Driftwood: Finding a New Path Through an Old Story

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It’s an old story, but a great one. The Count of Monte Cristo has sat on my creative wishlist for years. Recently, I finally dusted off the mental notes I’d been storing and began the daunting task of actually putting pen to paper.

The Impetus: From “Zattara” to “Driftwood”

The spark for this project actually came from a mistranslation in the 2002 film adaptation. In that movie, Edmond is given the name Zattara, which the characters claim means “Driftwood.” In reality, Zattera is Italian for “Raft”. That cinematic error stuck with me; it felt like a perfect metaphor for a man stripped of his past, floating through a life that no longer belongs to him.

Driftwood on Paul Green

Driftwood: Finding a New Path Through an Old Story

The Impetus: From “Zattara” to “Driftwood”