[Pulpmeister]

Just about to embark on an epic re-read of "The Count of Monte Cristo", 1844. Half a million words, 117 chapters, and more characters than a small city. The version I am reading is from an 1888 edition, in five volumes, each of around 100,000 words.

I haven't read it for many years, but it has a seminal plot, since used by dozens of authors in many different disguises, some of them very thin indeed. (One of the cheekiest is "Destry Rides Again!" by Max Brand, 1930).

It has also been filmed numerous times. The one I remember best had Richard Chamberlain as Edmond Dantes/Montecristo. I think it was a made for TV movie.

I'll report in when I reach the last page!

Afterthought: I wonder how many people noticted that the movie "Independence Day" was based on H G Wells "War of the Worlds"? Right down to the invading aliens being defeated by a virus (computer virus, that is!)