Considered a literary classic today, The count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas. In collaboration with ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, Dumas published the novel in series between 1844 and 1846. Based partly on real-life events, the story takes place in France (Marseille, Paris), Italy (Rome) and islands in the Mediterranean Sea (If, Elba, Monte Cristo) during the historical events of 1815-1839.