We suggest CEFR B2–C1 for reading The Count of Monte Cristo in English (it was first written in French). Monte Cristo is long, but it is built from gripping episodes, and the first part (arrest, prison, escape) works as a complete story on its own. On readability formulas the English text scores a Flesch Reading Ease of 71.8 and a Flesch–Kincaid grade of 7.4, with an average of 16.9 words per sentence.
How long is The Count of Monte Cristo?
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844–1846) is over 400,000 words.
Can I play The Count of Monte Cristo as an interactive adventure?
Yes. In the adventure you are Dantès, and each choice brings you closer to escape — or keeps you in the Château d'If. You can try the first page in your browser, in 13 languages.
Updated 16 October 2026
