When the night’s quiet and the world’s asleep,
kick back and relax.
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real voice, easy listening, rain or shine,
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When the night’s quiet and the world’s asleep,
kick back and relax.
A story, classic tales, smooth music,
real voice, easy listening, rain or shine,
CostasNarrativeXP at your service.
Powered by Firstory Hosting
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 92,93,94
00:30 92 Monte Cristo returns home; Haydée greets him. Morcerf arrives, threatens a duel. Monte Cristo reveals himself as Edmond Dantès. Morcerf flees home, witnesses his family leaving. An explosion pursues.
19:22 93 Maximilien visits sickly Valentine, who follows Noirtier’s medicine and feels worsening bitterness. After greeting the Danglars, she weakens. Returning to Noirtier and Morrel, she collapses and servants are summoned for help.
35:34 94 Morrel seeks Monte Cristo when Valentine collapses. The doctor realizes she was protected by Noirtier’s gradual brucine doses. The Count, anguished, promises she will live while secretly moving in next door as Abbé Busoni.
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
Report n a sudden loud noise of or like an explosion or gunfire
Panacea n a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases; cure-all (pan na Sea uh)
Volubility n the quality of talking fluently, readily, or incessantly, talkativeness (vol lu Bility)
Vehmgericht - ger, a medieval German tribunal system that operated in Westphalia during the Late Middle Ages. These tribunals were run by a fraternal organization of lay judges known as "free judges" and filled a judicial gap left by the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire.
Sterne - Laurence Sterne was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric. He is best known for his comic novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.
Atreidae - The Atreidae are the family descended from Atreus in Greek mythology, Atreus is a mythological king whose family was cursed with endless violence and tragedy; of repeated disasters, murder, revenge killings, betrayal, cursed inheritance, and divine punishment.
Faubourg n a suburb, especially one in Paris (Foe bu org)
Tottering adj (of a structure) shaking or swaying, about to collapse; (of a person's steps) feeble, unsteady
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 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
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 80,81,82
00:30 80 Villefort learns Barrois's death was a poisoning aimed at Noirtier, d'Avrigny insists Valentine is the suspect and urges arrest, but Villefort refuses to believe it and quiets him, while all his house servants resign that night.
14:19 81 Andrea secures Eugénie's hand from Danglars. Caderousse demands more money and aid, Andrea hints the Count might be his father, shares house layout, and notes the Count will be in Auteuil for several days.
50:08 82 Monte Cristo, disguised as Abbé Busoni, ambushes Caderousse during a break-in. Caderousse attacks him, fails, escapes, and is stabbed. Dying, he confesses as Monte Cristo and Ali rush to him.
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
Locusta and Agrippina - historical figures from ancient Rome, both infamous for their association with poisoning and political murder: Locusta was a notorious professional poisoner in Rome during Emperor Nero’s time. She was employed by the imperial family to eliminate rivals, basically, an expert assassin through poison.
Brunhilda and Fredegund - two rival queens from early medieval France, around the 6th and 7th centuries, both infamous for their violent power struggles.Fredegund was the ruthless wife of King Chilperic I of Neustria. She was known for her cruelty, assassinations, and intrigues, killing rivals and even her own stepchildren to secure her power. Brunhilda was the queen of Austrasia, wife of King Sigebert I, and Fredegund’s lifelong enemy. She was politically shrewd but equally brutal, responsible for wars and executions during her long reign.
Jurisprudence n the theory or philosophy of law 法理 (juris Pru dence)
Polonius - In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he is an old court adviser who hides behind a curtain to eavesdrop on a conversation between Hamlet and his mother. Hamlet, thinking it’s the king (his real target), stabs through the curtain and kills Polonius by mistake.
Fruiteress n arch. a woman who sells or deals in fruit (Fruit ter ress)
D’hôte - fr, of the host
Pilchard n a small, edible, commercially valuable marine fish of the herring family (Pil cherd)
Decamp v leave a place suddenly or secretly (de Camp)
Confiteor! - latin, I confess!
Tuileries - A palace in Paris which stood on the right bank of the Seine, directly in the west-front of the Louvre Palace. It was the Parisian residence of most French monarchs, from Henri IV to Napoleon III (Twee lery)
Germ n an initial stage from which something may develop
Sloop n a one-masted sailing boat with a mainsail and jib rigged fore and aft; historic. Anti submarine
Fiesco and the Moor - comes from Friedrich Schiller’s play The Conspiracy of Fiesco at Genoa, Giovanni Luigi Fieschi (Fiesco) is a Genoese nobleman who plots to overthrow the ruling Doria family. A Moor (his servant) tries to assassinate Fiesco, but Fiesco outsmarts him, turning the situation to his advantage and ultimately defeating the would-be killer.
Invalides - Hôtel des Invalides, a complex in Paris that includes military museums and the tomb of Napoleon I
Place de Grève - The site of most of the public executions in early Paris. The gallows and pillory stood.
Diavolo! - ita, devil!
Factitious adj artificially created or developed rather than genuine; bogus, fake (fact Tit tious)
Suffer v arch. allow (someone) to do something; tolerate
Abettor n one who encourages or assists another to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime (a Better)
Stanchion n a fixed vertical bar or pole used as a support for something (Stahn tion)
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 78,79
00:30 78 Franz ends the engagement; Noirtier restores Valentine’s inheritance. Danglars breaks Albert’s match over Fernand’s rumored betrayal. Albert, angered by Beauchamp’s Janina article, challenges Beauchamp to a duel.
44:43 79 Valentine tells Maximilien about moving with Noirtier. She offers thirsty Barrois lemonade, but he collapses and dies. The doctor identifies poison, the same that killed Madame de Villefort, Barrois had prepared it earlier.
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
Irrefragable adj not able to be refuted or disproved, indisputable (ir Ref frig gable)
The Bride of Lammermoor - a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1819, one of the Waverley novels, in which Laird (master) Edgar of Ravenswood, and Lucy Ashton are tragic lovers; during Lucy’s forced marriage to another man, Ravenswood was too late to stop it, and the scene spirals into tragedy.
Retractation n retraction
Ether n a pleasant-smelling colourless volatile liquid that is highly flammable. It is used as an anaesthetic and as a solvent or intermediate in industrial processes; the clear sky; the upper regions of air beyond the clouds (Eh ther)
Emetic n a medicine or other substance which causes vomiting; adj (im Met tic)
Litmus n a dye obtained from certain lichens that is red under acid conditions and blue under alkaline conditions (Lit mus)
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 77
00:30 77 Monte Cristo introduces Albert to Haydée, Ali Pasha’s daughter, who recounts her father’s betrayal and enslavement. Albert listens, unaware that his own father was the traitor responsible for her family’s downfall.
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
Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre - a targeted group of assassinations and a wave of Catholic mob violence directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) during the French Wars of Religion. Traditionally believed to have been instigated by Queen Catherine de' Medici
To pay one's addresses - arch. Of a man, to court, woo, or formally pursue someone for marriage
Cajolery n coaxing or flattery intended to persuade someone to do something (ca Jole ry)
Isis - The goddess Isis (from Egyptian mythology) was associated with mystery cults in ancient times, secret religious rites only known to initiates
Latakia n a highly aromatic Turkish smoking tobacco (la te Kia)
Enjoin v instruct or urge (someone) to do something (inJoin)
Interdict v prohibit or forbid
Εἰπέ - grk, speak
Palikari (Palikares pl) - grk, n a young, brave man, or historically, a Greek soldier in the War of Independence against the Ottomans
Seraskier n hist. the commander-in-chief and minister of war of the Ottoman Empire (seres Skier)
Kataphygion - grk, refuge or shelter
Priming n gunpowder placed in the pan of a firearm to ignite a charge; a substance that prepares something for use or action (Prime ming)
Firman n an edict issued by an Ottoman or Middle Eastern ruler; a grant or permit (Fur men)
Chasten v (of a rebuke or misfortune) have a restraining or moderating effect on (Chasen)
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 74,75,76
00:30 74 Two days after the Saint-Mérans’ funeral, Villefort insists Franz and Valentine sign the marriage contract; preparations proceed, but Barrois announces Noirtier wishes to see Franz immediately, prompting them to follow him.
21:42 75 Noirtier directs Franz to a document detailing his father's death. The General was killed in a fair duel by a Bonapartist president after refusing their plot. Franz asks the killer's name. Noirtier confesses himself.
45:58 76 Monte Cristo visits the Danglars, learns of financial losses and broken engagements. Andrea courts Eugénie; Albert appears indifferent. Danglars favors Andrea, hinting at Fernand’s scandalous past in Greece.
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
Dignitary n a person considered to be important because of high rank or office (Dig nit tary)
Devotee n a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something (Dev ve tee)
Tenacem propositi virum - latin, a man steadfast in purpose
Marengo - Battle of Marengo, Napoleon’s French forces defeated the Austrians in northern Italy, solidifying his power as First Consul.
Austerlitz - Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon’s decisive victory over Russian and Austrian armies, considered his greatest tactical triumph.
Eo rus - latin, I go to the country; In context, the quote on Voltaire to convey a desire for a simple, peaceful death in the countryside, away from pomp and grandeur.
Trestle n a framework consisting of a horizontal beam supported by two pairs of sloping legs, used in pairs to support a flat surface such as a table top (Tressel)
hoar frost n a greyish-white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapour formed in clear still weather on vegetation, fences, etc
Deliberation n long and careful consideration or discussion
Sappho - an ancient Greek lyric poet from the island of Lesbos, flourishing in the 6th century BCE and renowned for her passionate and personal poetry
Thalberg - Sigismond Thalberg, an Austrian composer and one of the most distinguished virtuoso pianists of the 19th century
Cavatina n a short operatic aria in simple style without repeated sections (ita, Ca va tina)
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
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 48-73
00:30 48 Villefort thanks Monte Cristo for saving his family; they debate civilized versus natural justice. Villefort then discloses that his father, Noirtier, a once-powerful Jacobin and senator, now lives paralyzed after a devastating stroke.
49 Monte Cristo visits Haydée in her lavish rooms, offers her freedom, but she vows loyalty; he reminds her of youth, urging independence, and only asks she conceal her true parentage in Paris.
50 Monte Cristo visits Maximilian, Julie, and Emmanuel, admiring their blissful home. They recall their benefactor through relics; Monte Cristo suggests Lord Wilmore, while Maximilian’s father insists it was Edmond Dantès’s spirit.
1:02:03 51 Maximilian meets Valentine, who feels unloved and trapped in an arranged marriage. They vow not to give up hope, but Monte Cristo’s arrival forces Valentine to leave.
52 Monte Cristo reminds Madame de Villefort of their past meeting in Italy, discusses poisons and antidotes, and offers her a deadly potion disguised as medicine, subtly fueling her dangerous curiosity.
2:11:42 53 Monte Cristo and Haydée attend the opera, drawing great attention. From her seat, Haydée recognizes Fernand as the man who betrayed her father, Ali Pacha, and sold her into slavery.
54 Albert and Debray visit the Count. They discuss Albert’s unwanted engagement to Eugénie. Debray reveals Madame Danglars gambles with stock money. Albert jokes about false news. Count suspects Debray leaks secrets.
3:14:21 55 Major Cavalcanti visits Monte Cristo, guided by Abbe Busoni’s instructions, to reunite with his long-lost son. He reveals his late wife Olivia and a retroactive marriage making their son Andrea legitimate and heir.
56 Monte Cristo instructs the younger man to pose as Andrea Cavalcanti, the Major’s long-lost son. He provides both men with forged papers, fine clothes, and invites them to his Saturday dinner.
57 Valentine and Maximilien meet secretly, lamenting her forced marriage and family greed. Eugénie wishes for artistic freedom. Valentine distrusts Monte Cristo despite Maximilien’s faith, urging secrecy in their forbidden love.
4:30:14 58 Villefort informs paralyzed Noirtier of Valentine’s arranged marriage to Franz d’Epinay, son of his old enemy. Enraged, Noirtier signals for a notary, hinting at a plan to help Valentine escape the union.
59 Noirtier dictates a will through blinks, leaving his fortune to Valentine only if she refuses to marry Franz d’Epinay. Should she wed him, her inheritance goes to charity. Villefort furiously insists otherwise.
60 The Count visits the Villeforts, gives his country house address, discusses Valentine’s marriage, notes family and political tensions, Madame de Villefort’s anger, coming inheritance, and departs to inspect a telegraph station.
5:32:59 61 Monte Cristo visits a telegraph office, bribing the gardener-operator to send a false message to the ministry, causing Debray to mislead Madame Danglars. Her husband sells Spanish bonds at a loss.
62 Count's Auteuil house, transformed under Bertuccio’s design, receives nine guests. Danglars, sour from financial loss, probes the wealthy Cavalcantis. Bertuccio recognizes Mme Danglars, Villefort, and Andrea as Benedetto.
63 At dinner, Monte Cristo describes a murder in his house’s old bedroom, terrifying Villefort and Madame Danglars. He shows them the garden, revealing a buried infant’s remains, forcing the guilty pair into panic and secrecy.
6:31:07 64 Caderousse, escaped from prison, stops Andrea's departing carriage. He threatens to reveal Andrea’s true identity as Benedetto unless paid 200 francs monthly. Reluctantly, Andrea agrees, securing the beggar’s silence.
65 Danglars confronts Madame Danglars about losing 700,000 francs from false bond tips, linking her and Debray’s roles, demands repayment, and reveals he knows her first husband’s suicide secret, shocking her.
66 Danglars reports Manfredi’s bankruptcy to the Count, discusses Cavalcanti’s wealth, hints at Andrea marrying Eugénie, expresses reservations about Albert de Morcerf, and alludes to Morcerf’s Greek past and Janina inquiry.
7:32:39 67 Villefort confides to Madame Danglars that Monte Cristo’s discovery terrifies him; he buried their newborn thinking it dead, was stabbed, and later found the box gone. He suspects Monte Cristo’s deliberate revenge plot.
68 Albert returns from the seaside and invites Monte Cristo to his parents’ ball. He says his mother is eager to see him and admits dreading marriage to Eugénie, relieved by Monte Cristo’s hint otherwise.
69 Villefort investigates Monte Cristo, meeting Abbé Busoni and Lord Wilmore (both his disguises). Each gives a cover story about his origin and Auteuil house, leaving Villefort reassured the count poses no immediate threat.
8:33:37 70 At the Morcerfs’ Saturday ball, Monte Cristo is the focus; Madame de Morcerf notes he refuses food, opens the garden doors, and invites him to accompany her there.
71 In the greenhouse, Madame de Morcerf offers the Count fruit; he declines. They discuss friendship and lost love before Albert interrupts, announcing Villefort has come for Valentine’s grandfather, Saint-Méran, died en route.
72 Villefort stays home; the marchioness falls ill and fears death, insisting Valentine marry Franz. She finalizes her will, claims a ghost visited, and Valentine informs the doctor before walking in the garden.
9:30:09 73 Maximilien plans to elope with Valentine after her grandmother’s death, but finds her weeping. Meeting Noirtier, he explains their plan; the grandfather insists Maximilien wait, promising a better strategy.
Main Characters of Volume III
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Baron Danglars – His proud obsession with wealth leads to his downfall as his greed is being manipulated, exposing his moral emptiness.
Madame Danglars – Humiliated as her secret affair with Villefort resurfaces, tarnishing her social ambitions.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Protestation n an emphatic declaration in response to doubt or accusation; an objection or protest (Prot test taytion)
Irremediable adj impossible to cure or put right (ir re Me dia ble)
Billet n a short note or letter (fr meaning)
Tetanus n a serious disease caused by bacteria entering the human body through small cuts, causing the muscles, especially around the mouth, to become tight and stop working 破傷風 (Tet tin nis)
Excitation n the action of exciting or the state of being excited, excitement (exit Tay tion)
errare humanum est - latin, To err is human
Strychnine n a bitter and highly poisonous compound obtained from nux vomica and related plants. An alkaloid, it has occasionally been used as a stimulant. (strick neen)
Correggio - Antonio Allegri da Correggio, was an Italian Renaissance painter who was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sensuous works of the sixteenth century.
Cabriolet n a light two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse; a car with a roof that folds down (Cab brio lay)
Hark v arch. Listen
Interrogative adj having the force of a question (inter Rog get tive)
Jupiter - In ancient Roman religion and mythology, also known as Jove, is the god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods.
Docility adj willingness to accept control or instruction, submissiveness (doe Cil lity)
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
CAB 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, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 70,71,72
00:30 70 At the Morcerfs’ Saturday ball, Monte Cristo is the focus; Madame de Morcerf notes he refuses food, opens the garden doors, and invites him to accompany her there.
20:24 71 In the greenhouse, Madame de Morcerf offers the Count fruit; he declines. They discuss friendship and lost love before Albert interrupts, announcing Villefort has come for Valentine’s grandfather, Saint-Méran, died en route.
29:41 72 Villefort stays home; the marchioness falls ill and fears death, insisting Valentine marry Franz. She finalizes her will, claims a ghost visited, and Valentine informs the doctor before walking in the garden.
Main Characters of Volume III
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Baron Danglars – His proud obsession with wealth leads to his downfall as his greed is being manipulated, exposing his moral emptiness.
Madame Danglars – Humiliated as her secret affair with Villefort resurfaces, tarnishing her social ambitions.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Camellia n an evergreen East Asian shrub related to the tea plant, grown for its showy flowers and shiny leaves 茶花
Myosotis n a plant of a genus which includes the forget-me-nots 毋忘我 (my Ow so tis)
Elssler - Fanny Elssler, an Austrian ballerina of the Romantic Period
Le Diable boiteux - a novel by the French writer Alain-René Lesage. It is set in Madrid, and tells the story of the demon king Asmodeus, Don Cleophas Leandro Perez Zambullo and his beloved, Donna Thomasa
Cachucha n a lively Spanish solo dance in triple time, performed with castanet accompaniment (ca Chu cha)
Danseuse n a female ballet dancer (Dawn sirs, fr)
Whalebone n an elastic horny substance which grows in a series of thin parallel plates in the upper jaw of some whales and is used by them to strain plankton from the seawater 鯨鬚
Le Siècle - fr, The Age, a daily newspaper that was published from 1836 to 1932 in France
Franck & Poulmann - 19th-century German bankers in Frankfurt. In the early 1830s, they went bankrupt, causing ripples in European financial circles at the time.
Partant pour la Syrie - the de facto national anthem of the Second French Empire, used between 1852 and 1870. The music was composed by Hortense de Beauharnais, and the lyrics were written by Alexandre de Laborde, in or around 1807.
Muscatel n a muscat grape, especially as grown for drying to make raisins 麝香葡萄 (Mus ca tel)
Laboriously adv n a way that takes considerable time and effort (la Bor riously)
Phosphoric adj relating to or containing phosphorus, yellowish (phos Phoric)
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin - aramaic, Numbered, numbered, weighed, divided; a prophetic judgment, God “counted” the days of the kingdom, “weighed” it and found it wanting, and “divided” it among others
Orangeade n a carbonated drink flavoured with orange (Orange jade)
Consumptive adj n a person with a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis
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
CAB 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, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 67,68,69
00:30 67 Villefort confides to Madame Danglars that Monte Cristo’s discovery terrifies him; he buried their newborn thinking it dead, was stabbed, and later found the box gone. He suspects Monte Cristo’s deliberate revenge plot.
27:01 68 Albert returns from the seaside and invites Monte Cristo to his parents’ ball. He says his mother is eager to see him and admits dreading marriage to Eugénie, relieved by Monte Cristo’s hint otherwise.
41:35 69 Villefort investigates Monte Cristo, meeting Abbé Busoni and Lord Wilmore (both his disguises). Each gives a cover story about his origin and Auteuil house, leaving Villefort reassured the count poses no immediate threat.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Sanguinary adj arch. involving or causing much bloodshed (Sang gwin nary)
Resilition n arch. The act of springing back, resilience (res sil Lit tion)
Queen Mab - a fairy referred to in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which the character Mercutio famously describes her as "the fairies' midwife", a miniature creature who rides her chariot over the bodies of sleeping humans during the nighttime, thus helping them "give birth" to their dreams.
Titania - a character in Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Queen of the fairies and wife of the Fairy King, Oberon. The pair are depicted as powerful natural spirits who together guarantee the fertility or health of the human and natural worlds. Yet their falling out has severely disrupted both worlds.
Worldling n preoccupied with worldly matters; a cosmopolitan and sophisticated person
Put on a white tie - an instruction for the most formal dress code
Cagliostro - Alessandro Cagliostro, was an Italian occultist and confidence trickster, an Italian adventurer and self-styled magician.
Count of St. Germain - whose real name and origins remain unknown, was a European adventurer who had interests and achievements in science, alchemy, philosophy, and the arts.
d'Aguesseau - Henri François d'Aguesseau, Chancellor of France three times between 1717 and 1750 and pronounced by Voltaire to be "the most learned magistrate France ever possessed”
Prie-dieu n a kneeling bench designed for use by a person at prayer and fitted with a raised shelf on which the elbows or a book may be rested =pray god
Quaker n typically pacifist, virtuous, and charitable; a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox c.1650 and devoted to peaceful principles. Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the ‘Inner Light’, or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.
Sèvres vase - a fine porcelain or crystal vessel produced by the prestigious French Sèvres porcelain manufactory. The factory, which has operated since the 18th century, has been renowned for its craftsmanship and elaborate designs. Sèvres vases are highly sought after by collectors for their quality and historical significance.
Hulk n an old ship stripped of fittings and permanently moored, especially for use as storage or (formerly) as a prison; a large, clumsy-looking person
Kerseymere n a fine twilled woollen cloth (Ker se mere)
Belisarius - a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I. Belisarius was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean territory belonging to the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century prior. He is considered one of the greatest military commanders of Byzantium and in history generally.
Badhaus - ger, bath house
Grisier - Augustin Grisier, a renowned French fencing master and a close associate of Alexandre Dumas. Grisier was known for his expertise in fencing and his role in training Dumas in the art of swordsmanship.
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
CAB Milestone
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 Full soundtrack, DaVinci editing, mini-dictionary, work intro, AI host + illustrations, text outline, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno, outline + character intro + dictionary, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Basic condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotations + illustrations, timestamped, 1-hour content
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 64,65,66
00:30 64 Caderousse, escaped from prison, stops Andrea's departing carriage. He threatens to reveal Andrea’s true identity as Benedetto unless paid 200 francs monthly. Reluctantly, Andrea agrees, securing the beggar’s silence.
19:00 65 Danglars confronts Madame Danglars about losing 700,000 francs from false bond tips, linking her and Debray’s roles, demands repayment, and reveals he knows her first husband’s suicide secret, shocking her.
41:15 66 Danglars reports Manfredi’s bankruptcy to Monte Cristo, discusses Cavalcanti’s wealth, hints at Andrea marrying Eugénie, expresses reservations about Albert de Morcerf, and alludes to Morcerf’s Greek past and Janina inquiry.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Landau n a horse-drawn four-wheeled enclosed carriage with a removable front cover and a back cover that can be raised and lowered (Lan daw)
nil admirari - latin, to wonder at nothing
Tilbury n a light open two-wheeled carriage
Facchino - ita, porter
proprio motu - latin, of one’s own accord or initative
Athalie - a 1691 play, the final tragedy of Jean Racine, plot: Athalie, widow of the king of Judah, rules the country and believes she has eliminated all the rest of the royal family. She has abandoned the Israelite religion for the worship of Baal. However, the late king's grandson Joash was rescued by the wife of the high priest.
Pactolus - A river, formerly an important feature of ancient Lydia and said to contain gold, now rising and emptying in modern Turkey
Conversant adj familiar with or knowledgeable about something (con Ver sent)
Danseuse - fr, dancer
Kine n arch. cows collectively (Kine like fine)
“Seven fat and the seven lean kine” - a biblical reference (Genesis 41). Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat cows (years of abundance) and seven lean cows (years of famine).
Ultramontane n situated on the other side of the Alps from the point of view of the speaker
podestàs, condottieri - ita, magistrates, mercenary
Coupé n arch. a four-wheeled carriage with outside front seat for the driver and enclosed passenger seats for two persons
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
CAB - Costa's Audio Book Halloween feature
Shirley Jackson "The Lottery"
A small town holding an annual lottery,
Only the chosen one is far from lucky.
Published in 1948,
Critics reacted negatively and Jackson received hate mail,
Subscriptions to The New Yorker were canceled.
When heat subsided,
The story is adapted into radio, film, and graphic novels.
To this day, it is iconic of short story in the history of American literature.
00:23 In a small American village, residents gather annually for the lottery, a tense tradition with folks preparing stones and adults following the decaying ritual, reflecting long-standing customs and community distortion.
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
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CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 61,62,63
00:30 61 Monte Cristo visits a telegraph office, bribing the gardener-operator to send a false message to the ministry, causing Debray to mislead Madame Danglars. Her husband sells Spanish bonds at a loss.
19:05 62 Count's Auteuil house, transformed under Bertuccio’s design, receives nine guests. Danglars, sour from financial loss, probes the wealthy Cavalcantis. Bertuccio recognizes Madame Danglars, Villefort, and Andrea as Benedetto.
37:37 63 At dinner, Monte Cristo describes a murder in his house’s old bedroom, terrifying Villefort and Madame Danglars. He shows them the garden, revealing a buried infant’s remains, forcing the guilty pair into panic and secrecy.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Aphis n an aphid, especially one of the genus Aphis (which includes the common greenfly and blackfly) 蚜 (Aey fis)
Jardinière - fr, planter
Petronius - a Roman courtier during the reign of Nero (r. 54–68). He is generally believed to be the author of the Satyricon, a satirical novel believed to have been written during the Neronian era
Jardin des Plantes - fr, Garden of Plants
Supernumerary adj extras (acting); not wanted or needed, redundant; n a supernumerary person or thing (super New mer ary)
Scourge n a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering; a whip used as an instrument of punishment; v cause suffering to (Scur ch)
Le Messager - fr, The Messenger
Peristyle n a row of columns surrounding a space within a building such as a court or internal garden or edging a veranda or porch 柱庭 (Per ris style)
Hobbema - Meindert Hobbema, a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter known for his wooded scenes
Paul Potter - a Dutch painter who specialized in animals within landscapes, usually with a low vantage point
Mieris - a Dutch Golden Age genre and portrait painter. The leading member of a Leiden family of painters, his sons Jan and Willemand his grandson Frans van Mieris the Younger were also accomplished genre painters
Gerard Douw - Gerrit Dou, a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders. He specialised in genre scenes and is noted for his trompe-l'œil "niche" paintings and candlelit night-scenes with strong chiaroscuro. He was a student of Rembrandt.
Zurbarán - a Spanish painter, known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes. He gained the nickname "Spanish Caravaggio", owing to the forceful use of chiaroscuro (light and shade) in which he excelled.
Murillo - Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was a Spanish Baroque painter. Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children.
Bourse n a stock market in a non-English-speaking country, especially France (Burrs)
Dissimulate v conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character)
Enceinte - fr, pregnant
Banquo - a Scottish general in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, who is initially an ally of Macbeth but is later murdered by him out of fear and paranoia (Bang kwoe)
Apicius - Marcus Gavius Apicius, a Roman gourmet who lived sometime in the 1st century CE during the reign of Tiberius, writes De re culinaria, a collection of Roman cookery recipes, which may have been compiled in the fifth century CE, or earlier.
Lorenzo de' Medici - an Italian statesman, the de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic, and the most powerful patron of Renaissance culture in Italy. He were said to drink liquors laced with gold leaf, powdered or flaked gold, believing it symbolized luxury, vitality, or even conferred health and longevity.
Superfluity n an unnecessarily or excessively large amount or number of something (super Flui ty)
Sterlet n a small sturgeon of the Danube basin and Caspian Sea area, farmed and commercially fished for its flesh and caviar 小鱘 (Stare let)
Lamprey n an eel-like aquatic jawless vertebrate that has a sucker mouth with horny teeth and a rasping tongue. The adult is often parasitic, attaching itself to other fish and sucking their blood 七鰓鰻 (Lam pree)
cupitor impossibilium - latin, a desirer (or lover) of the impossible
Pliny - Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus, 23–79 CE) was a Roman naturalist, author, and philosopher, best known for his massive encyclopedia Naturalis Historia (Natural History).
Mulus - latin, red mullet
Lucullus - a Roman general, consul, and politician during the late Roman Republic, best known for his military campaigns and legendary wealth, most famous for his extravagant lifestyle, particularly his feasts, which became a byword for luxury.
Promptitude n the quality of acting quickly and without delay (Promp ti tude)
Abbé de Ganges - refers to Henri de Ganges, one of the brothers of the Marquis de Ganges who, along with his brother the Chevalier, murdered their sister-in-law, the Marquise de Ganges, in 1667. The crime, which was sensational for its time and motive (to gain her large fortune), was famously fictionalized by the Marquis de Sade in his novel The Marquise de Ganges
mon Dieu! - fr, my god!
Plantain n a banana containing high levels of starch and little sugar, which is harvested green and widely used as a cooked vegetable in the tropics; a low-growing plant that typically has a rosette of leaves and a slender green flower spike, widely growing as a weed in lawns. 芭蕉 (Plan tin)
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 58,59,60
00:30 58 Villefort informs paralyzed Noirtier of Valentine’s arranged marriage to Franz d’Epinay, son of his old enemy. Enraged, Noirtier signals for a notary, hinting at a plan to help Valentine escape the union.
21:03 59 Noirtier dictates a will through blinks, leaving his fortune to Valentine only if she refuses to marry Franz d’Epinay. Should she wed him, her inheritance goes to charity. Villefort furiously insists otherwise.
40:47 60 The Count visits the Villeforts, gives his country house address, discusses Valentine’s marriage, notes family and political tensions, Madame de Villefort’s anger, upcoming inheritance, and departs to inspect a telegraph station.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
ill turn n an act intended to help that has negative or harmful results, or a harmful deed
Testator n a person who has made a will or given a legacy 立遺囑人 (test Day ter)
Residuary adj relating to the residue of an estate 最終剩餘財產 (re Sid dury)
Deprivation n the lack or denial of something considered to be a necessity; the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society (de priv Vaytion)
Meritorious adj deserving reward or praise (merit Tor rious)
Sylph n an imaginary spirit of the air (Silf)
têle, graphein - gr, two words combine become telegraph
Redound v contribute greatly to (a person's credit or honour); arch. come back upon, rebound 助益
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 55, 56, 57
00:30 55 Major Cavalcanti visits Monte Cristo, guided by Abbe Busoni’s instructions, to reunite with his long-lost son. He reveals his late wife Olivia and a retroactive marriage making their son Andrea legitimate and heir.
23:08 56 Monte Cristo instructs the younger man to pose as Andrea Cavalcanti, the Major’s long-lost son. He provides both men with forged papers, fine clothes, and invites them to his Saturday dinner.
49:58 57 Valentine and Maximilien meet secretly, lamenting her forced marriage and family greed. Eugénie wishes for artistic freedom. Valentine distrusts Monte Cristo despite Maximilien’s faith, urging secrecy in their forbidden love.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Frog n an ornamental coat fastener or braid consisting of a spindle-shaped button and a loop through which it passes
Alicante - luxurious, old-world vintage, south of spain; a strong, sweet red dessert wine, somewhat similar to port or Madeira. It was popular among the European upper classes and often served after meals
Marchioness n the wife or widow of a marquess 侯爵夫人 (Mar sian ness)
Notwithstanding conj in spite of
Perbacco - ita, gosh, my, golly
O peccato! - ita, O sin!
Baptismal adj relating to the Christian rite of baptism
Curé n a parish priest in a French-speaking country (french, Cure ray)
Surety n a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or paying a debt; money given to support an undertaking that someone will perform a duty, pay their debts, a guarantee 擔保人 (Shur rity)
Phaeton n a light, open four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage (Fey ton)
Sabring (Sabre) v arch. cut down or wound with a sabre (Say bring)
Banditti pl n bandit (Ban dit ti)
Reciprocity n the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another (re sip Pros city)
Pretension n a claim or assertion of a claim to something; the use of affectation to impress, pretentiousness
Cabriolet n arch. a light two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse; a car with a roof that folds down (Cab brio lay)
Bouillotte - fr, an 18th-century French gambling card game of the Revolution based on Brelan, very popular during the 19th century in France and again for some years from 1830. It was also popular in America. The game is regarded as one of the games that influenced the open-card stud variation in poker. (Boo e yote)
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 53-54
00:30 53 Monte Cristo and Haydée attend the opera, drawing great attention. From her seat, Haydée recognizes Fernand as the man who betrayed her father, Ali Pacha, and sold her into slavery.
38:19 54 Albert and Debray visit Monte Cristo. They discuss Albert’s unwanted engagement to Eugénie. Debray reveals Madame Danglars gambles with stock money. Albert jokes about false news. Count suspects Debray leaks secrets.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Robert le diable - an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written in French by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne. Robert le diable is regarded as one of the first grand operas at the Paris Opéra. It has only a superficial connection to the medieval legend of Robert the Devil.
Levasseur - Jean Théophile Levasseur, a French revolutionary and Jacobin politician active during the late 18th century.
Omnibus adj comprising several items
Gainsay v deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
Nautilus n a cephalopod mollusc with a light external spiral shell and numerous short tentacles around the mouth; argonaut 鸚鵡螺 (Naw til lus)
Roan adj denoting an animal, especially a horse or cow, having a coat of a main colour thickly interspersed with hairs of another colour, typically bay, chestnut, or black mixed with white (roam with n)
Actaeon - In Greek mythology, he was the son of the priestly herdsman Aristaeus in Boeotia, and a famous Theban hero. Through his mother Autonoe he was a member of the ruling House of Cadmus. He is a hunter who accidentally saw the goddess Artemis bathing. As punishment for this forbidden sight, she transformed him into a stag, and his own hunting dogs tore him to pieces.
Cagliostro - an 18th C Italian occultist and confidence trickster
Nabob n a person of conspicuous wealth or high status; a Muslim official or governor under the Mogul empire (Nay bob)
Potemkin - Grigory Potemkin (1739–1791) a powerful Russian statesman, military leader, and favorite (and likely lover) of Catherine the Great.
Shah n a title of the former monarch of Iran (sha)
Marmot n a heavily built, gregarious burrowing rodent of mountainous country in both Eurasia and North America 土撥鼠
Biped n an animal that uses two legs for walking
Regale v lavishly supply (someone) with food or drink; entertain or amuse (someone) with talk
Seraphic adj characteristic of or resembling a seraph or seraphim, angelic
Hashish n cannabis
Guzla n a gusle, a traditional single-stringed, bowed musical instrument from the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe (Goo sla)
Pirouette n (ballet) an act of spinning on one foot, typically with the raised foot touching the knee of the supporting leg.
Tepelini - Ali Pasha of Tepelena, 1740–1822 an Ottoman Albanian ruler of Ioannina. He was known for his wealth, ambition, and ruthlessness, sometimes called “the Lion of Janina.” Yanina is the city ruled by him
Pasha n the title of a Turkish officer of high rank
Burnouse n a long, loose, hooded cloak, typically made of wool and historically worn by Arabs and Berbers in North Africa, often in white for important events. (burn noose)
Bayard, Duguesclin - fr, historical references to legendary French knights
Disinterestedness n the quality of having no personal involvement or receiving no personal advantage, and therefore being free to act fairly
Ennoble v give (someone) a noble rank or title; lend greater dignity or nobility of character to (in Noble)
Poussin - Nicolas Poussin (1594 –1665) was a French painter, a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome. Most of his works were on religious and mythological subjects painted for a small group of Italian and French collectors.
Denaro e santità, metà della metà - ita, Money and sanctity, half of half - a cynical proverb implying that both wealth and moral purity are rare; people pretend to have them, but in reality, they have only a fraction
Écarté - fr, a popular 19th-century French card game, fashionable among aristocrats and social elites — somewhat like whist or poker in English society
Stockjobbing n speculative exchange dealings, speculative or manipulative stock trading, often with an undertone of corruption or deceit.
Bouillotte -fr, a French card game popular during the French Revolution, which is the origin of the lamp's
name.
Referendary n a number of administrative positions, of various rank, in chanceries and other official organizations in Europe (Ref fer ren dary)
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
CAB - Costa's Audio Book Anniversary Release
Franz Kafka "The Metamorphosis" 110th Anniversary
《讀你聽2.1》周年紀念呈獻
卡夫卡《變形記》
故事荒誕寓言
主角化身昆蟲
反映作者經常刻畫的疏離命題
作品對現代主義文學影響深遠
探討近代社會的孤立無援
階級主義 身份責任
和隨之而來的壓力
00:24 I Gregor Samsa wakes transformed into an insect, struggles with work anxieties, family pressure, and suspicion from his employer. Revealed to all, he horrifies them, attempts to reason, but is violently forced back into his room.
38:50 II Gregor adapts to insect life, hiding from family while Grete feeds him. Furniture removal threatens his humanity; he clings to a picture. His mother faints, father misjudges, and in rage hurls fruit, embedding an apple painfully.
1:19:10 III Gregor weakens, neglected and burdened by guilt. Family takes boarders, clutter fills his room. Drawn by Grete’s violin, he emerges, horrifying guests. Grete declares he isn’t Gregor. Resigned, he dies, freeing family to embrace renewal.
Main Characters
Gregor Samsa - a weary salesman bound by debt and duty, awakens as a monstrous insect. Though grotesque, he clings to fragments of humanity, battling despair while his family recoils, leaving him isolated until death.
Grete Samsa - Gregor’s sister, first nurtures him with care and devotion. Over time, compassion erodes into resentment, burdened by his transformation, until she demands his removal, marking her shift into adulthood.
Mr. Samsa - Gregor’s father, once broken by business failure, regains vigor after returning to work. Yet, his renewed strength comes with hostility, as he views Gregor’s insect form with anger, fear, and violent rejection.
Mrs. Samsa - Gregor’s frail mother, torn between love and horror, struggles with his transformation. Shielded by Grete and her husband, she wavers between compassion and fear, unable to reconcile her son’s humanity.
The Charwoman - The Samsa family’s elderly cleaning lady. Blunt and pragmatic, she accepts Gregor’s insect form without fear or disgust, confronting reality directly while performing her duties with honesty and practicality.
The Office Manager - Gregor’s boss. Distrustful and overbearing, the office manager insinuates that Gregor has been doing a poor job at work. He flees in terror upon seeing Gregor.
The Boarders - Three temporary boarders in the Samsas’ house. The boarders greatly value order and cleanliness, and thus become horrified when they discover Gregor.
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
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2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
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CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 51-52
00:30 51 Maximilian meets Valentine, who feels unloved and trapped in an arranged marriage. They vow not to give up hope, but Monte Cristo’s arrival forces Valentine to leave.
30:25 52 Monte Cristo reminds Madame de Villefort of their past meeting in Italy, discusses poisons and antidotes, and offers her a deadly potion disguised as medicine, subtly fueling her dangerous curiosity.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Pyramus and Thisbe - (in Greek legend) two lovers of Babylon: Pyramus, wrongly supposing Thisbe to be dead, killed himself and she, encountering him in his death throes, did the same, inspiration to shakespeare’s romeo and juliet
Pilaster n a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall (pill Last ter)
Geranium n a herbaceous plant or small shrub of a genus that comprises the cranesbills and their relatives. Geraniums bear a long, narrow fruit that is said to be shaped like the bill of a crane 天竺葵
(ger Rain nium)
Variegated adj exhibiting different colours, especially as irregular patches or streaks; (of a plant or foliage) having or consisting of leaves that are edged or patterned in a second colour, especially white as well as green (Vary uh gated)
Horticulture n the art or practice of garden cultivation and management (Hor ty culture)
Lucern n another term for alfalfa, a leguminous plant with clover-like leaves and bluish flowers, native to south-western Asia and widely grown for fodder 苜蓿 (lu Cern)
Preferment n promotion or appointment to a position or office (pre Fer ment)
Salutary adj (especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects, beneficial; arch. Health-giving (Sal lu tree)
Toxicology n the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons 毒理學 (toxic Col logy)
Paroquet n any of numerous small slender long-tailed parrots (Paro ket)
Cochin-China n historical term for Southern Vietnam, particularly the region including the Mekong Delta 交趾支那 (Cok chin china)
Fête - fr, festival
Arbor n a shady garden alcove with the sides and roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a framework (Ar ber)
Corpus Christi - latin, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is a liturgical solemnity celebrating the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; the feast is observed by the Catholic Church, in addition to certain Western Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches 基督聖體聖血節
Perugino - Pietro Perugino, an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance. Raphael became his most famous pupil.
Aqua Tofana - ita, a legendary slow-acting poison, likely arsenic-based, that gained notoriety in 17th-century Italy, purportedly made and sold by Giulia Tofana to help women poison their husbands.
Molière, Beaumarchais - influential French playwrights of different eras, both known for their comedic and satirical works, but Molière is celebrated for his classic satires of the 17th century like Tartuffe, while Beaumarchais is known for the 18th century Figaro plays, The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Beaumarchais was also a successful diplomat, inventor, and businessman, who played a crucial role in the American Revolution, whereas Molière focused on a career in theatre as an actor, director, and playwright.
Mithridates - Mithradates VI Eupator was the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He was an effective, ambitious, and ruthless ruler who sought to dominate Asia Minor and the Black Sea region, waging several hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful wars (the Mithridatic Wars) to break Roman dominion over Asia and the Hellenic world. He has been called the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus. He cultivated an immunity to poisons by regularly ingesting sub-lethal doses; this practice, now called mithridatism, is named after him. After his death, he became known as Mithridates the Great.
Rex Ponticus - latin, King of Ponticus
Scamp n a person, especially a child, who is mischievous in a likeable or amusing way
Urchin n a young child who is poorly or raggedly dressed; imp
Cornelius Nepos - latin, a Roman biographer, known for writing De Viris Illustribus (“On Famous Men”), a collection of brief lives of notable Greeks and Romans. His work often emphasized virtue, moral judgment, and examples of conduct: who was noble, who was corrupt, and how power and character interacted.
Efficacious adj (of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result effective (ef fic Kay xious)
Counterfeit v resemble closely
Neapolitan n a native or inhabitant of Naples; adj relating to Naples (nea Poli ten)
Brucine n a poisonous alkaloid found with strychnine especially in nux vomica (Brew seen)
Angostura n an aromatic bitter bark from certain South American trees, used as a flavouring, and formerly as a tonic and to reduce fever (Ang gost steer ra)
Philtre n a drink supposed to arouse love and desire for a particular person in the drinker; a love potion (filter)
Harun al-Rashid - was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 until his death in March 809. His reign is traditionally regarded to be the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age. His epithet al-Rashid translates to "the Just", "the Upright", or "the Rightly-Guided"
Vizier n a high official in some Muslim countries, especially in Turkey under Ottoman rule (fis Seer)
Desrues - Antoine-François Desrues (1744–1777) a French poisoner and swindler. He was a grocer in Paris who murdered a noblewoman, Mme. de la Motte, by poisoning her in order to steal her property and assume her identity. He was eventually caught, tried, and executed — a case that horrified the public and became one of France’s most notorious early-modern poison scandals.
Borgias- ita, Especially Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia, Renaissance figures with an infamous reputation for poisoning enemies, part history, part legend
Medici - Italian Renaissance dynasty, particularly Catherine de’ Medici, queen of France, long rumored (often unfairly) to have used poison to maintain political power
Asmodeus - a powerful demon, primarily known as the king of demons from the Book of Tobit and other Jewish and Christian legends (as Moe deus)
Montyon - Montyon Prize, a series of prizes awarded annually by the French Academy of Sciences and the Académie française. They are endowed by the French benefactor Baron de Montyon, since 18th C
Renées - René the Florentine, Catherine de’ Medici’s personal perfumer and alchemist, who supposedly concocted poisons and cosmetics for the court.
Ruggieri - an astrologer and occultist attached to Catherine’s court, involved in magical and chemical experiments
Baron de Trenck - (1726–1794) a Prussian soldier, adventurer, and author, famous for his daring imprisonments and escapes
Magendie, Flourens - French physiologists, colleagues and rivalries, known for their scientific experimentation
Abscess n a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus; ulcer (Ab cis)
Pylorus n the opening from the stomach into the duodenum 幽門 (pie Lor rus)
Strychnine n a bitter and highly poisonous compound obtained from nux vomica and related plants. An alkaloid, it has occasionally been used as a stimulant 番木鱉鹼 (Strik neen)
Strychnos colubrina - latin, a plant species, a poisonous tree related to Strychnos nux-vomica, produces strychnine
Jean Jacques Rousseau - a Genevan philosopher, philosophe, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic, and educational thought.
Mandarin n a powerful official or senior bureaucrat, especially one perceived as reactionary and secretive
Syncope n medical term for a temporary, rapid loss of consciousness and muscle control = fainting or passing out. It occurs due to a sudden, temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain. The loss of consciousness is typically short-lived, followed by a spontaneous complete recovery 暈厥 (Syn co pee)
Anti-spasmodic adj (chiefly of a drug) used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle; n antispasmodic drug解痙藥
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn
Show your feedback: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CAB - Costa's Audio Book end of the year feature
Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Plot outline by Auguste Maquet
Early 19th-century Europe, France.
Dantès the protagonist, a young sailor, is cruelly betrayed and wrongfully imprisoned.
Finally breaking free, he uses a hard-earned treasure to accelerate his plans for vengeance.
Re-entering Paris, he dazzles society with wealth and charm.
Weaving subtle schemes, he tests the morals of those around him.
New allies and rivals emerge, shaping the path of his journey.
Volume III Chapter 48-50
00:28 48 Villefort thanks Monte Cristo for saving his family; they debate civilized versus natural justice. Villefort then discloses that his father, Noirtier, a once-powerful Jacobin and senator, now lives paralyzed after a devastating stroke.
28:55 49 Monte Cristo visits Haydée in her lavish rooms, offers her freedom, but she vows loyalty; he reminds her of youth, urging independence, and only asks she conceal her true parentage in Paris.
40:56 50 Monte Cristo visits Maximilian, Julie, and Emmanuel, admiring their blissful home. They recall their benefactor through relics; Monte Cristo suggests Lord Wilmore, while Maximilian’s father insists it was Edmond Dantès’s spirit.
Main Characters
Edmond Dantès / Count of Monte Cristo – Orchestrates the central schemes of justice and revenge, observing and manipulating events in Paris.
Gérard de Villefort – Ambitious royal prosecutor whose household intrigues and past actions against Dantès drive the main conflict in this volume.
Valentine de Villefort – Villefort’s virtuous daughter, central to the household subplot and the target of scheming characters.
Heloïse de Villefort – Villefort’s ruthless second wife, scheming to advance her own family’s interests and create tension in the household.
Noirtier de Villefort – Paralyzed father whose intellect and eye-based communication continue to influence decisions within the Villefort household.
Maximilien Morrel – Loyal suitor to Valentine, representing virtue and directly involved in protecting her and supporting the emotional core of the subplot.
Albert de Morcerf – Present in Paris, socially prominent, manipulated by Monte Cristo, and part of key social observations and schemes.
Bertuccio – Monte Cristo’s agent, whose knowledge of Villefort’s hidden crimes and investigative work enables parts of the revenge plot.
Costa's Wordbook
Regnant adj reigning, ruling; currently having the greatest influence 在位
Magistracy n the office or authority of a magistrate 地方行政 (Ma jis tra cy)
Eminence n fame or acknowledged superiority within a particular sphere; such a person (Em min nence)
Harlay, Molé - references to real historical French statesmen, the former, prominent magistrates and officials in France. They symbolized legal and bureaucratic eminence.
Algebraic adj relating to or involving algebra (al je Bray ic)
Barbarous adj primitive and uncivilized; extremely brutal (Bar ber rus)
pede claudo - latin, punishment comes limping or retribution comes slowly but surely
Tobias - in the Bible, is known for his righteousness and adherence to divine law, which aligns with the Count's argument about the divine nature of retributive justice. (toe Bias)
Expounder n person who explains
Whist n a card game, usually for two pairs of players, in which points are scored according to the number of tricks won; origin of bridge (wist)
Oratorical adj relating to the art or practice of public speaking 演講 演說技巧 (au ra TORical)
Analogous adj comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared 類似 可比擬 (an NAL ligus)
Delineate v describe or portray (something) precisely; indicate the exact position of a border or boundary 準確描述 勾畫
Debilitated adj in a very weakened and infirm state; v make (someone) very weak and infirm 削弱 使衰弱
Cosmopolite n a cosmopolitan person; cosmopolitan 世界性 (cos MOPolite)
Chicanery n the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one's purpose 詭辯 詭計 欺詐 (shi CANE nery)
Dissertation n a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma 專題論文 論説
Theologian n a person who engages or is an expert in theology 神學家 神學研究者 (theo LOW gian)
Collegiate adj belonging or relating to a college or its students; (of a university) composed of different colleges 大學 學院 院生 (col LEE giate)
Redoubtable adj (of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent 強敵 可敬 令人敬畏 (re doubt table)
Predominance n the possession or exertion of control or power; the state or condition of being greater in number or amount
non bis in idem - latin, Latin legal principle, also known as the double jeopardy rule in many systems, meaning "not twice in the same thing" or "not twice for the same". It prevents individuals from being tried or punished more than once for the same conduct or crime, acting as a safeguard against abuse of power and promoting legal certainty.
Seneca - Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC – AD 65), a prominent Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist known for his philosophical writings on ethics and his influential role in Roman politics under Emperor Nero.
Narghile n a hookah (Nar gew lay)
Epirus - a historical region and a modern administrative region in southeastern Europe, now split between northwestern Greece and southern Albania
Parian adj relating to the Greek island of Paros or the fine white marble for which it is renowned (Pair rian)
Whithersoever adv arch. wherever
Clime n a region considered with reference to its climate 氣候帶
Reciprocally adv in a way that involves two people, or groups of people, who behave in the same way towards each other or agree to help each other (re Sip pre cully)
Noisette - fr, hazelnut
Probity n the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency (Pro bit ty)
Rouleau - fr, roll
Coming Features
The Lottery (Horror), Metamorphosis (Absurd)
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
《讀你聽》里程碑
2021: 0 太太陪同旁聽 全配樂 無剪接 附旁述 總結 文字大綱 不定時播出
2022: 2.0 全配樂 DaVinci剪接 小字典 作品介紹 智能主持+插畫 文字大綱 定時播出
2023: 2.1 DaVinci, Descript, CapCut, Suno 大綱+人物介紹+字典 每周播出
2024: 2.2 初階電容咪 Audacity, ChatGPT注解+插畫 分秒顯示 一小時内容
Patreon: costasaudiobook
Podcast: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn