With its rousing cry of “One for all, and all for one,” Alexandre Dumas’s thrilling adventure novel has captivated generations of readers since its initial publication in 1844. Action, intrigue, and romance abound in this swashbuckling epic, which traces a country lad’s path to the French court of the early 1600s and the glorious fraternity of the king’s men, the Musketeers.
A son of impoverished nobility, D’Artagnan arrives in Paris to find the Musketeers disbanded by the cunning Cardinal Richelieu, who hopes to seize power from the weak-willed Louis XIII. The daring and ambitious youth proves his mettle in the company of the famous Musketeers—Porthos, Athos, and Aramis—and joins them in a heroic struggle to defend the king and his lovely queen, Anne of Austria.
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"Fast moving, swashbuckling, great fun. Yes there are a lot of deaths but given the period, early 1600s, and the constant warring going on in France it is not surprising. The Musketeers are half way between the knights and modern mercenaries and are willing to take on any foe in the name of king, country or a damsel in distress. They don't take themselves seriously, which given that they daily face death is a good thing. It's not surprising that there have been so many movies based on this book - it makes for great cinema and Dumas is great at slowing down the pace and setting the scene when a crucial event is about to take place. There is lots of intrigue and plotting which keeps up the tension. At the same time there is a genuine window into historical events and characters. A good read."
— Philip (4 out of 5 stars)
“Full of irresistible elements: swordplay, guns…intrigue, derring-do, loyalty, romance, famous historical names…A can’t-miss storytelling proposition.”
— Boston Globe“One of the finest adventure novels of all time. It has sword fights, espionage, significant jewelry, wonderfully devious villains, and all manner of high jinks. If you’ve been put off by one of the (many) lackluster film adaptations, do give the book a try—it’s wittier, livelier, cleverer, and more charming than any of its imitators.”
— Tor.com“Remains compelling and timeless.”
— Library Journal“I do not say there is no character as well drawn in Shakespeare [as D’Artagnan]. I do say there is none that I love so wholly.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Kim" One of my favorite novels of all time. :D "
— Ash, 2/17/2014" Amazing book, but still can't figure out why it is called the Three Musketeers when there are clearly Four of them. "
— Scott, 2/15/2014" Quite possibly my favorite book of all. All the film versions pale next to the original story. A great epic of French history. "
— David, 2/8/2014" I've always enjoyed this book. Unlike some classics - it truly is a work of literary art worthy of it's fanbase (some critically acclaimed, loved stories leave me stumped as to why they has a following). It's thorough with a complicated plot which addresses social and economic issues of the times (then and now). As well as solid, strong character development and relationship threads that are believable and tangible. "
— Julievans, 2/6/2014" The first couple hundred pages are a farcical romp through 17th century France and the Musketeers are not always the most likeable. Then the tension builds and Dumas' genius for character and intrigue come shining through. By chapter 47, I was completely riveted. Milady has to be one of the greatest literary villains of all time; makes me wonder if du Maurier was honoring her by giving Rebecca the last name de Winter? "
— K.M., 2/5/2014" Very good...Soap opera with swashbuckling action. Need to learn more about "branding" of fleur dy lis. "
— Adele, 2/4/2014" Everything in this novel is royal. "
— Noha, 2/2/2014" A- Very interesting - at times, I lost the plot b/c I wasn't paying attn enough, but super good, captivating read. Why wasn't it called the Four Muskateers, why is our hero kept out of it? Love, war, smarts, battle, life. Great stuff. "
— Cherie, 1/31/2014" A must read when you're into your teens. Incredibly well-paced, great characters, what else is there to say? "
— Claude, 1/30/2014" One of the greatest adventure novels ever written. Well worth your time. "
— John, 1/28/2014" Although the book itself is pretty long, you'll be surprised at how quickly you fly through this story as you watch the heroes and villains clash in 17th century Paris. "
— Daniel, 1/26/2014Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870), French novelist and playwright, was one of the most famous and prolific French writers of the nineteenth century, producing some 250 books. He is best known for his historical novels The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, and he was among the first authors to fully exploit the possibilities of the serial novel. He is credited with revitalizing the historical novel in France. His riveting, fast-paced adventure tales that blend history and fiction have been adapted into nearly 200 films. His last unfinished last novel, The Last Cavalier, lost to historians for 125 years, was completed in 2005 and quickly became a best seller.
Jonathan Hyde is an accomplished film actor best known for his roles in the films Richie Rich, Titanic, Anaconda, and Jumanji. Also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has performed in plays by John Webster, Anton Chekhov, William Shakespeare, and numerous others.