Section One Supplement: How to Identify a "Standard Abridged Edition"

Section One Supplement: How to Identify a "Standard Abridged Edition" of The Count of Monte Cristo

[Anonymous] Translator’s Note: The prevailing taste for brevity has made the spacious
days of the stately three-volume novel seem very remote indeed. A distinct prejudice against length now exists: a feeling that there is a necessary antithesis between quantity and quality. One of the results is that those delightfully interminable romances which beguiled the nights and days of our ancestors in so pleasant a fashion are now given no more than a passing nod of recognition. [...]

 

This, then, is felt to be sufficient apology for the present abridgement of one of the world’s masterpieces. It has been the object of the editor to provide the modern reader with a good translation and a moderately condensed version of Dumas’ narrative. This, while omitting, of necessity, some of the beauties of the original, has conserved the essentials of the story and condensed the incidents within what will be, from our point of view, more reasonable proportions. So the reader will miss no material part of that entertainment which the author, after his more leisurely fashion, intended him to enjoy.

This notice appears in some of the "Standard Abridged Edition" books. I've been able to trace that particular abridgement as early as 1928, with the Dodd, Mead & Co. edition. Interestingly enough, there is no copyright claim anywhere there! So, either it was written earlier and already out-of-copyright when Dodd Mead published it, or they purposely chose not to claim copyright, even as the originators. 

That explains why there's such a plethora of Standard Abridged Editions these days, with different covers and by rival publishers. Even "respectable" ones like Barnes & Noble and Signet- they're all simply capitalizing on the free availability of a "shorter" version of the book for newbies or younger readers without needing to pay any royalties or hire someone to write a new and unique one. Having the imprint of a respectable publishing house doesn't mean it's the "best" of the abridged versions. 

A lot of people pick one of these up, read it, realize what's missing and come to the conclusion that all abridged versions of The Count of Monte Cristo suck. Word gets passed around on the Internet and then there's a general consensus that unabridged is the only way to go. But that's not true!

What exactly is WRONG with a "Standard Abridged Edition"? This!

• Removes the Villefort's Secret Baby/Andrea Cavalcanti subplot.
• Does not include Caderousse's full character arc, giving the impression that he's alive, fine, still running his inn and holding a diamond worth 50,000 francs at story's end.
• Lets Danglars off the hook. He embezzles 5 million francs from the hospitals, has a valid passport and just flees the country! Crime DOES Pay!

Now you might wonder: How can I identify it so I can avoid it? So many different companies published it, and they can change their cover art anytime!

Never fear, there are several ways of identifying the "Standard Abridged Edition", even though new editions of it will probably pop up overnight like mushrooms, by new fly-by-night self-publishers looking to make a few bucks. It varies from 500-ish to 700-ish pages. Since the text is not copyrighted, it's all fair game.

Method One: Compare the book covers to any of these images. If you can find a match, then the one you're looking at is the "Standard Abridged Edition".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Method Two: Look at the Table of Contents. if it's an online bookseller, ask them to upload, or send you a photo of the Table of Contents. If it has 71 chapters, and it looks like this, it's the "Standard Abridged Edition". And it distinctively omits Danglars' fate, one of the many reasons why I don't recommend this!

CHAPTER LXV - Danglars’ Signature
CHAPTER LXVI - Consolation
CHAPTER LXVII - Separation
CHAPTER LXVIII - The Judge
CHAPTER LXIX - Expiation
CHAPTER LXX - The Departure
CHAPTER LXXI - The Fifth of October

Method Three: Since the wording of the "Standard Abridged Edition" is very unique, and is not identical to 1846 Chapman-Hall, nor Lowell Bair, nor Robin Buss, go to Chapter 1- Marseilles-The Arrival, and read the third paragraph. Focus on the words "ill-luck".

If it looks like this: "the spectators, always ready to sense misfortune, began to ask one another what ill-luck had overtaken those on board. However, those experienced in navigation soon saw that if there had been any ill-luck, the ship had not been the sufferer, for she advanced in perfect condition and under skilful handling", then you are looking at the "Standard Abridged Edition".

Last Note and Recommendation on a "Standard Abridged Edition": If you're absolutely determined to buy one, at least get the vintage one from Dodd, Mead and Co. Because it has several beautiful paintings by Mead Schaeffer. Don't just take my word for it- see the paintings for yourself HERE.

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