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Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume IV Chapter 89,90,91
00:30 89 Monte Cristo checks his dueling pistols when Mercédès, veiled, begs him not to kill Albert. She recognized him, learns Fernand’s role in his arrest, and he vows to spare Albert, leaving Mercédès witnessing his lost vengeance.
19:55 90 Monte Cristo laments his ruined vengeance, writes a will favoring Haydée and Maximilien, prepares for a duel with Albert; given Mercédès’ intervention, Albert apologizes, realises the count’s motives, and the duel is canceled.
46:33 91 Albert rejects convention and prepares to leave with Mercédès. Bertuccio brings Monte Cristo’s letter revealing money buried long ago for Mercédès. Mercédès decides to use it as a dowry for a convent.

Main Characters of Volume IV
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Suivez-moi! - fr, follow me!
Stipendiary adj receiving a stipend; working for payment rather than voluntarily; n a person receiving a stipend (sty Pen diery)
Guzerat and Ophir - references to legendary sources of wealth: Guzerat, historical region in India (modern Gujarat), famous for pearls and jewels; Ophir, biblical land reputed for gold, silver, and precious stones; often used in literature as a symbol of extreme wealth

Brutus…the battle of Philippi - Brutus was visited by a shadowy apparition, identified as his "evil spirit," which told him it would meet him again at Philippi. This is the famous event dramatized in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and is a prominent scene leading up to the battle. Historically, this may have been interpreted by Brutus and his soldiers as a premonition of defeat.

Forswear (past. forsworn) v agree to give up or do without; arch. commit perjury, swear falsely
Feuchères, Barye - Feuchère was a friend and contemporary of the famous animal sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye, both working as sculptors in 19th-century Paris. Feuchère contributed to decorative pieces, while Barye became famous for his naturalistic and dramatic bronze sculptures of animals.

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume IV Chapter 86,87,88
00:30 86 Haydée exposes Morcerf’s crimes before the Upper House: he betrayed Ali Pasha, sold Haydée and her mother into slavery, and murdered her father. Unable to defend himself, Morcerf is unanimously convicted and flees.
29:34 87 Albert plans to avenge his family’s dishonor and seeks Beauchamp’s help. They confront Danglars, learning his inquiries were innocent. Albert recalls Monte Cristo’s guidance and realizes he might have hidden motives.
43:34 88 Albert plans to confront Monte Cristo, who will be at the opera. Albert visits his mother, who defends the count. During intermission, Albert challenges the Count to a duel, with Morrel and Emmanuel to serve as seconds.

Main Characters of Volume IV
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Calumnious adj (of a statement) false and defamatory; slanderous
Primate n the chief bishop or archbishop of a province (Prim met)
Hegira - (Hijra) Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in AD 622, marking the consolidation of the first Muslim community (Hej-uh-ruh)
Fire-keeper - turk, a low-ranking but trusted servant who managed the hearth or furnaces of a palace or fortress. Such a person would often be close enough to overhear or witness private events
Virgil - from Virgil’s Aeneid, where the Roman poet describes how goddesses move with majestic, graceful, almost superhuman composure

Calumniator n a person who makes false, malicious accusations to damage other’s reputation (ca Lum niay ter)
‘idole de mon âme!’ - fr, 'idol of my soul!'
William Tell - a legendary Swiss folk hero, famous for defying a tyrannical Austrian bailiff by refusing to bow to a hat and being forced to shoot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow.
Braggadocio n boastful or arrogant behaviour (brag ga Doe chio)

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn

Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet

A sweeping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and redemption, following Edmond Dantès as he transforms from wronged sailor to cunning, resourceful Monte Cristo.

Volume IV Chapter 83,84,85
00:30 83 Ali and the Count tend the wounded Caderousse. Caderousse reveals Benedetto’s attack, leaves a confession, and denies God's existence. Count reveals himself, Caderousse acknowledges God and dies.
14:27 84 Villefort investigates Caderousse’s murder; police search for Benedetto. Andrea and Eugénie’s marriage plans proceed despite her reluctance. Albert learns his father’s betrayal from Beauchamp, destroying the proof.
29:06 85 Monte Cristo clarifies he hasn’t sponsored Andrea. He invites Albert to Normandy. After traveling and leisure, Albert receives a newspaper revealing his father’s betrayal, prompting him to ride immediately back to Paris.

Main Characters of Volume IV
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Brilliant, resourceful, and vengeful; uses intelligence and disguise to manipulate events and punish wrongdoers.
Baron Danglars – Ambitious, greedy, and scheming banker; morally corrupt and self-serving.
Gérard de Villefort – Calculating, ambitious prosecutor; obsessed with reputation and hiding family secrets.
Madame de Villefort – Cold, manipulative, and ruthless; prioritizes wealth and status over morality.
Valentine de Villefort – Gentle, kind, and virtuous; represents innocence and moral integrity.
Noirtier de Villefort – Wise, strong-willed patriarch; paralyzed but mentally sharp and influential.
Haydée – Loyal, intelligent, and devoted; embodies gratitude and love toward Monte Cristo.
Maximilien Morrel – Courageous, honorable, and passionate; driven by loyalty and love.

Costa's Wordbook
Deo ignoto - latin, To an unknown God
Pilate - Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who presided over Jesus’s trial, when the crowd demanded crucifixion, Pilate symbolically washed his hands in front of them to absolve himself of responsibility
Impresari - ita, impresario, a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas
Amphitrite - the Greek goddess of the sea, wife of Poseidon, and mother of Triton. She represents the sea's tranquility and is known as the queen of the sea (Am fuh Trai tee)
Britzka n pol, an open carriage with a folding hood and space for people to recline (Britz ka)
Bastinado n spa, a form of punishment or torture by caning the soles of one's feet (Bastin na doe)
Simoom n arab, a hot, dry, dust-laden wind blowing in the desert, especially in Arabia (sim Moom)
Countenance v admit as acceptable or possible
Gules n red, as a heraldic tincture (Gills)
Piscatory adj piscatorial, concerning fishermen or fishing (Pis ket tory)

Complete Features
Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great Expectations

Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content

Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn