The book is considered a literary classic today. According to Luc Sante, "The Count of Monte Cristo has become a fixture of Western civilisation's literature, as inescapable and immediately identifiable as Mickey Mouse, Noah's flood, and the story of Little Red Riding Hood. (Wikipedia)
Alexandre Dumas; (born 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (French for 'father'), was a French writer. His works have been translated into many languages, and he is one of the most widely read French authors. (Wikipedia)