This novel tells the life of Edmond Dantes, 19 years old, a sailor Marseiless – France, first-class sailors from the ship Le Pharaon. When the ship sailed Marseille, captain of the ship fell ill and died, before his death the captain left a package to Edmond to be given to a marshal on the island of Elba at the time was a place of exile of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is banished by King Louis XVII

When Edmond handed the packet, he met with The Emperor, who left a letter to Edmond Dantes to be submitted to one of his supporters in Marseille. Arriving at Marseille, Dantes directly appointed by Monsieur Morrell, owner of the vessel to become captain of the ship Pharaon. While waiting for the process of unloading the ship he filed a leave to be married to Mercedes, her idol.

Edmond Dantes good fortune was not liked by his friends. Promotion to captain enviable Danglars, chief financial officer of the ship Pharaon, his intention to marry Mercedes arouse jealousy Fernand Mondego, Mercedes cousin who also loved him, while the unexpected sustenance enviable Caderousse, neighbor. The three were then plan to thwart the evil plans Edmond Dantes became captain of the ship as well as in the way of her marriage to Mercedes.

The fact that Edmond Dantes, carried a letter from the Emperor at its disposal to be submitted to supporters made a powerful weapon to carry out their evil intentions. Danglars wrote to Moniseur Villefort, the Public Prosecutor in Mersailess stating that Edmond Dantes is a spy of King Louis XVII, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Long story short, Edmond Dantes was arrested, letters that have not had time to deposit Napoleon handed it go in foreclosure. As it turns out the contents of the letter threatening the position of Villefort as a servant of King Louis XVII, the letter was immediately destroyed and Edmond Dantes was sentenced to prison on a remote island without going through the court process

Moisture chamber in the dark and dungeon that was Edmond Dantes a grudge against his friends who had been disdaining, demeaning, and pouting her lover. Years in prison almost made him lose hope until the fate of the Abbe Faria mempertemukannya, an elderly priest of the adjacent cell. The priest managed to dig a hole that penetrates the cell Edmond Dantes so that they can meet each other and plan a recana to get out of jail is doomed.

The friendship between Edmond Dantes and closely interwoven with the priest, Abe Faria became a friend and teacher for Dantes who taught him many things. After a dozen years of fostering friendship and have not had time to realize his plans Abe Faria eventually died because of illness. Before he died Abbe Faria could provide a treasure map that is located on the island of Monte Cristo is Edmond Dantes will be owned if he died before he could escape. The death of his friend in jail that he used to escape. He moved the body of Abe Faria to his cell and into a body bag.

Having escaped from prison he finally reached the island of Monte Cristo, and armed with maps that had he managed to find a priceless treasure of magnitude. With the treasure he soon returned to Mersailess and transformed himself into a nobleman and hid his name behind the title of The Count of Monte Cristo (Duke of Monte Cristo). Since then he planned a revenge scenario against those who had destroyed his happiness and scowled.