The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is the author’s best known novel. The story was originally serialized between March and July of 1844 in Le Siècle magazine. It is a fast paced adventure into French history which has cemented itself as a classic and refuses to let go. I have been a fan of this story for several decades, it is a silly fantasy riddled with intrigue and adventure crossing borders and nationalism.
France, 1625. A young poor nobleman named d’Artagnan leaves his Gascony home to the bright lights of Paris with intentions of becoming Musketeer of the Guard. On the way d’Artagnan hears a man making jokes about his horse and demands a fight. He loses the fight, breaks his sword and get a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Treville stolen.
In Paris d’Artagnan goes to meet Treville and manages to schedule three consecutive duels with Aramis, Athos, and Porthos--the three musketeers. The rest of the story follows our young friend while he duels, falls in love, manages to save the Queen of France, and spoil Cardinal Richelieu's plans all while achieving his dream. (In a true fashion of fiction rewriting history, the Cardinal got a bad rap from the popularity of the story--much of it undeserved.)
The story is difficult to read at first, with the French names and seemingly highbrow storytelling, but soon one can tell why this novel is one of the most popular of all times. Peculiar, memorable, and quirky, with adventures galore and an air of arrogance--all define The Three Musketeers, but there is plenty more.
Dumas peppered this book with historical figures, but not so much historical accuracy (to be generous). As with many other novels, the author took real figures and some real historical events, invented his own conversations and scenarios while giving these bombastic figures grandiose roles on a stage of his own.
Article comments
1 - raj
good