The hero is Edmond Dants, a young sailor who, falsely accused of treason, is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of Chteau d'If. After staging a dramatic escape he sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo and catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge, with Dants, believing himself to be an ?Angel of Providence', pursuing his vengeance to the bitter end before realizing that he himself is a victim of fate.