The novel begins in 1815, when Edmond Dantès, a young and promising sailor, is falsely accused of treason by his so-called friends and sentenced to life imprisonment. Dantès' betrayal is a result of his own success and the envy of those who sought to undermine him. While incarcerated, Dantès befriends an elderly prisoner, Faria, who shares with him the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo.
However, his success sparks a toxic brew of jealousy and political ambition: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo