The Three Musketeers (Bantam Classic)

The book was in okay condition overall. The binding was secure, etc. However, I was surprised that the store would sell a used book with water damage. I can expect wear, a few bent earmarks on pages, may a stray pencil marks here and there; water damage is a little different. Many booksellers consider books with any water damage whatsoever to have no retail value and will not deal with them...

I had ordered Everyman's Library (Cloth) version, the seller sent me a adapted version by Malvina G. Vogel with huge size of font and the novel seems to be condensed version of the real novel, entirely different than what I had expected, product description said that it includes a dust jacket, however the book doesn't include any dust jacket and this is a version written for children not the actual novel. Very disappointing.

If one were to search for "The Three Musketeers" in the store's Kindle store, you might find several listings, some free, some for $0.99. AVOID THEM! Most are repackaged versions of the same stilted translation by William Barrow which reads like a 2nd year French student's term paper. It captures nearly all of Dumas' words and none of his nuance. Also, be warned that some of these packages are abridged versions and do not advertise themselves as such.

I heartily recommend the Lowell Bair 1984 translation printed by Bantam Books and available for Kindle here: http://www.the store.com/The-Three-Musketeers-ebook/dp/B000FC29H0/ref=tmm_kin_title_7?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1301931164&sr=1-1-catcorr. This most excellent translation is fresh, modern and faithful to both the spirit, grace, and the character of Dumas' authorized editions (there were at least three). Bair's translation is both literate and elegant. Unlike the Mobi/Project Gutenberg/Barrow version(s?), it never forces you to rearrange 19th century French grammar and syntax into modern 20th/21st century English. Bair does this for you without distilling out any of the flavor and panache that Dumas (et alia) infused into the original serials.

Similar to Bair's artistry is that of LeClerq (http://www.the store.com/The-Three-Musketeers-ebook/dp/B000FC1KNY/ref=tmm_kin_title_popover?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1301931164&sr=1-1-catcorr) and Pevear (http://www.the store.com/Three-Musketeers-Penguin-Classics-ebook/dp/B000Q9J0QA/ref=tmm_kin_title_8?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1301931164&sr=1-1-catcorr). Why the Pevear Penguin edition costs three times what Bair's and LeClerq's do is beyond me since I only sampled the Kindle version. However, I have read Bair's in hardcopy and recommend it for your Kindle reading pleasure. If you really are hard pressed for cash, then by all means: go for the free/cheap versions. Just remember, cheap does not bode well for quality.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Let's face it: D'Artagnan is a bit of a philandering douche; Athos's judgmental streak smacks a bit of the psychotic; Dumas was oh-so-clearly getting paid by the word; and there's something seriously disturbing about the anger the narrative directs at Milady while forgiving completely every other antagonist in the plot because, well, they're gallant gentlemen and all.

And yet... The Three Musketeers sings, unrepentantly buckling its swash for over six hundred pages and 57 occasionally ridiculous chapters, the epitome of a popcorn-narrative that leaves little wonder to why its been adapted so many times for the stage and screen. You could follow this heroic gem with the more cynical sequel, Twenty Years After, but personally I suggest turning to Arturo Perez-Reverte's The Club Dumas instead for a bit of history on Dumas and the Musketeers dressed up in gothic mystery trappings.

Pevear's famous for his translations of Dostoevsky - I saw no clear difference here from the edition I read several years ago by a different translator, but then perhaps he was just staying out of Dumas' way. The Three Musketeers isn't the brainiest of classics by a stretch, but fluffy, fluffy fun for anyone who can get past the idea that all long books must be Serious Works of Prose.

OK. Take off the rose colored glasses and this is a tale of three 17th century thugs and a wannabe.
They lie, cheat, steal, womanize, seduce and provoke fights in which they kill men of lesser skills.
They are vain as peacocks and dumb as a bag of hammers.
The plot, what there is of it, is marred by endless excursions into peripheral matters.
Dumas was never one to use three words if thirty pages would do.
The protagonist ends up accepting the appointment of his enemy; so much for principle.
This is essentially a story of 17th century mafiosa.
And Tooooo Loooong.

Alexandre Dumas was born in 1802 in Picardy, France. He was a prolific writer, and he remains one of the most widely read French authors. Many of his novels, including The Three Musketeers, began as serials. It has also been adapted many times for television and the cinema. It has also been adapted in cartoon form, as a musical and has inspired a number of computer games. Dumas died in 1870, with his last novel unfinished. (It was completed by a scholar and published in 2005, naturally becoming a best seller).

The book opens in 1625, with a yong man called d'Artagnan leaving his family home in Gascony. He's heading for Paris, where he aims to join the Musketeers. (His father was able to provide him with a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Tréville, the commander of the Musketeers. This would have made his goal much easier to accomplish). Unfortunately, and probably unsurprisingly, the young Gascon lands himself in trouble before reaching his destination. When a mysterious gentleman mocks his horse at Meung-sur-Loire, d'Artagnan challenges him to a duel. Being the underhand villain that he is, he allows his sidekicks to beat he young Gascon unconscious before robbing him of his letter to Monsieur de Tréville. This mysterious gentleman turns out to be the Comte de Rochefort, one of Cardinal Richelieu's most trusted henchmen. Rochefort is at Meung passing orders to the Lady De Winter. d'Artagnan will have the bad luck to encounter many times thorughout the book.

Despite the setback, d'Artagnan has no intention of giving up. After recovering, he continues to Paris and tries to enlist with the musketeers - a goal that has become much more difficult without his letter. Worse is to come. At Tréville's residence, he manages to offend three of the best known musketeers : Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each challenges d'Artagnan to a duel - which he feels honour bound to accept. Fortunately, at the time of the first duel, the Cardinal's guards arrive = providing the four men with a common enemy. From that point on, the four are inseparable.

A very entertaining and easily read book overall. I was a little surprised at how accessible the book was and, in spite of the length, I was able to rattle through it at a fail pace. Very much recomomended.

Here's a book that everyone thinks they know, based on how it has been retold in blockbusters and cartoons. In these secondary sources, the story is presented as a swashbuckling adventure with four largely interchangeable superhero protagonists who fight the evil Cardinal Richelieu while repeating their catch-phrase, "All for one and one for all."

In the book, this phrase appears only once, at the end of Chapter IX. It is spoken by d'Artagnan, who strongly insists on it as a "motto" for the others. He does this at the end of a long discussion, in which his primary objective is to recruit his friends to help him solve a vague mystery with the stated objectives of 1) earning money, and 2) annoying the Cardinal. Both he and his friends withhold information from each other (Aramis' story makes it clear that he has secrets he's not willing to share). At the end Porthos is critical of his conduct, and d'Artagnan comes up with the "all for one and one for all" phrase basically to shut him up. Although it is accepted as a "motto," no one ever says it again.

Far from being as one, the musketeers all have secrets and hidden ambitions. D'Artagnan is the most ambitious of them all, coming from a poor province and having no land or titles to fall back on. Chapter VIII explicitly states: "He reflected that this coalition of four young, brave, enterprising, and active men ought to have some other object than swaggering walks, fencing lessons, and practical jokes, more or less witty." From then on he looks for a way to use his friends to further his own goals. Note that, in the famous adventure of the diamond studs, the other musketeers are told nothing about the mission.

Over the years, the swords and plumed hats have overshadowed the raw ambition and cruel intrigue driving The Three Musketeers. Aramis, for instance, is easy to play off as a sighing pretty-boy who turns his mind to the church when he's unlucky in love. Chapter XXVI shows him debating theology with some Catholic clergy, apparently mulling over the idea of becoming a monk. It is easy to see at the end that he abandons the idea as soon as d'Artagnan lets him know that his mistress has sent him a letter. But in fact, even before this, the debate itself is phenomenally cynical: Aramis says that he wants to write a dissertation on theology, but then shows the clergy a ballad that he wrote, which leads them to chastise him for "a profane taste in your theological style," designed to appeal to high-society ladies. Far from being flighty, Aramis is extremely calculating in everything he does, and rarely willing to share his connections or goals with his friends. He's also the most heartless of the four -- even in the very first duel, he is the only musketeer to kill his opponent, without a trace of remorse.

When you think about it, everything about the musketeers' motives is wrong. They sincerely wish to protect the king, but their way of doing this is by helping the Spanish-born queen send messages to her English lover. This understandably earns them the enmity (but also the grudging respect) of Richelieu, the greatest statesman in French history. It is profoundly strange that this of all books was fated to become an international symbol of France. But, if you read it again, you may find that Dumas understands these problems just as well as you do -- when Richelieu first appears, he is described as "an active and gallant cavalier, already weak of body, but sustained by that moral power which made of him one of the most extraordinary men that ever lived." In Twenty Years After, the musketeers themselves regret having opposed him. By the way, Twenty Years After is a fantastic sequel and reading it helps to understand the author's intentions in The Three Musketeers.

None of this necessarily speaks to the book's quality, although it does show that maybe the book hides a few surprises. But there is also another reason to read Dumas, particularly now.

In the 19th century, when literature delved into intricate psychology and social criticism, Dumas must have seemed shallow, a writer of cheap entertainment. But from our vantage point now, he may represent an unattainable height. His prose is extremely energetic -- you skip the descriptions at the beginning of the book when you're young, but later they suddenly become enjoyable, once you see how briskly and sharply he sketches out the defining qualities of his chosen time period. His dialogue, when not buried by a stuffy and archaic translation, becomes elaborate and highly expressive. His characters are aristocratic and talk in courtly flourishes, but their speech is deliberate and careful, rather than flowery, reflecting the dangers of court intrigue, where a single misstep can lead to betrayal and a very early death. Reading these delicate verbal exchanges, in which politeness often masks the direct threat of violence, is invigorating.

And there are still the adventures -- the first duel with five Cardinal's guards, the diamond studs caper, Athos' epic stand-off in the wine cellar, the lunch at the Saint-Gervais bastion, and the sudden dark turn taken with Milady's arrival on the scene, whereupon d'Artagnan finally discovers that actions have consequences. The lasting appeal of The Three Musketeers has come from its fresh and surprisingly down-to-earth portrayal of reckless, ambitious youth, whose cruelty and arrogance can so easily go hand-in-hand with sincere emotion, bravery, and capacity for self-sacrifice. Dumas may have sinned against historical accuracy, but he understood the part of his story that was timeless -- the feeling that anything is possible.

Richard Pevear's translation is highly regarded but I'm not a big fan of it and much prefer Lowell Bair's 1984 translation (Bantam Classics).

Pevear's rendering is somewhat stilted and awkward and at times confusing, whereas Bair's is in more natural, free flowing English which creates a more enjoyable reading experience.

Here are some examples from the first several pages:

Pevear;
"And this sensation had been all the more painful to the young d'Artagnan, in that he was unable to conceal the ridiculous side lent to him, good horseman that he was, by such a mount."

Bair:
"This was all the more painful to young d'Artagnan because he was well aware of how ridiculous his horse made him seem, even though he was an excellent rider"

Pevear:
"Go and see him with this letter, and rule yourself by him, in order to become like him."

Bair:
"Go and see him with this letter and take him as your model."

Pevear:
"... which has the miraculous property of healing every wound that does not attain the heart. Take your profit from everything..."

Bair:
"...it miraculously heals any wound that doesn't reach the heart. Make the most of these gifts..."

Pevear:
"He found on the tip of his tongue only words of a cruel personality."

Bair:
"These blunt words were the only ones that came to his tongue."

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a novel set in 17th century France focusing on the young d'Artagnan and his adventures with the musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis. The four men have to stop bad people from doing bad things, while saving the integrity of both the Queen and France herself.

This book is actually really funny. Everything is over the top and dramatic. d'Artagnan and the musketeers will rush into any fight, and they all have various love trysts, though none quite so many as d'Artagnan. The main character falls in love with quite a few women and fights with a lot of men. The plot is kind of confusing, and I had trouble seeing the point behind many parts, but the characters are amusing and the action is pretty good. The book is very enjoyable.

My absolute favorite part in this book is when d'Artagnan meets the title characters. He gets on each of their bad sides and ends up dueling all three of them, each fight an hour apart. Eventually, they realize that they actually quite like each other, and they become best friends. What a fantastic way for characters to meet. The men in this book agree to duels a lot, and most of the times it's for no reason at all, and it's pretty entertaining.

Another great part is when d'Artagnan meets Madame Bonacieux and immediately falls in love, and tells her so the same day. At first, I was like dude she's married, but then I realized that literally every person in this book is having an affair, so I suppose that's the norm. But then she's taken prisoner, and d'Artagnan pretty much forgets about her. He starts sleeping with "Milady" and her maid at the same time. He quickly forgets about the maid too, but he wants revenge on Milady for a lot of bad things she did, which he gets in the end.

A lot of things happen in this book. Pretty much every chapter introduces a new plot, and after a while, I forgot things that happened earlier in the book.

This novel is pretty much a coming-of-age story. After a while, d'Artagnan becomes more brave and less reckless, and he gets a promotion, and everyone gets along with the cardinal. The queen's lover dies, which I thought was what they were trying most to avoid, but I guess it didn't matter. Madame Bonacieux died, but d'Artagnon got his revenge for her death. So everything is resolved in the end in a way, and the characters all got their happy endings. I enjoyed the book, and Dumas's writing was pretty easily comprehended.

After Walter Scott, the historical novel fell into its way of mixing the historical with the imagined; Dumas grabbed the mix and ran with it, so much so that it takes considerable annotation to sort out fact from fiction in his books. D’Artagnan actually existed. Dumas discovered his memoirs in the library (he took the book out and never returned it), which had been written up by Courtilz de Sandraz, who, shall we say, embroidered; Dumas proceeded to embroider the embroidery. He devoured, pillaged and embroidered the memoirists of the time, digested and embroidered the history, hearsay, legends and gossip, and spun out one of the richest, most perfectly shaped of all stories of adventure. As with all great adventures, it hinges on friendship: “Tous pour un, un pour tous”: “All for one and one for all,” a phrase I bet is still widely recognized. But it hinges too on a certain youthful headlong recklessness (“La vie vaut-elle autant de questions?” Athos says—“Is life really worth so many questions?”), at least until rough justice is meted out to Milady, and the book ends with the parting of the company. It’s these qualities that keep the book alight and make it, as with Holmes and Watson, so endlessly and refreshingly rereadable. There are innumerable editions in French and English; the translation by the indefatigable Richard Pevear in the recent Penguin Classics edition catches nicely the humor and bravado of the original. The annotation by Gilbert Sigaux in the Pleiade edition will help you do some of the historical sorting out; it’s interesting, but maybe it really doesn’t matter. The historical D’Artagnan lived; Dumas’s D’Artagnan lives.

Glenn Shea, from Glenn's Book Notes, at www.bookbarnniantic.com

We are all (well, almost everyone - there is always someone) for this masterpiece. Thank you, Monsieur Dumas, wherever you are. I can't read everything you wrote though I have a number of them. And I do read TTM and the Count of Monte Cristo over and over. TTM is probably the greatest action novel ever written. There is a reason they keep churning out remakes and copies in film and print.

I leave to others to re-hash the plot. I want to point out to encourage others to read it with a few brief points:

It moves. Far from too long, it is not long enough.
D'Artagnan is one of the great heroes of fiction. You will love him.
And the other Musketeers not far behind.
The four have far more depth to them than the heroes in modern fiction, even some of my favorites.
It's funny. You will laugh out loud.
It's exciting.
It's suspenseful.
You will root for them.
It has great villains and perhaps an even greater villainess.
It will make you want to read history.
It is even sexy in a much more entertaining way than modern novels achieve with all their descriptive license.
You will see TTM in modern books and movies for the rest of your life.

My plea to the movie makers - stop changing the story. You cannot do better than him and it is more a crime that you try than most of the actual crimes on the books.

This story has always been a favorite of mine; this is the first time that I've re-read the novel in over 20 (possibly over 30, shudder to admit) years. I've watched various movie versions numerous times over the course of those years (unquestionably the best of those is the one from the 1940s with Gene Kelly as D'Artagnan) and it was interesting to remind myself of how the original story plays out, given that the movies always make changes, some more minor than others. This is one of the most classic of the classic romance-action-adventure novels, and is every bit as delightful as I remembered it being. One could call it a precursor to the entire superhero genre, if one were so inclined.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)
Structurally, both books are quite similar. Dividing both books into thirds, the first parts of both books are fairly dynamic. In The Count, the first part features: the arrest, imprisonment, and subsequent escape of Edmond, the novel's central character. In comparison, in the first third of The Three Musketeers D'Artagnan goes to Paris, is introduced to Mr. De Treville and the Musketeers (and ends up fighting the cardinal's guardsmen with them!), and is brought into the intrigues of Queen Anne and the Cardinal as he and his companions journey to England to recover Queen Anne's diamond studs before the night of the fete. Both first parts are filled with plot twists, action and adventure, and character development. Secondly, the middle third parts of both books are relatively less dynamic. In The Count, the middle part is mostly developmental. In it, the reader is slowly brought through Edmond's insinuation into Paris high society. The middle part of the TTM is similarly developmental. In it, D'Artagnan slowly retraces his journey to Paris to find out what happened to his musketeer friends who never made it all the way to England.

There are also similarities between TTM and The Count in terms of setting. Both books are largely set in Paris. Additionally, in both books a character is imprisoned (Dantes in The Count, and Lady de Winter in TTM).

Perhaps even more importantly, both books develop character similarly. In The Count, Edmond, although unjustly denounced and imprisoned, practically destroys the entire family of Mr. De Villefort, one of the men who betrayed him in the past. His attempt to avenge himself against De Villefort is seeped in deception and subterfuge. In this way, Edmond's character degrades as the book progresses. In TTM, A similar degradation in character can be found in the development of the character of D'Artagnan. In the beginning of the novel, the youthful, courageous, and prudent gascon is a "paragon of honesty". Yet as the novel progresses, by pretending to be the Count De Wardes, D'Artagnan turns to dishonesty as a means of winning the favor of Lady de Winter to discover the whereabouts of his former love Mme. Bonacieux, who had earlier in the novel been abducted by the cardinal. By the time D'Artagnan is fully immeshed in this intrigue, Dumas goes so far as to call him a "perfidious deceiver".

Small wonder that both books were written by Dumas one only one year after the other.

I have read many great novels full of action and adventures, but after reading "The Three Musketeers", it may be one of the best novels of all time. Dumas has written at least 300 pieces of his work throughout his career. Some of his most memorable works are "The Man in The Iron Mask", "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Twenty Years After". But this novel has incredibly given readers a great piece of action and adventure with realistic heroes for over 165 years.

In the story, we are in the year 1625 in Paris, France and we first meet D'Artagnan, a young man who is attacked by a robber and while trying to catch him, he meets the musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis who work together to drive off poachers. Then when they discover that a landlord's wife who has been involved with the queen. So it's up to D'Artagnan and his now comrades to rescue her and when they do, he begins to fall in love with her. Later, he discovers the queen's secret lover who is from England and the king sends a beautiful spy, Milady to keep an eye on her. But when the queen's diamond tags are with the Duke of Buckingham, D'Artagnan is encouraged to retrieve them with the musketeers before it's too late.

Let me say that "The Three Musketeers" is the one of the best adventure books that everyone will enjoy. The books is fill with so many good thrills that no wonder it's around 600 pages. This story has been retold in many ways, but this version is truly original in every way. It's actually more entertaining than 30% of the adventures novels that are written now. So readers will be delighted with this remarkable classic that is filled with thrills. D'Artagnan and the musketeers are very great characters and feel vert realistic. This is one of those novels that people will want to read again and again. So Paris we go!

Having never read the Three Musketeers, I resolved to pick up the book and give it a go over the long Labor Day weekend. There is no question in my mind after reading it why the book is a classic and why the story and the characters are so popular. The book contains everything that a great novel should - layers of meaning, symbolism, complex characters, archetypes, adventure, romance, plot twists, suspense. It is all there. In spades.

Based loosely on historical events around the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham and the siege of La Rochelle, the boo chronicles the journey of young d'Artangan from a poor but noble family in Gascony to become a member of the King's Musketeers. Introducing complex characters such as Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter, Dumas weaves an intricate tale of international intrigue, murder and adventure. Expecting to find the book a tough read, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the book, and found it to be as fun and nearly as page turning as any modern novel of the same genre.

If you haven't read The Three Musketeers, I would highly recommend it to any reader - young or old. Dumas is a brilliant author and the story remains timeless.

Having never read the Three Musketeers, I resolved to pick up the book and give it a go over the long Labor Day weekend. There is no question in my mind after reading it why the book is a classic and why the story and the characters are so popular. The book contains everything that a great novel should - layers of meaning, symbolism, complex characters, archetypes, adventure, romance, plot twists, suspense. It is all there. In spades.

Based loosely on historical events around the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham and the siege of La Rochelle, the boo chronicles the journey of young d'Artangan from a poor but noble family in Gascony to become a member of the King's Musketeers. Introducing complex characters such as Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter, Dumas weaves an intricate tale of international intrigue, murder and adventure. Expecting to find the book a tough read, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the book, and found it to be as fun and nearly as page turning as any modern novel of the same genre.

If you haven't read The Three Musketeers, I would highly recommend it to any reader - young or old. Dumas is a brilliant author and the story remains timeless.

I had read The Three Musketeers as a child. Reading it again as an adult, understanding it as a piece of historical fiction and historical commentary, was great. Interestingly, this time around i was less sympathetic to Milady than i remember being before. I appreciated the subtle ironies, especially the way the villains, Richelieu and Buckingham, compare favorably against the King and Queen who D'Artagnan is devoted to. Richard Pevear's translation is superb; this is the translation you want. The edition that has the movie actors in the cover is missing the great introduction and footnotes. Get the other, thicker printed edition, or the Kindle version.

I am in the middle of reading this translation now. I have an overflowing bookshelf of nothing but various translations of "The Three Musketeers." Having recently translated and adapted Dumas' story for a theatrical production, and looking through many translations to see how they handled certain words, I agree with CBH (who gave a 2 star review) that the translator made some strange choices. Word choices I have not seen in any of the other translations, like "beagles." Things like "procureuse" I don't mind at all - it's what's in the French and in many of the translations, but there are some strange and jarring word choices in this translation.

For the most part, I'm finding this translation very smooth and easy to read. I am enjoying it more than some of the other translations I have, because other than the oddness of some word choices, it flows well, keeps to the spirit of the original, and is not difficult to understand. I am also enjoying all of the notes, just as I enjoyed the ones in the Oxford World Classics version.

I am also glad to see that the translator kept in bits that are often omitted in English translations, like where Dumas made D'Artagnan a Musketeer twice (once before going to La Rochelle - and is often left out).

Interesting coming at this again. I was more conscious of something my Dad pointed out when I recommended this to him as someone who enjoys action novels. He said it was hard to care about the constant death-defying activity given that it was frequently about nothing more than whimsical court romances and intrigues: D'Artagnan's desperate body-strewn dash over the channel and back, for example, to save the French Queen's potential embarrassment over a gift to her English (courtly) lover. I take his point, although to me that's part of the fun/interest. While I'm not suggesting that Dumas is writing as an historical purist - he's wildly inventing and embellishing to make a good story the whole time - it still does say something about the time to find what he idealises as heroic. Moreover there is that alien medieval perspective that assumes that the whims of royalty are noble and vastly more important than those of the populace (much as celebrities today have thousands fawn over the minutia of their daily lives).

It's also interesting to think of how these guys are still in some ways archetypes of cool, particularly the tortured but unflappable Athos. While being a dab hand with a sword is vital, what separates these Musketeers from the rest is how much grace they show under fire: not, in some ways, like the comparable James Bonds of today (who are blithe because they know they're just too damn good to lose), but because they hold their lives cheaply. What makes Athos such a paragon of valour is that he really isn't fazed by death - honour means so much more to him. His companions reflect this, which is why they are worthy of inclusion, and friend and foe alike admire this more than anything else. Dumas vividly conveys the whole tortured system of honour that says you can only admire someone who is prepared to kill you at the slightest provocation. While completely appalling in reality, it's bags of fun in fiction. I suspect Dumas is aware of this in his over the top Duke of Buckingham, who unblinkingly hurls nations into war for the same (or even less) cause than the demigods of the Illiad. He's a egomaniacal monster, but in Dumas' world he's a picture of the aristocratic courtly lover in his utter single-minded devotion to his mistress (cf. Gene Wolfe's fabulous Sir Able's worship of his faery queen . Sir Able, however, while influenced by some of the notions of honour here - (`A Knight does not count his foes' - is dead in line), was a world more aware of the duty of the powerful to the powerless than the dazzlingly arrogant Duke).

The romance, the courtly romance, is an odd mix of worldly and juvenile. The pedestals women are put on based on the most fleeting impressions of a pretty face or form is not mocked, although we see glimpses of the shallowness of the angels here and there. But that's part of the courtly game: if the lover was to spend too much time actually getting to know his mistress in the humdrum of her everyday life she would lose all the mystery that idealises her in his mind. Maybe a lesson there for all of us in the joys and perils of infatuation. Aramis' absurd blushes come from a love fuelled by absence, and by the constant fear of losing the fragile attention of his never seen lady.

Milady de Winter is the self-conscious epitome of beauty in a she-demon (and, incidentally, a character the Dumas disciple Perez-Reverte has transplanted whole into the excellent The Fencing Master, and the not so excellent Captain Alatriste). Curiosly, and I dare say feminists would have noticed this, if she was a man and therefore able to use her considerable skills towards plying a sword, she would be another admirable friend/foe like the Duke, the Cardinal, or even the nemesis `Man from Meung' - her right hand man, utterly complicit in her evil, but ultimately D'Artagnan's friend after a few gentlemanly near-death exchanges.

I haven't given much time here to how well or poorly written the book is, and, frankly, I'm not in the mood for that sort of analysis today (word is crashing constantly: newer computer with office 2007, but less reliable to do the exact same job. Microsoft, a pox upon thee). All I'll offer for the moment is that while Dumas can be verbose at times, his characters and world are so rich and vibrant that this is a minor thing.

I have put off reading this book for years... mainly because of its size, and the fact that it was written in French, and I just didn't want to put that much work into anything. I finally convinced myself that I really needed to read this because I enjoy the movies so much.

In the beginning... I was worried. The language was easy enough to follow (concern number 1 gone) but the writing style seemed a bit loose and haphazard. Rather than my mind being boggled, I found myself getting irritated by the wandering I felt that the book was doing. For the first quarter of the book I had started to question my choice of reading this. At first D'Artagnan irritated me because he seemed so stupid, and ready to fight anyone and everyone over anything, then our introduction to the three musketeers Athos, Aramis and Porthos were also ready to "cross swords" with anyone at even the most minor offence. The first several sword fights were rather sparse as far as description and excitement so it didn't "thrill" me the way I had hoped.

Enter the Cardinal, he was interesting... devious and maniacal... I thought to myself that the book could be picking up. But sadly the first half of the book really was nothing but D'Artagnan pining over women, and the Musketeers drinking, eating or spending money on more equipment. I was a bit weirded out by their lackeys... each of them had a servant who was all but a slave. These servants were only mentioned when they were being scolded, or offered up to do their master's bidding.

The story began to get interesting with the introduction of Milady, one of the most intelligent and evil villainesses I have encountered in a book. Vile of nature and black of heart she is a truly evil being that really spices up the book. Once she was brought into the picture, the tedious story opened up into an interesting tale of intrigue, a battle of wits between her, the cardinal and the musketeers.

There is a fair amount of history in this book, however much of it has been altered with creative license so I wouldn't take the events as gospel. I guess I can see why this is a classic, however I would have to say I preferred "The Count of Monte Cristo" to this. Had the first half been more entertaining I would have really loved this book. I'm just glad I kept reading so that I could get to the interesting part.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

What's more, the person who prepared this Kindle edition inexplicably added a 2015 copyright notice by Dumas (?!).

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

What's more, the person who prepared this Kindle edition inexplicably added a 2015 copyright notice by Dumas (?!).

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

It's very simple. Pick up this book, and make yourself read the first chapter. Alexandre Dumas will take it from there. Before you know it, you will be following the thin-skinned young tyro d'Artagnan and his three epee-wielding comrades through some of the zaniest, sharpest, and most flavorful episodes of adventure ever imagined.

The first chapter sets up the story quite wonderfully. D'Artagnan makes his grand entrance riding a sad-looking horse which makes him all the more sensitive when he catches someone laughing at him. D'Artagnan draws his sword, but his attempts at a duel are smothered when he is set upon by stick-wielding locals. He finds himself coming to, dizzy-headed, his sword broken, an important letter of introduction missing, and the snickering stranger making off after a conference with an equally mysterious pale beauty.

Who were they? Where did they go? What became of that letter?

Dumas knew something about the cliffhanger. Even if none of the chapters actually end on cliffs, you want to know where this pre-paperback potboiler (published in 1844) goes next. That he could keep this sort of thing going for 67 chapters and 608 pages (in my Oxford edition) is a sign of storytelling mastery. But his two strongest points, and what maybe make him stand so far apart from the popular writers of then and now, are character and humor.

The richly drawn characters include not only d'Artagnan and his three friends, the title characters Athos, Porthos, and Aramis; but a number of others, including non-fictional ones like Cardinal Richelieu and Anne of Austria who add a healthy dose of historical flavor even if they may depart in key ways from their real-life counterparts. Most vivid of all the characters is the woman known only as "Milady", who works against d'Artagnan both from understandable spite and bottomless cruelty. She's a formidable force of nature, courageous in her nastiness, able to use the steeliest of men to serve her sick ends.

"All is useless," rails one Musketeer about Milady. "To the poison which she pours, there is no antidote."

The humor comes in right away, and never leaves. Other gifted writers use humor as a way of easing the tension. Dumas makes it part of the tension. At one point in the story, in the middle of the siege of La Rochelle, d'Artagnan and the three Musketeers leave the safety of the camp for an abandoned fort in the middle of a battlefield, so they can talk about plans they wish to keep to themselves. Athos brings his servant, Grimaud, who sets up a picnic with some wine while they talk. Naturally, the enemy sends out a force to investigate these trespassers. The Musketeers manage to fight off successive waves of attackers without interrupting their meal.

A kind of blissful remove makes even the harder dramatic turns of "Three Musketeers" easier to take in relative stride. It's hard to understand the "whys" of what is going on, and sometimes particular plotlines seem to curl up snake-like around themselves. But Dumas is always diverting, even when you are left shaking your head. "The Three Musketeers" is a thoroughly entertaining, constantly moving narrative that doesn't ever take itself too seriously. I have read more moving books, but none I can recall that were as gripping.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

What's more, the person who prepared this Kindle edition inexplicably added a 2015 copyright notice by Dumas (?!).

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS ranks as one of the ten best books I've ever read. With fast-paced and nonstop action the whole way through, this nearly 800 page book flies by surprisingly quickly. A great story with some of the most memorable characters in all of literature makes for an excellent reading experience. Dumas' style of wit, humor, and drama, and his ability to bring unique individual characters to life through dialogue makes him [IMHO] one of the best writers of the past and present.

This novel is a story of adventure, love, politics, and friendship. It could be considered a historical fiction, with a few real life secondary characters such as Cardinal Richelieu and Anne of Austria playing significant parts in the story and acting in ways that agree with their historical reputation. Still, the book is primarily a character-driven story. The main character, D'Artagnan, is brash and prideful, while still being utterably lovable. His friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis are each so unique and well-developed that you'll feel like you know them. The antagonists are so deliciously evil as to make their triumphs painful and their defeats glorious. Each character, from King Louis XIII to the musketeer's lackeys, is central to the story.

The straightforward but eloquent style in which the story is told makes it an excellent book for any age. A proliferation of French words and expressions may cause some readers to stumble at first, but they quickly become familiar and add to the flavor of the overall story. The few scenes of a sexual nature are mild PG only and shouldn't concern parents or teachers. The vibrancy and color that Dumas brings to life in this story will delight any reader that is brave enough to give it a chance. Really nothing to complain about in this one. Extremely highly recommended.

In the very midst of the last Harry Potter being published, I picked up this title from my library, mainly because of the attractive cover and easy-to-read design and typeface. I also wanted to see what a great classic felt like. I was highly rewarded.
Certainly this amazing and ground-breaking work is dated in places, particularly when men are disposed of without the least thought and women are placed on pedestals like goddesses. Nonetheless, the ease with which Dumas develops the ties between Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan is a work of art in itself. One cannot say these sophisticated gentlemen are utterly carefree, but they deal with what life offers them with a very modern sense of skepticism, romance, and adventure. No religious figure can fool them with absurd piety. No falsity can entrap them. Each protects and supports the other, yet each character is unique, and we feel we know them thoroughly.
The plot tumbles forward, full of adventure, intrigue, romance, betrayal, and evil. Dumas is a great story teller, although at times wrapped up with himself to the point of tedium, but those passages can be read over quickly. A rich supporting cast of characters, from Cardinal Richelieu to Queen Anne to Milady, who is the incarnation of evil, make this work amazingly entertaining, even over the course of 600 pages.
It would be a great exercise to contrast this one work with that of Harry Potter. Obviously, Dumas, who was enormously popular, is writing for an adult audience, and does not spare us sexual exploits. But the forces unleashed are similar in both works: good, loyalty, and truth versus evil, deception, and falsehood. Interesting.
Just a word on the translation: It was lively, modern, and smooth. No awkwardness was apparent. Descriptions were crystal clear.

The Three Musketeers is probably the most famous work of Dumas. It resounds in the popular imagination, which has done a lot for it being a household name but has also stripped some important features from it in the popular imagination.

The book is the first in what eventually became a trilogy. The second work is Twenty Years After and the third is published in three volumes (Ten Years After or The Vicomte de Bragellone, Louise de la Valiere and The Man in the Iron Mask, the latter also being very famous). It is in this book that we become introduced, and attached to the immortal larger-than-life d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis and their exploits, heroism, cleverness, foolishness, gallantry and rabble-raising.

It would be completely stupid to relate much of the plot: Dumas is heavy on plot twists and interweavings so this forms a huge part of the enjoyment of reading The Three Musketeers. In short, it is 17th century France, ruled by Louis XIII in formality, but in reality held in the authoritarian choke of Cardinal Richeleu. D'Artagnan aspires to become a Musketeer, the King's special elite guard famous for their daring exploits of war, chivalry and honour. He befriends Porthos, Aramis and Athos and together, they become the Famous Four, producing exploits that will be talked about for decades to come. From the start of the book, they become involved in a war of swords and wits with Richeleu, the enemy of the Musketeers. It's a long book but I think that Dumas is a master plot-weaver and it has the pacing of a modern thriller with some lyrical digressions of a medieval romance. This is what makes Dumas' style of historical fiction so interesting.

In terms of history, Dumas takes liberties with many facts and dates for the sake of his story and characters. If you're not a purist though, you'll find that he still does a great job of portraying the overall period, describing the court intrigues, daily life, ideology and events. In what will become a major technique for the rest of the trilogy, he takes commonly known historical events and makes his story achieve a clandestine, secret part in the events.

I think the main thematic/moral purpose of Dumas was to cast his readers back to a time he saw as more extreme but more romantic and honourable as opposed to the rigid reality around him. In many times, we will find the actions of the four main characters (and others) to be in disaccord with our morality. For me, their flaws are one of their most endearing features. However, Dumas does not applaud every thing he makes the characters do, rather, he appreciates that they lived more simply, honourably and passionately. Even if reading the book for mere escapism, such escapism is necessary for every time, including our one.

In suffering from what seems like hundreds of adaptations in film and popular culture, The Three Musketeers has caught an association with a childrens' book. Certainly, it is accessible and interesting to children and makes a great read. However, many such adaptations have stripped it of its dark, almost Shakesperean drama. The whole trilogy is a monumental battle between good and evil and, at least in this first installment, the lines are clear, but the applications are not. This is personified by Aramis - the Musketeer aspiring to become a priest. Overall, it is a book everyone can get something out of.

Dumas' style, on the other hand, is far from "literary" in the deliberate sense. He was writing for a popular audience of his day and The Three Musketeers (and the rest of the trilogy) can be considered an early version of the thriller (with political, courtly and military dimensions). What I like about it is that despite it not being "high literature" it reads better than most modern thrillers because of the intricate plotting and exposure to a historical world so different from ours. So, become immersed in it, for 'twill do wonders!

For years schoolteachers have tried to get their pupils interested in reading by telling them they have to read this book. Of course this seldom works for there is a difference in reading for pleasure and reading because one is forced to do so. I must admit however that if this tact is ever going to work, it should work with this book. Dumas is the master of the adventure story and this just may be his best work. Sex, violence, intrigue, and one purely evil character are to be found in the pages of this book. What more could the modern reader ask for?
The story does not center on the actual three musketeers in question as the book might imply. Instead the young d'Artagnan is the hero of this story as the reader follows him in his successful quest to become one of the King's Musketeers. He soon becomes entangled in disputes with three musketeers who will become his best friends. Aramis, Athos and Porthos are an eclectic and eccentric group whose mere presence in a scene immediately adds color. D'Artagnan's adventures with his three friends have been immortalized on film many times, but do not be fooled. The films bear little resemblance to the book in many instances and seldom do they do Dumas' work justice. For one thing, the activities of our little group that would today be frowned upon seem never to make it to the big screen. For example, I have never seen a film version in which Porthos beats his lackey.
It is of course easy to review a classic like this and rave about how wonderful it is. Others who are no doubt much more intelligent than myself have indicated that this is one of the all time great books, so it must be so. In truth, I don't really care what others have said. What I care about is whether I enjoyed the book or not and I assure you that I did enjoy this book very much. Dumas' writing draws in his reader and it is often quite hard to put the story down in order to look after other important matters, like sleep. The reader will find no deep symbolism here, just good fun and a lot of it. Of course, just by accident the reader might just learn a little history but fear not for there will be no test.

In 'Musketeers' Alexandre Dumas set the stage for future works as he introduced readers to the exploits and adventures of D'Artagnan and his friends Athos, Aramis, and Porthos, a.k.a. The Three Musketeers. Subsequent books follow, telling further adventures 'Twenty Years Later' and 'Ten Years After' that. But in Musketeers, readers meet the young D'Artagnan and his trio of swashbuckling companions for the first time.
Trying to classify the story into one genre is an exercise in futility, as it encompasses so many. But to me, it is most of all a comedy. Many, many times I found myself chuckling while reading the foibles of French manners in the 17th century, as chronicled in the 19th century by Dumas. The Musketeers are warriors, spies, womanizers, drunkards; but above all they are gentlemen. Two men about to duel discuss a salve one offers the other to heal a prior wound; A lackey who is ordered not to speak is reprimanded for bringing news that will spare the Musketeers from harm and trying to deliver it to them; a duel is avoided as there is not sufficient time to fight it properly; and an innkeeper is maligned for not having better wines in his cellar while one of the Musketeers holes up there for days after not paying his bill.
While the action is well plotted, and the storyline twists and turns are plausible and palpable, the most intriguing, captivating, and charming aspect of this story for me was its humor. In a world full of formulaic, contrived 'adventure tales' it was a treat to step back in time several hundred years and find a real adventure story. Classics survive for a reason, while other stories are relegated to the bargain bins. While Dumas was not exactly thought of as 'high quality' literature, and his intelligence has been the subject of discourse and debate, he had a clever way with words, characters, and stories. His plot here is not at all overblown, and while his characters may be larger than life, their life isn't. Even as his 'over the top' anti-heroes cross blades again and again with the Cardinal Richelieu's forces, bed women time and again, fight off attack after attack, and escape certain death more than once, the world they live in never seems like a work of fiction.
In contrast to Count of Monte Cristo, this book is only 'lighter' in the manner in which the story is unfolded. While that book had a much darker theme, this story is every bit as engrossing. I am happy to have saved this book to savor in adulthood, and highly recommend reading the adventures of the Musketeers to anyone with a love for classics.

The Three Musketeers is a famous classic of adventure and intrigue that has been made into countless movies. (And no, it is not a graphic novel, though it may look like it from this particular cover.) The three musketeers of the title are named Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. They, along with their friend D'Artagnan (the hero of the book) loyally serve the king and oppose the Cardinal. The Three Musketeers started off a bit slowly, as some lengthy classics are apt to do, but soon it went at a much faster pace, and I was eager to keep reading. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but they all play a role in the novel. I have a really beautiful old copy of The Three Musketeers, but then I discovered that it was abridged! So I'm glad I decided to read the library's copy.

Anyway, the world described in The Three Musketeers is fascinating, and I would highly to recommend it if you're looking for a challenging but rewarding read.

*You can read all of my reviews on my blog, novareviews.blogspot.com*

My friend and I assigned this book to each other to read. Of course I procrastinated, but once I picked it up--right from the first page I was completely sucked into the story, everything that was going on was very clear in my mind's eye, each character quickly formed solid people to me.

It is amazing, the book is huge but there is not one dry moment or an instant that released me from its spell long enough to make me want to stop. More often than not I simply fell asleep fighting, wanting to turn the page once again.

The Cardinal is not the villian he is boiled down to in the theatrical versions, instead he often helps the Musketeers, the real villian in this book is Milady, an amazing character. She is a woman who has learned how to manipulate the weaknesses perceived in women at this time, into enormous strengths.

The relationship between D'Artagnan and Athos is especially poignent, an amazing feat considering how action packed and dialogue driven the book is.

Having never read this book before, I didn't notice anything lack in this translation of it, the langauge flowed and there weren't any jarring problems. I did miss having detailed footnotes a few times, just to explain a few references and allusions, but mostly it would have been to satisfy my own curiosity not any confusion in the narrative.

It is clear to me now, why this book is a classic. I doubt many could write a book with the same little jabs of insight and attention grabbing action and humanity. It's amazing!

This is my third book that I have read by Dumas (Count of Monte Cristo and Knight of Maison-Rouge). I truly loved the Count of Monte Cristo and very much like the Knight. However, I did not know what to expect going into this book for I had only seen a movie based upon the story. However, I was truly amazed how good the story ended up being.

This book has it all - revenge, sword fights, intrige, love, and most of all - comedy. I was taken by how funny parts of this story were - for instance, how in the beginning D'Artagnan gets into it with the man of Meung because of an insult regarding his horse. D'Artagnan keeps seeing this man thoughout the story and each time his wants to take his revenge out on him for the insult to his horse (and to him because of it).

I will not go into the story but it is one that will not disappoint. I do not think this book is as good as the Count of Monte Cristo but it is a very close second. If you have read the Count of Monte Cristo and liked it, this book is for you. If you have not read this book, but only have seen a movie based on the book, put aside those thoughts and read the book. It is much better than any movie.

If you want action with some comedy, this is the one for you. If you just want to read a wonderful story, this book is for you. If you enjoy the classics, this book is for you. In the end, you will not regret reading this book. Once I got to reading it, I did not want to put it down. I read the unabridged (do not get the abridged version) in 6 days.

In the end, read this book. I think that like me, you will want to read the 4 other books on the adventures of the four musketeers.

This is the story of D'Artagnan, heir to a poor but noble family from Gascony who is trying to achieve his dream of becoming a Musketeer of the Guard. On the way to Paris, D'Artagnan fights a mysterious stranger, loses his money and introduction letter to his father's friend Monsieur De Treville, Captain of the Company of Musketeers.

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 (In a true fashion of fiction rewriting history - the Cardinal got a bad rap from the popularity of the story - much of it undeserved) all while achieving his dream.

This is an ageless story which was serialized for a newspaper, hence the page turning adventure and fast paced. After reading this book in elementary school (on my own) I had the urge to read it again, this time with the eyes of an adult. The book did not disappoint, and I further understood why it is a classic. Dumas is a master of invention, if he'd live today he'd be making shows like "24", but he's not ... and he didn't. Instead he gave us a timeless, serial classic peppered with a good deal of humor, romance and even some swordplay.

If you've seen the movies, do yourself a favor and read the book, if you haven't then you have an advantage.

This book, like The Count of Monte Cristo, is an excellent adventure story slightly based on historical fact. Of course, the story is also very much in the news right now with the release of the new movie, which, based purely on the cast list, might actually be more faithful to the novel than other movies, but don't hold me to that.

Anyway, who doesn't know the story of D'Artagnan and the three musketeers? There have been so many movies based on the book or the characters that I feel it would be a rare person who does not have a mental picture of the musketeers and their "one for all and all for one" motto. I have definitely seen several musketeer movies, but I don't think I was fully aware of all the intricacies of Dumas' original novel. I don't want to go into those intricacies now, but I will say that all the interwoven plotting of the principal characters makes for an exciting and fast-paced read.

Which brings me to my next point. I know someone who also read this book recently and had never before read a Dumas. This person was expecting a dry, dark, period piece that would be difficult to get through and was pleasantly surprised by the energy of The Three Musketeers. So much so that this person is now reading The Man in the Iron Mask and will, eventually, follow that up with The Count of Monte Cristo. Now, I had read The Count of Monte Cristo years ago, albeit an abridged version, and had enjoyed it as a fantastic, intriguing novel, which meant that I was not at all surprised to find The Three Musketeers so interesting. It is also not surprising that many chapters end on cliffhangers, because like many novels of the time, The Three Musketeers was originally serialized so Dumas had to make sure to keep drawing in readers week after week. Anyway, for anyone else who has fears about this being a dry novel only enlivened on film, put those fears aside because you will speed through most of this book.

You may have noticed that slight caveat, most. I will admit that there are slow parts, especially in the beginning where there is a lot of description. And perhaps this, in addition to the considerable length, is why there are abridged versions. But don't give up and just start on an abridged version. This truly is a marvelous story, the slow parts aren't that numerous, and I really think there is something to the theory that a story should be enjoyed as the author intended it... except that I definitely couldn't wait to read the next chapter!!

For more reviews, search for my blog, Life Off the Shelf.

This is the story of a poor, young, French man, named d'Artagnan Gascony. He leaves his home with only a sword, an old horse, and his family name. Fate steps in and he manages to meet and make angry not one, not two, but three of the kings swordsman, known as "Musketeers". They each decide to duel him, one right after the other, but only d'Artagnan knows this. When the first duel is to begin, all three Musketeers arrive, one to fight and the other two to act as seconds. Just as they begin exchanging blows the Cardinal's guard arrives and attempts to arrest the three Musketeers and d'Artagnan, forcing them to act together. The four defeat the Cardinal's guards and the adventure begins.

This book is loaded with characters who are either extremely evil such as the conniving Cardinal, or the wicked Midlady de Winter, or righteously heroic like the musketeers, d'Artagnan, his faithful servant Planchet , and love Constance. There are many tense moments, sword fights, and situation which require skill and offer danger to the friends of d'Artagnan.

When you consider that The Three Musketeers was written in 1846, over one hundred and fifty years ago, it is amazing that it can hold the attention of the modern reader, but that it does. Alexander Dumas allows you to see through his writing the details surrounding the situations, you are not a reader, but a by stander in d'Artagnan's exciting life. So dig in and be prepared to be transported back to France, in the 1800's, where wit, bravery, friendship and sword play will have you cheering for the Musketeers!

-- Peter Brodnax

Athos. Porthos. Aramis. D'Artagnan. The siege of the bastion St. Gervais. The thrilling flit to England to save Anne of Austria's honour. D'Artagnan falling in love. The Duke Of Buckingham in love. Treachery. Adventure. Romance. These are the ingredients of a successful adventure novel, and Le Grande Dumas had them all, plus a sweeping backdrop of 15th century France, and the historical characters who lived then: King Louis XIII, Anne of Austria, the Duke Of Buckingham and Cardinal Richelieu (thanks to Dumas, he's known as one of the most evil villains who lived, rather than as a historical figure...to people who have only read the nove, at least). This beautifully bound edition of the novel preserves the complete, original French text (with one minor alteration) as it was serialized in "Le Siecle" (please excuse my French). The novel was so well received, Dumas planned and wrote two equally thrilling sequels, "Twenty Years After" & the III part epic finale "Le Vicomte De Braggelonne." I highly recommend this excellent novel, as well as "Le Comte De Monte-Cristo" and his other works, both great and less well-known.

Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" is one of those books whose title one grows up knowing. In fact, it is difficult to remember a time when one was not familiar with this title! Also familiar from childhood is the slogan "one for all and all for one," although it appears but once in the entire 400+ page novel (the number of pages varying by edition, type size, etc.) In my case, this early familiarity with the title and the popular slogan enabled me to grow up with a thorough misunderstanding of what the book was about. I always assumed it was a series of swashbuckling, derring-do adventures by three gallant rogues bound together by fealty and love of carefree adventure. Finally, I had time to grow up and actually read the book that I felt I already knew and, in so doing, I found most of my assumptions about it to have been rather inaccurate. Ah, how reality intrudes upon safe assumptions formed in ignorance of facts!

The three musketeers, of whom there are really four who are germane to the story, are nominally soldiers of King Louis XIII, and they easily spend as much time fighting other French soldiers who are more loyal to Cardinal Richelieu than to the monarch. Not pitched battles, you understand, but back alley sword fights as chance meetings permit. But such knavery is but a small part of the intrigue, plotting, spying, assassination, and sundry other peccadillos that characterize the royal court. Add to the royal jealousies a measure of personal infatuations, kidnappings and imprisonments, and we find a web which ensnares more than one of our fine musketeers.

The men themselves defy a singular type casting, for they are all of such different personalities and motivations that they have little in common, and, in fact, their friendship, which is better characterized as an alliance at times, does not outlast the novel's epilogue as we see each following a decidedly separate path, one to the church, another to a wealthy marriage, a third to the estate he had formerly left, and only one to the life of a soldier.

Suffice it to say that Dumas' novel is more than I had anticipated, yet also less in some ways. More in that it is not a series of mad adventures but presents a constantly evolving theme of intrigue and mystery; less in that I found my heroic musketeers to be but mortal men, being vanquished by their betters in duels while themselves vanquishing their inferiors, subject to the throes of deception and loss in their love affairs, and driven at times by the simple fact that they find themselves pennyless and in need of food money!

The plot holds the reader's attention, and the unfolding picture of the disparate natures of our musketeers urges the reader onward to the next chapter. The novel does give short shrift to women: the queen is all but powerless, the principal villain is "milady," the keeping of mistresses is a common way of life, and the "sweet young thing" whom we expect to rescued from a loveless marriage by d'Artagnon meets her fate in a scene reminiscent of Shakespeare's Juliet. Perhaps it is useful to remind oneself that this is a novel written in the 1800's and set in the 1600's so that we do not condemn it for its acceptance of actions that appear strangely intolerant in the 21st Century.

Why should "The Three Musketeers" be on anyone's reading list? I offer the two reasons that I felt compelling: first, any book, regardless of how long ago it was written, remains brand new until one has read it, and, second, its title and its strangely engrossing slogan are so well known and so oft repeated that those who use them should know the real story and the real characters that they are invoking! I have said nothing about writing style or pedantry in parts of the text, for my linguistic skills are so limited that I can enjoy the book only in English translation, and I realize that the words I am reading are not those of the author but of a translator. I shall not hold Dumas accountable for the efforts of another, and different translators will undoubtedly render the text somewhat differently. Some will be true to the literal meaning of Dumas' words. Better ones will be true to the spirit and connotation of those words. In any event, the novel deserves the time that the reader will devote to it, for it is too well known in our culture for anyone to remain ignorant of its contents or, as in my own case, to have misconstrued those contents early on. I am pleased that I now stand corrected in terms of Dumas' first great novel.

Because I spend a lot of time in my vehicle with my kids, I have begun seeking out these audio adaptations of classic novels put out by Monterey Soundworks...I currently had the pleasure of listening to The Three Musketeers and was very impressed. Usually an adaptation of this great story only covers the first adventure, which is only the "tip of the iceburg". These audio tapes are of excellent quality and do a fine job of bringing the complete story to life! Milady is one of the greatest villainess' in all literature and this adaptation has finally done her character justice! This was much better than any movie I've seen. I consider myself a "musketeer afficionado" as I have read the complete series...Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan are very close friends of mine! If you love this story, you will also love "20 Years Later"! Read them all the way through "The Man in the Iron Mask"!
If you are already a fan, get these audio tapes...you won't be disappointed! They are also a good vehicle to introduce someone who may be intimidated by the heft of the book to familiarize themselves with the story and develop an attachment to the characters, which is very easy to do with these characters!

Ok, my favourite Dumas work is the Count of Monte Cristo, but this is better as an adventure story. The story is about the adventures of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan, (aren't those just great names?!) to escape and plot against Cardinal Richelieu and his spy Milady.
The quiet Athos with a troubled past, the flamboyant and good-naturedly arrogant Porthos, the reserved and confused Aramis (my favourite), and D'Artagnan, the hotheaded and impulsive musketeer-in-training: these characters are dragged through the political and amorous plots of French and English royalty, played out with duels, battles, and horse-chases, all in the name of honour and friendship. Do not be fooled, however, our four heroes are not as moral and honest as is usually thought, a little deceitful seduction in the name of self-interest won't get in their way. A musketeer has to to have some money you know! Ah well, it's all fun and entertaining for the reader. One of the most interesting characters is the extremely evil and cunning Milady, whose intelligence and beauty aid her to fool and control the four friends and many others. All the characters are interesting and detailed, even the valets of the musketeers each have distinct personalities.
Because it was written as serial fiction for a newspaper, the author holds your attention incredibly well. It has that 'find out tomorrow!' quality at the end of every chapter. The writing is packed with dialogue and action with no boring paragraphs that might scare away a non-classics reader. In fact, it's more fast-paced and suspenseful than the best action movie. Who needs gun fights and car chases when you can have clashing swords and galloping horses in the colorful and glorious 17th century?! This book brings it all to life: Illustrious heroes, cunning villians, and damsels in distress. As with all classics, however, it's more than just entertaining. In the end, the book leaves you with admiration for good, virtue, loyalty, honour, love and friendship. Don't ever miss this book, if only to read that famous oath where it was first and originally written, "All for one, and one for all!."

Having read the William Barrow translation, no doubt, as a teenager I was put off at the nonsensical nature of the romance scenes and asked a French teacher about the translation. Laughingly she stated that the translations into English were heavily redacted and the juicy or salacious material was extracted for the uptight readers in the USA. She also told me that in the case of Dumas the word unabridged was often a silly lie. Unfortunately this put me off to Dumas in general and made me interested in other writers from the USA and England. It also put me off translated work in general since I felt if translations were rife with deletion and unwarrented exclusion of vital material, well I didn't want to waste my time. Mainly I've heard the names Pevear, Bair, Buss, and LeClerq as more modern translators and including those missing elements. I'm not sure but Buss seems to be the most prolific of the lot, not sure about that. Anyways I have a Kindle and don't really mind paying for a good translation. I will not be revisiting Mr. William Barrow's version if I can help it, I don't care if it's free. If anyone who also uses Kindle has any advice on the matter, I'd be thankful. Right now I'm inclined to go with Pevear...

I liked the characters, light-hearted tone, nostalgic subject matter, and description of Jewish cultural practices and political history in Argentina, in Marcelo Birmajer's "Three Musketeers." However, I found the protagonist's narrative style rather cavalier, and there is an unrelenting sexism and objectification of women. In this way, the novel is a throwback to the unenlightened years when machismo reigned unchallenged, for the most part.
It's a short book that rushes along as if its lungpower will sustain the narrative thread like a kite, high up in the sky. But it ends abruptly, when the narrative kite comes crashing down, suddenly out-of-breath. Enjoy...at your own risk; some readers will find the attitudes to and treatment of women in the novel offensive.

(See the review by A. Ross, 'Buenos Aires Blues' for further details.)

Please note that these reviews appear across several editions of the 3M. I read the 1976 edition, published by Hart Publishing Company, translated by William Robson, whose English is as ornate as Dumas's court dialogue.

I cannot say how thrilled I am to have found this book. More than a year has passed since I read it and just today I found the book on the shelf at my library. I finally copied down the ISBN (0805502041) and every little nitpickin' specification about this book--the Los Angeles Public Library system is so bad that, in this case, this book isn't even listed under the title or author, so I was never able to put it on hold.

My love of reading began with my first book. But my love of fine literature began with this book. I was actually looking for The Count of Monte Cristo when I chanced upon Musketeers. Why the heck not, said I, and I read it.

This book is perfect. This version, in particular, is the 1976, and inexpensive, version of printed editions that, to this day, sell for hundreds of dollars or more!

Included are more than 250 illustrations by Maurice Leloir. These are *real* illustrations. Not madly-designed "inspired" works that other editions unashamedly use. If I were a kid, and in many ways I am still one, these are the illustrations I would remember having grown up with. J. Huyot did the engravings off which the printed images are based. These two men are geniuses in their own right.

I would have no other translation. William Robson translated many novels in the 1850s. I wish I knew more about him. I don't know enough French yet to re-read Dumas's work, but I am certain Robson's translation is just as pristine in its prose. Be prepared to do a little dictionary sweeping, as well. This isn't written in modern babble.

This book deserves a respectful review, one written by a calm and inspired reader. Unfortunately, I am far too euphoric...the conclusion to my happiness in re-finding this book is obvious: I must purchase a nice copy.

I recommend finishing the series with the Oxford Classics editions. I enjoyed each book immensely. I read the last page of The Man in the Iron Mask, and I have never cried so hard in my life for nearly anything. Dumas's tale is pure gold.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

This is an unmodified copy of the free version of the book (The Three Musketeers) which has the unfortunate characteristic of CAPITALIZING foreign words and titles, rather than putting them in italics which is customary. This is because the source of the text is the free version from Project Gutenberg.

I recommend The Three Musketeers: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition), which is a fine translation and a much better crafted ebook. At $13, it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

It took me a long time to get through this book, because it's a long epic that has a lot of language we aren't used to today. However, I was never bored by this book. I thought the action sequences were fantastic and the characters were well-developed. I was shocked to find that the main villain of this book is Milady DeWinter, not the cardinal as many film adaptations make it out to be.

If you want to read more of the classics, that won't be too boring, take a look at this book. It's not boring, although I don't think the story had to be as long as what Dumas wrote.

This slender novel is the first to appear in English from Argentine author/journalist/screenwriter Birmajer. Set in Buenos Aires, its topics are common to much of his work, especially Jewish life in Argentina, marriage/relationships, and the follies of youth. The narrator here is, Javier, a 40ish slacker journalist and nonpracticing Jew, working for a large daily newspaper. Javier's life motto is "don't rock the boat" -- as he aims to write only banal stories, entirely free and clear of any possibly controversy. His other life's work is to sexually fantasize about the women he encounters in the course of his daily life, while pining for his estranged girlfriend (who gave him the boot after he told her of an assignation he had with a 50-something "crone" who lived upstairs from them).

His latest assignment is to interview Elias Traum, who is flying in from Tel Aviv to say kaddish for his two friends of his who died more than twenty years ago. It seems that Elias and his two dead pals were known in some circles as the titular musketeers for their precocious energy, wit, and revolutionary zeal. Alas, in their zeal, the other two joined a left-wing guerrilla group known as the Montoneros, and were killed by government death squads while Elias emigrated to Israel.

When Javier goes the airport to meet Elias, he's attacks and Elias is kidnapped. The scared journalist eventually connects with Elias and bonds with the sympathetic figure. However, as he grows to like the man, his boss suddenly pulls him off the story and puts him on a mandatory vacation. Clearly, something strange is afoot -- but what that is remains rather elusive until the very end. Meanwhile, the story meanders its way around the city, as Javier tries to learn the truth about Elias and his friends, while also trying to get back into the good graces (and pants) of his ex-girlfriend.

While the book's probings into history, memory, and youth, are somewhat interesting, they are probably more so to readers versed in recent Argentine history -- especially the era of the Dirty War. And when the ultimate menace to Elias (and by extension Javier) is revealed, it fails to convince. It's also worth noting that some readers may be put off by rather coarse discussion and graphic treatment of sex in the book. On the while, probably worth dipping into for fans of South American fiction and Jewish Argentine history, but otherwise, not essential reading.

The Pevear/Volokhonsky team has been responsible for a minor Russian revolution (hoo-ha) in literature. Their brisk, highly accurate, wonderfully readable translations of Crime and Punishment, The Bros. Karamazov, Chekhov, and War and Peace make these tomes seem exciting and new , especially since most have made do with translations from the early 20th or even 19th centuries!

Now, Richard Pevear takes a crack at one of the most sheerly enjoyable books ever written, The Three Musketeers. I'd tried to read a version of this book some years back. It was pretty good, but it seemed to be one of those adventure stories trapped in another time, where what was once considered bold and exciting had slowly become covered in sepia and dust. But this translation makes everything seem bright, bold, and (because this is a French novel) wonderfully risque.

Political backstabbing, sex-as-revenge, noblemen hiding under assumed names, poisoned wine, battlefield lunches...in fact, I was surprised how much romance and history are intertwined in this novel. The main villain, Milady, (Quasi-SPOILER!)

managers to seduce an English Puritan who is guarding her through a combination of pious prayer and that sort of faux-naivete that involves low-cut dresses and heaving bosoms. Porthos is after a woman for her money, and D'artagnan falls in love with his landlord's wife. Hilarity typically ensues, though there is the occasional kidnapping and the old "hide 'em in a convent".

(End Quasi-Spoiler)

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a bit of a swashbuckler in them, or who likes their thrillers to have some actual literary merit (which this book does in spades).

I only ask that Mr. Pevear PLEASE turn his pen to the sequel to the Three Musketeers, the bluntly titled "Twenty Years Later". Who knows what we are missing?

To say that this book is better than any movie is nearly a given - books are almost always better than movies! This is particularly true in a book as classically rich as the Three Musketeers. The characters of D'Artagnan, Aramis, Athos, and Porthos are so beautifully described in the book, it was one real joy of reading the story overall. Cardinal Richelieu, too, took on so much more than the typical two-dimensional "evil villain" character; we see much more to his personality than a review of his schemes. I found him to be more interesting than the character of Milady, who could be counted upon to be nasty and deceitful in any circumstances. The plot is simple (revolving around the illicit romance of the queen and the Duke of Buckingham), relying upon the details to add the rich colors to the tapestry of the story. It is a wonderfully fun story to read, full of adventure, intrigue, comedy, romance, and plenty of swishing swords. It does not end tidily or even happily, and was more poignant to me for that reason.

I heartily recommend it!

Swordplay, espionage, soldiers, lovers, bravery and intrigue--there is plenty of romantic adventure in Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers to make it an enjoyable read. Dumas' prose, translated to English by Jacques Le Clercq, is easy to understand, even for 21st century readers, and he proves adept at depicting action, romance and subtle changes in mood.

But read Alan Furst's introduction, which describes Dumas as "a novelist of virtue," and you will get a very different story than you might expect. The musketeers and D'Artagnan spend the early chapters engaging in petty quarrels that end in sword fights and injury or death. D'Artagnan impersonates a woman's lover out of lust and vengeance, manipulating the affections of her servant and forsaking his own mistress whom he has sworn to protect in the process. One might read these events as the exploits of loveable, good-natured rogues, yet I find it hard to see why the musketeers' aims outweigh those of Cardinal Richeliu, against whom they are pitted for much of the story. And in the end, unable to vanquish Richeliu (a historical figure), the musketeers judge and execute their other enemy in a sham trial and sentencing.

In other words, read The Three Musketeers for a fast-paced 17th century adventure, but don't expect to admire its heroes.

What a fabulous, rousing, swashbuckling adventure! I had seen movies or bits of movies before and had always been a little confused with what I was seeing. I wanted to read the book simply because it is a classic, but I was intimidated because I felt it would be boring and that I would get bogged down. Nothing be further from the truth!

At the start, Dumas makes comparisons to "Don Quixote" and the whole novel has the same feel of adventure that great novel has. The exploits of Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan are engrossing and compelling. There are times when these characters made me laugh and times when they frustrated me, but they always kept me entertained. I did not want this book to end!

Although the book is long, it truly does not seem that way at all. Dumas brings these characters to life so well, the reader will not think they were merely fictional. A thoroughly delightful, delicious novel to totally lost in!

This is not a good audible version of the book. It skips through about what should be 20 hours of material.. Significant book material! Rhank goodness i had read the first 3rd of the book so i could tell huge sections were being skipped! Be warned! There are at least 2 other titles out there that have the full

Alexandre Dumas (pere) (1802-1870) wrote this classic swashbuckling adventure story in monthly installments in 1844. The story tells the tale of the young Gascon D'Artagnan who goes to Paris where he eventually is elected to serve in the elite Musketeers who guarded King Louis XIII. The novel tells us one exciting adventure after another in a melodramic mix of love; warfare (the siege of the Protestant fortress of La Rochelle by the forces of the King and Cardinal Richelieu and spicy intrigue. The evil Lady De Winter (known as Milady) who weaves her spidery web around fatuous lovers in an attempt to gain power and wealth. She even seeks to seduce D'Artangan. She is one of the best villianesses in literature; her fate is grisly and very well deserved!

We also witness the machinations of the Machiavellian Cardinal Richelieu and learn the fate of the Duke of Buckingham who is a minister of Charles I of England. Buckingham falls victim to the evil Milady.

If you want depth of character and intellectual stimulation there are novelists who will better serve your needs that the immortal Dumas! If, however, you want to read the granddaddy of all swashbucklinig books then Dumas is your author. The book is better than all the movies based upon it. There are sexual situations described which make it an adult novel.

I have read this classic several times enjoying it each time. Dumas' novel deserves it reputation as a great adventure yarn!

Dumas is deservedly famous for his intricate and engrossing novels, and The Three Musketeers is certainly no exception. As far as classics go, this one is among the most fun that you'll ever read.
The novel follows the protagonist D'Artagnan as he tries to join the French king's elite bodyguard unit, the Musketeers. D'Artagnan befriends three current Musketeers (Porthos, Athos and Aramis) and what follows is a fast-paced literary romp as the four friends share a series of swashbuckling adventures in 17th century France. The plot is full of twists and turns but is cleverly developed and believable. Dumas expertly develops the characters, engaging the reader as the characters experience war, love and just about everything in between.
The edition I'm reviewing (the Illustrated Junior Library version) is highly abridged (300 pages vs over 600 pages) and has many beautiful illustrations, making an already fun novel even more accessible for young readers.

Three Musketeers is Dumas's much-adapted novel about a young man seeking to join the King's elite guard (the Musketeers) in 17th Century France. The young man, Aramis, quickly runs into three of the Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and hilarity ensues.

Three Musketeers features one of the greatest female villains I have ever encountered in fiction. Cardinal Richelieu is the more typical foil in adaptations, but Milady is the true danger to the four friends.

Three Musketeers has a surprising paucity of swashbuckling. It's a splash of intrigue, a pinch of swordplay, and fill with spoiled, upper class young men behaving badly. But it's fiendishly entertaining.

The free Kindle edition is an able translation, and I noticed few, if any, typos.

Although I'm a lover of historical fiction, especially the 19th century historical romances (read "historical adventures"), I'd never read this one. So I figured I had to finally attempt such a classic of the genre. Well, it was enjoyable but not really first class, I'm sorry to say. Not up there with IVANHOE or THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (which, itself, is somewhat flawed) or H. Rider Haggard's ERIC BRIGHTEYES, to name a few. Dumas' famous classic is a tale of a young country bumpkin of the lower Gascon nobility come to the big city (Paris) to make his fortune (by joining the king's elite guard, known as the Musketeers). He quickly stumbles into trouble, even before reaching Paris, and never manages to get clear of it again as one thing leads to another. He hooks up early on with three Musketeers of the guard whom he inadvertently offends and then, rather than dueling each to the death as they demand and he agrees to, he ends up, purely by circumstance (and his naive loyalty to the king), on their side. This all leads to further intrigue and mayhem including a somewhat episodic adventure taking D'Artagnan (our hero) to England on the Queen's urgent business, to foil the Cardinal who is the king's highest and most relied-on minister, and the Queen's enemy at the same time. And the king's sporting competitor in matters of state and the military to boot! There is a sub-plot as well with a scheming and avaricious lady who works for the Cardinal and who has her own fish to fry, and lots of kidnappings and sword fights in the mix. But the characters never really come to life. D'Artagnan and his three friends in the Musketeers are cleverly written and bigger than life but hardly full-blooded or anything but one-dimensional. And D'Artagnan, himself, seems oddly simple and yet, inevitably is described as the cleverest of the four companions who are all a good deal older and more experienced than he is. More strange is D'Artagnan's skill with the sword. From the first he is described as being awkward and somewhat untutored, even in weaponry. Yet, from his initial crossing of swords, he inevitably bests all comers, no matter how much more experienced or skilled they are described as being. In fact, he seems to be the equal of, or superior to, his three Musketeer companions, surpassing them in this skill as he surpasses them in intelligence and cleverness. And yet he is an utter dolt in his dealings with women, a veritable mooning adolescent in the face of the the women he falls for. Nor do the women get treated particularly well by the writer, for their part. I suppose it was the convention of the times but they are all either beautiful and helpless (downright simple, actually) or they are beautiful and deadly. But never do they seem particularly real, from the Queen to Milady to D'Artagnan's objet d'amour, to the lovely servant girl who hankers after D'Artagnan, nearly as moon-eyed as he is about his fancied mistresses. All very strange indeed. I suppose the book broke ground in its time and it is somewhat fun to read, especially after the first third which takes rather a long time to set up all the plot dynamics. But I must say I was frustrated no end by the mindless meanderings and utterly frivolous actions of the four companions as they proceed through their adventures. I mean why would trained soldiers gamble away perfectly good, indeed outstanding, English mounts which they had been gifted, knowing how dear these were and how necessary to men like them? My favorite part of the tale, however, was the four friends' picnic under the Huguenot guns so perhaps this was just in character for them. But what characters!

SWM
author of The King of Vinland's Saga

What can you say about this classic that hasn't already been written? The Cardinal and his men, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'artagnan.....there's lots of drinking, fighting, and nonstop action. If you haven't heard anything about this book; you must be seven years old. If you haven't read this book, though, it is one of the greatest book's written in the English language. The kind of book that makes a teenager want to go on adventures as a Royal Musketeer, or risk death in a dangerous swordfight. (This version is as good as any other.)

1 When I got this book, the name seemed very familiar. `Three Musketeers' was a phrase used by people to describe any trio of friends indulging in some activity or enterprise. Then I came to know about the movie made on the story of this book with the same name.
2 Initially, this book did not interest me at all. What a funny kind of language it has is what I thought. I wondered as to why it is such a famous classic when I am unable to find first few pages so interesting. But when I convinced my mind that this must be the language of times to which the book belongs (1844) and proceeded, It was evident why it is a classic. Masterly woven story line and plot. Thrill of not knowing what to expect next, the intrigue of the French court, helplessness of the Queen and power of the Cardinal all add to the boiling pot of this book's plot. Rise of its commoner hero D' Artagnan through intelligence, luck, hard work and musketeer friends has been convincingly developed. Even after long time from its release in 1844, `Three Musketeers' holds the readers captive till the very last page. A MUST READ.

I am listening to this unabridged on CD.

I'm halfway through and am disappointed when my commute is over because this is such a page-turner (or CD-changer).

It starts out as if it is just going to be a lot of silly duels but rapidly becomes an exciting tale of political intrigue at the highest levels, situational ethics, a wry look at the ruling classes, and a lot of cliffhangers and derring-do.

The ethical shortcomings of the heroes and heroines are also a nice touch. These shortcomings humanize them and thereby make them more sympathetic. The main hero is lusting after someone else's wife and doesn't care when the husband is arrested, the Duke of Buckingham lusts after the Queen of France. But you like them partly because the people they are fighting against are so evil and powerful (and happen to be led by a Cardinal.)

I've had more fun reading "The Three Musketeers" than I've had with any book in a long time, and my only regret is that I didn't find Dumas sooner. It's bursting with swordplay, political intrigue, romance, fortunes won and lost, mistresses kept and stolen, poisoned wine, devious nobility, and vengeance sought and attained. What more could a reader ask for? While "The Three Musketeers" isn't the most intellectually challenging book ever written (though it does offer, in passing, the occasional insight into the human race) it might be the best guilty-pleasure book of all time. And while it's long, not a word is wasted.

Is there a more intriguing villainous in literature than Milady? A more fascinating hate-him-one-moment, forgive-him-the-next character than Cardinal Richelieu? And that's not to ignore d'Artagnan, who, with a youthful foolhardiness and energy that eventually gives way to gravitas, only the hardest-hearted reader could not love. And while Porthos, Aramis and Athos may spend most of the book as flat characters (and I'm using that term the same way E.M. Forster does, not as an insult but to distinguish them from multifaceted "round" characters) they each have their more complex moments, Athos especially.

I do have one minor complaint about "The Three Musketeers." While the long section detailing Milady's imprisonment by her brother-in-law is a fine story on its own, it does tend to drag on too long, mostly because it causes readers to spend too much time away from the Musketeers. And while Milady's corruption of Felton does interest, we as readers don't spend enough time with him ahead of it to really feel as bad as we should. But this is a minor quibble. As should be obvious by my five stars, which I give unreservedly, I really did love the book on the whole.

THere is a reason that most classics are regarded as classics: they are timeless and very fun to read, often far more interesting fun than you would imagine. THis is a long book, 900 pages in the French version, but I sliced through so fast that I was sorry when it ended.
The plot outline is simple. The four musketeers - for there really are four - want to help the queen in her love for Lord Buckingham of England. All the rest is intrigue and adventure related to that. But the episodes are so funny, the chemistry between the characters so subtle and realistic, that it makes for a truly great read. Indeed, the characters of the musketeers are so well drawn, their inter-relations so complex, that a film or even a miniseries simply cannot do it justice. The glimpses at historical personnages is also fascinating, from Richelieu to Louis XIII. Finally, you get a flavor for the Paris of that epoch, with the rumbling of the religious wars in the background. But this is not a dark book, Like the Reine Margot: it is a great frolic of brotherhood and good guys and bad guys. Taken for what it is, it is one of the greatest.
Highly recommended.

This was one of my favorite books, growing up. Dumas created a fast-paced, intriguing story of passion, friendship, treason, and politics. Who could forget the irresistible force of the four friends: the clever hothead D'Artagnan, so young and full of initiative; the cunning and calculating Aramis; the naive and good-natured Portos, with his superhuman strength; and the wise, disillusioned Atos, still full of inner strength amid his drinking. The main love story of the book is not that compelling. It somehow pales amid all the action. There are also a few chronological inconsistencies in the book that resulted from Dumas' neck-breaking pace of writing books. But these can be easily overlooked along with a somewhat unrealistic course of events. This still is a fabulous, entertaining story. The book's strongest appeal is to the readers in their teens.

I finally finished it. Over seven hundred pages. And I finished it.

It was fantastic. Plots and schemes. Duels. Men thrown in prisons. Gambling. Sword play. Admirable women and treacherous women. Friendships among men. Loyalty. Struggles for power.

My favorite read of the year. Not sure anything else could even come close.

To be honest, that really surprises me. I never dreamed I would love The Three Musketeers like I do.

Ever read something you'd expected to hate but found yourself loving?

What A Beautiful Start To Dumas' Masterpiece Collection!

The Young Man D'Artagnon Sets Off To Join The Musketeers-Loyal Bodyguards To His Royal Highness Louis XIII.But In The First Adventure It Is The Queen's Honor That Needs Saving.And The Four Bodyguards-Aramis,Athos,D'Artagnon And Porthos-Gloriously Pursue Intrique Upon Intrigue To Protect Her.Along The Way Are Many Freinds And Foes Which Are All Fully Fleshed Out Important Characters.Lord And Milady DeWinter,Madame Bonacieux,Kitty,Queen Anne Of Austria,-Whether They Are Helpers Or Hinderers They Are All Beloved Characters.
The Evil Milady DeWinter Plots With The Dastardly Cardinal Richeliu To Ruin Queen Anne's Reputation By Exposing Her Paramour The Duke Of Buckingham.Will They Succeed?Or Will The Swashbuckling Four Freinds Triumph Over Their Archenemies?As You Read To Find Out You Will Be Drawn Into Their Lives.
And The Best Part Is There Is More To Come,For This Is A Part Of A Six Book Cycle.So Settle In With An Adventure That Will Have You On The Edge Of Your Seats,Routing For The Dashing Foursome.

Five Stars And Many More...

I think this little book is great, I have several others from this series (That I have yet to read, but plan to). Having read the source material first I had no problem following along with the great illustrations and very abbreviate account of the story. I have to say though for being about the size of maybe 3 of the chapters in the real book this covers almost everything. I certainly didn't miss any major scenes, and most of the minor characters made it in (except perhaps the musketeers personal servants).

The illustrations are great too--I wish the illustrator was credited in the book, but I haven't seen anything. Only thing I can gripe with here, is that I thought Milady wasn't all that pretty (She has a sort of silly hairdo).

Well worth the 1.25 I spent on this at the antique store.

Long lines wait impatiently outside book shops for the latest issue of the magazine Le Siecle. On the streets and in cafes Parisians talked excitedly about each new installment of the thrilling adventure story, The Three Musketeers. (Like many novels written in the mid-1800s, Dumas' novel was serialized in a magazine before being published as a book.)

The public quickly recognized that a new literary genre had appeared - a fast paced, action story based upon a historical event. Previous historical fiction now seemed slow, wordy, and even archaic.

What is even more surprising is that 150 years later The Three Musketeers remains widely popular, both in print and on screen. Exciting duels, close escapes, political intrigues, and chivalrous romance still capture the imagination of today's readers.

Today's public undoubtedly remembers more about French history - at least history according to Alexandre Dumas - from The Three Musketeers, and its sequels, than from high school and university classes. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis - and their friend D'Artagnan, the irrepressible, courageous, handsome young Gascon who aspires to become a Musketeer himself - are modern icons. Similarly, Dumas' portrayal of King Louis XIII, Queen Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Richelieu are decidedly more interesting than the dry, factual historical characters found in textbooks.

And it impossible to forget the enchanting, notorious, and dangerous Milady de Winter, one of the more dramatic and memorable character created by any author. I am somewhat disappointed that Milady is fictional.

Choices: There are several good translations of Three Musketeers, including paperbacks like the Bantam Classic and Signet Classic editions. The slightly more expensive Oxford World's Classics edition is also quite good, and it offers an extended introduction and other supplementary material. Trident Press offers an attractive, deluxe gift edition profusely illustrated with the original ink drawings by Maurice Leloir. This version is a reprint of an edition first published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Company in Boston in 1879.

Advice: I strongly caution you to avoid the abridged editions. The Three Musketeers is indeed a lengthy novel, but it is one that warrants reading in its entirety, especially if you might someday read one of its sequels, like Twenty Years After or The Man in the Iron Mask.

Are you ready for a grand adventure full of swordplay, love, and scandal? Are you ready for a book that will make you feel as if you've stepped into France during the time of Louis XIV? If you aren't I would suggest you stop looking at this book this very moment and go find something that more clearly suits your fancy.
Well, now that we have dismissed those who clearly aren't interested I would like to present to you the journey that this book presented to me. When I first began this book I almost put it right back down, simply because, what in the world is a Gascon? I knew what a garcon was, but a Gascon?Thankfully, I didn't put the book down. Realizing that this book wouldn't be simple read I mentally readied myself and dove in.
I warn you, throughout the reading of this book I may have caused myself head trauma because of the amount of times a character did something that caused me second-hand embarresment - d'Artagnan (don't EVER ask me to try and say that name aloud, I will butcher it) was the worst, even though he had random bits of sanity that made me really respect him.
Throughout this novel the characters were formed extremely well. They all had deep personalities that made you itch to know (and slap) them more, and each displayed some strong guiding motivation throughout. I, personally, couldn't relate very well to the characters because they have a different way of thinking, which was influenced by their time period, than I have. It didn't lower my respect for them though, it actually made me more interested by the way they thought things out.
Stepping into this book is like stepping into a new culture. At first your extremely confused as to what's going on and why people are doing/saying what they are, but after a while you adapt and come to love and respect it. I would encourage anyone who wants a challenge to read this book, I don't think you'll regret it.

I am a 26 year old guy who loves a good adventure story. This is the begining of the BEST adventure series I've come across. The charaters are witty, brave, and idealistic. D'Artagnan is just starting out in this worldand has just come to Paris from his home in Gascony. He hopes to join the Kings personal guards the the famous Musketeers. There he meets Porthos, the simple, vain, but loyal Giant. He meets Aramis, the Musketeer with ambitions of becoming a priest. And he meets Athos, the great noble who drinks to forget his past. This is the first story of these great men. It is followed by it's sequels Twenty Years After, and Vicomte De Bragelone (which is acutally three volumes, the first being the name of the story, the second is Luise de la Valiere, the last being the Man in the Iron Mask).

A few months ago I was in the mood to read a good classic, and stumbled across Alexander Dumas' famous narrative The Three Musketeers in a bookstore.

This story has everything you would ever want: romance, camaraderie, heroism, and, above all, adventure.

D'Artagnan is a young boy who dreams of becoming a famous musketeer (the soldiers who protect the king of France in the 17th century). Along the way to achieving this dream, he finds, in Paris, the musketeers disbanded by the evil Cardinal who hopes to undermine the King's reign and rule France on his own. With the help of three famous Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, D'Artagnan fights to protect the King and his throne.

The Three Musketeers is written with such eloquence and style that it is obvious why it has gone down in history as a distinguished novel. The sword fights are described with such magic that you feel you are standing with Athos and Porthos to fight the Cardinal's guards.

As a hopeless romantic, I am always looking for a great romance. So if there is one negative, it would be the love story. I don't want to give away the ending. But as an avid reader of Jane Austen, if the lovers don't end up happy and together, I finish the book feeling unfulfilled. Dumas does, however, compensate with the wonderful relationship of the band of musketeers. Even though in the end they follow their own paths, you know they will always be able to rely on each other.

In all other regards, The Three Musketeers is excellent. It leaves you exhilarated and reminds you that true friends come together in troubled times.

After seeing numerous film adaptations of Dumas' immortal work, I had to read the book itself. I was not disappointed. While it is certainly lengthy dense (and, thus, not for everyone), The Three Musketeers cannot but enchant.

The story is well-known: In 17th-century France, D'Artagnan, a young Gascon of a minor family, comes to Paris to seek his fortune as a member of the king's Musketeers. In attempting to do so, he meets or runs afoul of Rochefort and Milady DeWinter - creatures of the scheming Cardinal Richilieu - and the unforgettable Musketeers: the brooding Athos, religious Aramis, and jaunty Porthos. They form an easy brotherhood and fall into foiling the Cardinal's plots while they themselves try to impress their various mistresses and scrape by financially. The book is more than just a great adventure - Dumas also adroitly discusses the class structure of the day, parodies the religious wars of the 1600s, and skewers academic scholarship. A wonderful, rich read.

I decided to read this book because I loved Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo. The Three Musketeers was an heroic tale with excitement, action, and surprising twists. I found myself cringing while reading about the life styles of the Musketeers. One would always find the Musketeers gambling way anything they could get there hands on including their lives without a second thought. I found the book easy to read except for the beginning and middle parts with the actual historical events. I did really enjoy the book, but I did not relate with any of the character. Meaning, through out the book any decisions the characters would have to make, they would always choose the exact opposite one that I would. It was kind of like watching a horror movie.

This book was written by French author Alexandre Dumas père in 1844. It's quite a long story: paperback versions have over 400 pages. Dumas has written two sequels to this book: 'Twenty years later' (1845) and 'The vicomte de Bragelonne' (1847).

The story is partly based on true facts. The figure D'Artagnan is based on Charles de Bast de Castelmore, count of Artagnan. He was a musketeer in the service of King Louis XIV and died during the siege of Maastricht (The Netherlands) in 1673.

Set in the early 17th century this book tells the story of 4 musketeers: Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. Musketeers were guards to the King. The book narrates the adventures of these four young men. They get involved in: betrayal, lies, assassinations, true friendship, love, kidnap, fighting, and the conspiracy by Cardinal Richelieu to overthrow the King. In this story the brotherhood between men is portrayed as one of the most important values in life. This adventure/historical novel is an entertaining story.

This book is available for free on the web.

The Three Musketeers should be recommended just on the ubiquitousness of the story in pop culture. Luckily, the story is good that its worth reading. For those who have only a passing familarity with Dumas and the three musketeers a few notes.

1) The movies I've seen are nothing like the books.

2) Dumas was a french playwright and author, and was paid by installment for novels, which is probably why his novels are so long, but you almost don't notice because there is always stuff happening to move the plot. Also, Dumas based most of his works on history so Cardinal Richelieu, King Louis, Anne of Austria are real people, and some events did occur - but Dumas stretches things to tell good stories. Its basically historical fiction.

3) There are 5 books about the musketeers - I think it was originally a trilogy but the last book was so long it was broken into 3 parts. You can read only the first, or the first two and stop without cliff hangers, but the last three should be read together. The chronological order is The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, then Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and the Man in the Iron Mask. Don't read the Man in the Iron Mask without reading the prior books - its so much better with the whole story.

Now, as for the story itself. Dumas is good at making characters and moving the action of the story. His characters don't develop in the traditional sense, and I think in the later books some of the musketeers are very two dimensional. Three Muskeeters is short, full of adventure, and D'Artagnan learns and grows throughout the book. There is some sex, and morality flaws in the book, but nonetheless I recommend it for young readers as well, preteens should be able to handle the content of this book. I think this book is great especially for young boys/teens who don't enjoy reading that much because it is so straightforward and full of adventure.

We took this unabridged, audio book in the car on a long road trip. It starts a little slow, but before long, everyone is captivated and engrossed. Our car had a 12 year old girl, and a 14 year old girl in it and adults and the whole trip went faster and was more pleasant because of how time flew listening to this well-read/performed edition. I also appreciated how wonderful the vocabulary is. Well done. Plus, I believe there was less bickering amongst the children because they were listening to the book and not picking on each other out of boredom. Great story. Educational, engrossing, well-read. There's a reason this is a classic.

Vast and sprawling, Dumas' classic tale of adventure and intrigue is refreshing in its humor and magnificent in its description. Perhaps misnamed The Three Musketeers, the novel is in many ways a bildungsroman in that most of the story's central focus is on the eager young D'Artagnan, as he progresses from wildly immature hothead to experienced warrior. At nineteen, D'Artagnan is young enough that his story could even be classified as adolescent literature. D'Artagnan is not a Musketeer for most of the novel; when he first arrives in Paris at the beginning, his goal is to join the King's elite guards, but his father's letter of introduction has been stolen, and he is told that he must prove himself in order to obtain a commission in the Musketeers.

After initially attempting to duel Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, the three Musketeers of the title, D'Artagnan eventually comes to view these men as his best friends. Much of the conflict in the book revolves around the four friends' attempts to thwart the machinations of the infamous Cardinal Richelieu and his chief minion, a breathtakingly beautiful and mysterious woman known as Lady De Winter.

At this point it would be helpful to spend a few minutes discussing the Cardinal's elusive spy. Lady De Winter is an interesting study, more so than the firebrand turned veteran D'Artagnan, in that unlike him she doesn't make sense. At times D'Artagnan seems a trifle shallow and overly consumed with dreams of entering the Musketeers and either making love to or rescuing beautiful women, but he is complex and believable enough to be a unique and likeable hero. Lady De Winter, on the contrary, is an extraordinarily passionate flat character. It isn't that she has no flaws: she has nothing but flaws, and no virtues whatever. A lovely exterior masking only explosive rage and utterly ruthless manipulation and deception, Lady De Winter is an entertaining character, but in no way sympathetic. This is unfortunate, because while she is consistent and fanatical, she is never completely believable inasmuch as there doesn't seem to have ever been any abuse or tragedy in her life to so distort her character, nor does she ever display any real pain or remorse. She is a sociopath with fascinating origins that seem to consist entirely of a list of her treacheries rather than any kind of cause behind her evil.

Strangely enough, Dumas himself seems intrigued enough by her to devote chapters upon chapters to her temporary incarceration in England towards the end of the novel. Every thought and emotion of Lady De Winter is burned across the canvas of the story in livid flame as the narrative shifts from D'Artagnan's perspective to hers without warning. Yet still there remains a curious absence of cause on her part. The Lady seems to be motivated by a love of power, by survival instincts, and even by love of money and hatred of those who have thwarted her, but she is utterly without compassion, remorse, or even a genuine experience of real suffering, it seems, and the reader is left wishing that Dumas had taken just a few out of the hundreds of sentences describing her to imbue her with some kind of powerfully believable or even minimally empathetic motivations. Conversely, if Dumas had persisted in his wild, passionate Lady caricature, he could then have cut out the multiple chapters describing her incarceration in such minute detail. The details are genuinely fascinating, but the incarceration is simply the result of a warning sent by the Musketeers to England and could be adequately covered in several paragraphs rather than chapters. Lady De Winter's inner thought processes, though intriguing, serve no real purpose other than heightening the drama of the work. Her passions do not cause the reader to understand her better, hate her more, or pity her, anymore than the reader previously did since the Lady's first appearance in the novel.(And regrettably Dumas has ensured, deliberately or not, that sympathy for such a woman is simply irrational.) Dumas' women are not all as bizarre as Lady De Winter: the beautiful and good Mercedes in The Count of Monte Cristo is both far more empathetic and believable. Lady De Winter, in contrast, is far more interesting. However, despite the intense drama of the ending chapters on Lady De Winter, the narrative perspective shift from D'Artagnan and his friends to the Lady towards the end simply doesn't make sense, disrupts the narrative, and comes across as Dumas' attempt to provide some kind of action during the few days that D'Artagnan and his friends were apparently doing nothing worth mentioning.

D'Artagnan experiences genuine and unexpected tragedy in the course of his exploits, helping to shape the story into a more serious bildungsroman as opposed to merely a wild adventure. His friend Athos has been powerfully shaped by tragedy himself, and contributes a mesmerizing secondary character study and subplot. The story closes with the achievement of D'Artagnan's initial dream, neatly wrapping up the narrative, but with just enough realism to be believable and not too much to change the adventurous tone of the story; Dumas makes clear that D'Artagnan's ambition cost him far more than he could ever have suspected in the beginning. The adventure of the story is highly creative and genuinely humorous, drawn with the exquisite detail for which Dumas is justly famed. Reminiscent of Dickens in period, humor, and style, Dumas differs most significantly from his English contemporary in his focus on adventure and the abundance of love affairs, most of which are illicit, that sweep across his pages.

While it is thankfully not a copy & paste of the free Gutenberg Project version of the text, this version of The Three Musketeers has some odd editing and layout issues. As such, I can't really recommend it over a version like the Penguin Classics edition, but it's better than most of the 99 cent versions of this book littering the Kindle search results for this book.

The Three Musketeers was a good book. Maybe it’s because of the title or for some other reason, but prior to reading this book, I thought it was mostly humorous, and I think other people have that perception as well.

This is not a comical book. The beginning does start off light and comical, but the middle and end are deep and I would even say dark.

For me, I felt that one of the major themes of this book was to communicate and show that beautiful women can be very dangerous.

If you read one adventure novel in your life, this should be it. The Three Musketeers has been adapted to stage and screen many times, but no adaptation has ever done the book justice. This is one of a handful of books that I have finished reading only to immediately begin it again. Don't let its age turn you off! Even though it's a 'classic', it's not a dull or difficult read; the prose is quick and snappy, with great one-liners and turns of phrase that put even the best of action movies to shame. The characters are so rich and vivid that they will soon seem like old friends, and I can promise that this is a book you want to own, so that you can read it over and over again.

The only impressions I had about the novel were from the parodies that Hollywood had created. No sooner had I read the first chapter than I had fallen in love with not only Dumas's style but with D'Artagnan as well. This tragic yet action filled novel is a page turner. Once you begin reading you can't stop. The honor of the queen is at stake and the only one left to help is the young rapscallion D'Artagnan. In a tale of himself and his three witty friends, Aramis, Athos, and Porthos, they embark on an adventure to return honor to the queen and shame upon the cardinal. Yet to succeed the four friends must avoid the plots and schemes of Rochefort and Milady, the cardinals esteemed colleagues. The end is a tale of love lost, honor gained, and friendships forged. The Three Musketeers is truly a tale that cannot be passed up.

Yes this classic lived up to its expectations. I did over look how fast the hero D'Artagnan developed from a country pumbkin to French hero. The most notable character was the female villain known as M'Lady. The author did an excellent job to develop her character. I grew a genuine dislike for her. The intrigue was steady and the suspense wasn't revealed until the very last pages. I am embarrassed to say I didn't recognize D'Artagnan name until after a few dozen pages. I was thinking D-Art-a-Gan. You have to stretch a little to remember our hero is meant to be a swashbuckler. He is as ready to fight as any hero you'll ever find.

I'm the guy who wrote the adaption for the monterey soundworks audio cassette version of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers. Just to explain what the product isn't: it isn't a book on tape. What it is: is a dramatization of the story with many different voice acters, sound effects and original music. The story is brought to life through the characters and the action. What you don't get is some English guy reading to you out of the book. You will hear the clash and clatter of the swords as the Musketeers battle the cardinal's dreaded guards. The sound of the horses' hooves and the carriage wheels upon the french cobblestone streets will reverberate throughout your car or home.
Remember, this is an adaption, which means the story is presented in a media other than the original novel. Some material, of course, had to be left out. I am proud of this adaption and how faithfully it delivers the bulk of Dumas' exciting adventures with D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers. Any other adaption I've seen always focuses on a very small part of the novel or something other than what the story is really about. Musketeer fans, I believe, will be pleased. The monterey soundworks cassette version also serves as a great introduction for those who have not befriended our intrepid friends, Athos, Porthos, Aramis and of course, D'Artagnan. Give it a listen and email me at [email protected] and tell me what you think.

For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga:
In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!).
The reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series!
I highly recommend this series from Oxford University Press containing the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books. The notes are located in the back of each book so as not to slow down the flow of the text. Most of the notes give additional info on historic characters and places. And a few point out that Dumas was a better storyteller than historian, as keeping dates seems to be such a nuisance!

okay I cant believe any publisher would print a 56 page book and pass it off as one of top 20 sellers of all time. I thank the store.com for including that bit of information on this page as I was looking for a version I can read. interestingly, the original was written in French, so why aren't people offering various translations of the text.

A few reasons that this book is worshipped by many of its readers, including me.
1. It's the quintessential story of friendship. Many, many sets of good friends over the years have called themselves musketeers, and this novel is why. The four main characters have unforgettable but distinct personalities.
2. No one had ever written action-adventure the way Alexandre Dumas did.
3. Very witty dialogue. Each character has his own brand of humor, making this book even more fun than it otherwise would be.
4. Very evocative of the time period in which it is set.
READ THIS BOOK! I reccomend it to anyone.

This was a fun book to read. Period. You won't find any deep philosophy or serious exploration of existence in this little treasure. All you get is murder, mystery, good vs. evil, swashbuckling duels.......need I say more? This book reads like a comic strip as it hurls you into 17th century France where you need to be prepared to draw your sword at the drop of a hat (or handkerchief, as the case may be). Don't get me wrong, although it may be a little campy, this classic adventure still has an engaging story line and great characters. So if you are a bit tired of your mundane life, pick up this novel, yell "Engaurd!", and follow the musketeers through all the twists and turns of this must read.

My first book by Dumas was The Count of Monte Cristo. Loved it so thought I'd try another. Hard to beat the suspense and plot of Cristo and The Three Musketeers just can't quite do it (hence the four stars).

If you've seen Hollywood renditions of the story, I'm sure they fail to do it justice as in the case of Monte Cristo. These plots, while very intricate and full of twists, still lack some of the necessary Hollywood qualities (like the guy getting the girl).

This is definitely a long book and there are even a few times where it can get boring as the author seems to get off track. Also, a little bit of history is necessary to understand some plot elements and the author does not give you the historical background

Highly recommended for a light, fun read.

Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers is a thrilling tale of courage, loyalty and love. Anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, intelligent adventure will be intrigued by this story, centered around a young man from the country, D'Artagnan, on his quest to join the ranks of the king's musketeers and later to win the heart of the woman he loves. The story begins in a small town in France in the 17th century. D'Artagnan leaves his country home with hopes of joining the king's Musketeers in Paris. Here he finds three lifelong friends and companions--Athos, Porthos and Aramis--for which the title of the book was given. Together with D'Artagnan, they help thwart the plans of Cardinal Richelieu, the king's advisor and rival, as he plots against the queen, the king, and the musketeers throughout the book. Undoubtedly, The Three Musketeers comes complete with its heroes, villains, surprises and scandals that will captivate readers throughout the world. Alexandre Dumas uses the theme, characterization, and symbolism to appeal to a broad universal audience.

Alexandre Dumas uses close father-son relationships in The Three Musketeers, between different characters to illustrate the theme of friends are like family. One of the most outstanding father-like roles is played by M. de Treville, the captain of the king's Musketeers. He protects his courageous musketeers by vouching for and advising them. In his own words he teaches D'Artagnan, "A captain is nothing by a father of a family, charged with even a greater responsibility than the father of an ordinary family. Soldiers are big children" (30). M. de Treville cares about his men as if they were his own sons. He maintains a close relationship with them and helps guide them in the way they should go. Readers everywhere can identify with M. Treville's relationship with his men, in that they must look after others as others look after them. "M. de Treville was the father of his soldiers. The lowest of least known of them, as soon as he assumed the uniform of the company, was as sure of his aid and support as if he had been his own brother" (148). The company is described here as being a family, with M. de Treville as the father figure. Not only does he play this role in D'Artagnan's life but also in the lives of the other soldiers he has authority over.

Athos is another of the many father characters in this novel. He is the eldest of his three companions, and rightfully would assume this role. His friends, like children, turn to him for advice. Not only does Athos advise his three companions on the whole, but also individually. This relationship is particularly strong between D'Artagnan and Athos. "D'Artagnan began by making his most splendid toilet, then returned to Athos's, and according to custom, related everything to him. Athos listened to his projects, then shook his head, and recommended prudence to him..." (323). D'Artagnan eventually decides not to follow this advice though he continually asks for Athos' guidance, much as a rebelling child would ask a father for advice and end up shunning it in the end. It is a common part of human existence to rebel against one's parents at some point or another. Although his advice at this point may have been ignored, Athos still had a huge influence in the life of D'Artagnan. Athos' continual wisdom, loyalty and distinguished intellect provide this book with another example of a father figure. Though there are many more links to father-son relationships in this novel, these two are definitely the most prominent. There is an overall theme of friendships bordering on the brink of family in their manner of relationships. This theme provides one of the driving forces for this novel, whether in the beginning between D'Artagnan and his true father, M. de Treville and his Musketeers, Athos and D'Artagnan, the Cardinal and his followers, or several other characters in this novel.

The characterizations in this novel are also strong. Though some can be classified as heroes and others as villains, all have their moments of triumph and blunder. One example of this is the main character, D'Artagnan. Although he is a hero in this novel, he is a deeply complex individual with faults and weaknesses as well as strengths. He offends and challenges his future friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis directly upon his arrival in Paris because of his headstrong discourtesy. This character trait is shown implicitly through his actions and speech when he comes in contact with others. Another multifaceted character is Athos. He is a melancholy man because of the past he attempts to hide from his companions. By far the most distinguished of all the musketeers, he guides them in wisdom. This characterization is shown directly through the way his companions speak of him. " `My dear Athos,' said Aramis, `you speak like Nestor, who was, as everyone knows, the wisest among the Greeks' " (467). In comparing Athos to Nestor, he is directly assisting in the characterization of Athos.

Finally, the main characters are symbols of courage and loyalty. Through the actions of D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, the reader gains a sense of their undying loyalty to the queen, the king, and each other. They show their loyalty to the queen by helping save her reputation. She secretly gives away a few diamond studs to the English Duke of Buckingham (who is in love with her), and the Cardinal finds out. He plots to ruin her by persuading the king to order her to wear them at an upcoming ball. The musketeers find out about this plot and ride quickly to England facing many dangers along the way to retrieve the two diamond studs. Their efforts effectively show their loyalty and courage. Another example of the musketeers being symbols of loyalty occurs on one of their missions; one by one each of the musketeers falls behind, except D'Artagnan. Once the task is completed, he goes back and searches for his companions, not stopping until they are all reunited. In this and other instances, the musketeers are shown as symbols of loyalty and courage.

The Three Musketeers, a brilliant action-filled novel, is an excellent read. The action and suspense provide the driving force of the novel, while the underlying relationships provide multifaceted characters who are easily identify with, as fantastic and extraordinary as their lives may be. As Dumas wove theme, characterization, and symbolism into his thrilling story, it became a treasure to last for generations. Truly this novel is a timeless attestation of the human experience that readers can relate to throughout the world.

Many books have had the word "classic" hung upon them for many reasons. Few though deliver the goods on as many levels as does this novel. This book is funny, alarming, exciting, sad, and thought-provoking. The three buddies are sort of seventeenth-century drunken brats with swords whose hearts are nevertheless in the right place and win through at the end to save an empire. There are places in the book that are simply funny, something that Hollywood has keyed on. There is a ridiculous aspect to the whole thing that is veiled only thinly in the book. The book has some really sad twists and the ending will make anyone think. At the end, though, most readers will agree that this book stands by itself and richly deserves the appellation "classic." The only reason I gave it four stars is because of the outdated language.

D'Artagnan was a young lad who wished to become a "servant" of the king. One day, he met three of the king's three faithful guards (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis) and was challenged by fighting. This is how the young lad met the three musketeers. After all these, D'Artagnan would accompany himself with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis by being at their side and causing trouble everywhere. Hoever, a little spoiled rat can be the hero in the book; it is D'Artagnan who discovered the secret plans of Cardinal Richelieu that might destroy the whole France.

This book is really amazing with the structure of the plot. It talks mostly about loyalty: loyalty to the king, loyalty to husband/wife, loyalty to friends, and loyalty to the nation. There are many interesting places where a problem is brought up, and then another problem will evade when the other problem has been solved.

Readers can easily have a picture on every stage of the book and the outward appearance of the characters. Dumas, the author, has really described each place and section of the book carefully with many adjectives while he is "weaving" the book. He can describe a thing so well that you won't have difficulty telling what happened in the book. This is really important in reading a book; it is difficult to read a book if you do not understand what is going on with the author's words.

While reading this book, readers may feel jumpy where there are many problems and exciting words, and readers really wish to keep reading. After I read the book, I discovered the importance of unity in a society and friendship; this book also provides you with many philosophical thoughts. This is a great book to read and the plot will still be in your mind while sleeping!

I have not read this entire translation, but I did review the sample chapter online. I compared it with the version with which I'm familiar, [...], and I must say, I much prefer the older to this one.

I distinctly remember, when reading the older, how amazing was the translation. I really wondered if Dumas had not translated it himself, so full of vocabulary and style. Its immensely powerful and almost orgiastic reading. Very heady stuff indeed. Some of the finest action/adventure literature ever produced.

The wikipedia entry says there were three original English translations - one still in print by William Barrow. I'm not sure if the one I read is his or not, but I'll tell you, its astounding in its style and ability. (And regardless of whether Pevear's comments about them being "textbook examples of bad translation practices," the one I read is FANTASTIC!)

Dumas was the KING of this kind of writing. Absolutely beyond anything of its day, or since. It is storytelling at its finest, and I'm thinking most of the positive reviews belong to Mssr. Dumas, rather than Mr. Pevear.

It's difficult to write a review for this book having read the rest of the Musketeer Saga, not because I need to be careful about divulging information, but because the characters are so different from what they become. This book is set before Porthos becomes rich, before D'artagnan becomes disgruntled, and before Athos becomes sober. Having said that, I'll give it a shot.

The book starts out with D'artagnan, a young and talented swordsman from a small Gascon village, setting out alone to seek his fortune in Paris. At this point, D'artagnan is young and brave, and very thirsty to prove himself. This sometimes drives him to feats of imprudent and irresponsible bravery, to the effect that I couldn't help chuckling at his antics and cheering him on. He soon falls in with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and though his first encounters with them are not exactly friendly, they eventually become an inseparable foursome. The beginning of the book is rather lighthearted as D'artagnan and the reader get acquainted with the life of a Parisian guard and there are many fun duels with the Cardinal's Guard.

At some point, the story takes on a more serious tone as D'artagnan and his friends are drawn into intrigue while the scheming Cardinal Richelieu attempts to expose the queen (interestingly, the only character besides the four who is present for the entire saga) as an adulteress and further her own position. The adventures take D'artagnan from Paris to England to the siege of Rochelle, all in an attempt to stay ahead of the Cardinal and protect the queen's honor.

In addition to the musketeers tangling with Richelieu, there is also intrigue in their personal lives, which really makes up the main plot. Though I don't want to divulge too much, it revolves around the secret of Athos' true identity (all three actually have taken pseudonyms, leaving their true identities a mystery. Athos, however, is the only one central to the plot.) Apparently, he has some horrible secret in his past, which D'artagnan attempts to draw out of him with limited success. The personal intrigue story line ends with terrible tragedy, but as this makes a good backdrop for the ensuing four novels, I forgive Dumas for writing it that way.

In any case, D'artagnan is made a musketeer halfway through the story for his good performance in the palace Guard. The story ends as he finally thwarts Cardinal Richelieu's plots brilliantly. The Cardinal is so impressed that he forgives the young man and grants him the position of Lietenant of Musketeers (the same position we find an older and disgruntled D'artagnan occupying in Twenty Years After). Thus, the story has a bittersweet ending, and the the four friends part ways, not to meet again for twenty years.

All in all, this is an excellent book, though it is incredibly different from the ensuing volumes. The characters are different, the time period is different, Cardinal Richelieu is a very different character (and Dumas believes more noble one) from his successor, the Italian Cardinal Mazarin. This is also before Dumas takes us deep into his political philosophy on the glory of monarchy, and the story has a ligher feel than those following it.

The Three Musketeers is a masterpiece of deception, romance, treachery, and action. It follows a young hotheaded Gascon through his journey from his father's house to Paris and his adventures with the Musketeers, the king's personal bodyguards.
The Three Musketeers is action packed and rarely has a dull moment. Between the lives of the four friends Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan, and Aramis at least one of them is always between a rock and a hard place, and because of their motto: "all for one and one for all," they all are in tricky situations almost constantly.
I enjoyed this novel not only for its fast pace, but for the plot twists and the determination of everybody in the book. The friends don't rest until the orders of the royalty are carried out and the cardinal won't stop until the three musketeers (and D'Artagnan) are either killed or by some miracle in his service of armed guards.
The musketeers' commitment to their cause and to each other is at the least admirable and at the most incredible. The book is not only an action packed story of adventure and swordplay, but also a story of friendship and love. There are no bounds to the visual imagery in this book or the inventive ways these friends get into trouble and fight their way out.
This book is rightly a classic that will continue to be read as long as people are fascinated by romance and action. Once you pick The Three Musketeers up the action and deception never stops, so be prepared.

When I first got this book, I wanted to put off reading it because it's kinda long. Nothing I haven't done before, but school was going on, and I just wanted something to occupy my time. Bad idea for this book. As to the length, it flies by. I found myself on page 122 and it felt as if I'd just opened it up. The story is fun. That's not a word I generally use to describe a book I'm reading. The style is lacking compared to contemperaries such as Hugo, and there is no real "deep thinking" involved. It is pure escape literature, in it's finest form.

One of the most famous novels of all times, The Three Musketeers, was written by Alexandre Dumas. The famous adventures of the three courageous musketeers and their friend is known by children, teenagers, or adults through its various versions and film adaptations. This story has captivated a wide audience's interest, earning a place in the reader's heart and creating opinions of the highly acclaimed story.

The Three Musketeers begins by following a young Gascon, who aspires to become one of the King of France's musketeers, into the wilderness of the world outside of his hometown's boundaries. Known as d'Artagnan, this intelligent, strong, and tenacious young adult will meet all sorts of people and make his way in the world of sword fighting and political relationships. In order to become a musketeer, d'Artagnan must spend some time practicing in Monsieur des Essarts' company of guards. Coincidentally, d'Artagnan becomes acquainted with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, four characters that soon become his friends. Through the numerous duels and conversations, the reader will discover the tense relationship between the Cardinal and the Captain of the King's Musketeers, the Queen's love affair, personalities of the King, and the four friends. Undergoing financial difficulties, d'Artagnan finds a way to provide his friends and himself with money; he agrees to help Monsieur Bonacieux find his abducted wife. However, after Constance Bonacieux is returned, d'Artagnan finds himself attracted to this young and beautiful woman. To gain Madame Bonacieux's admiration and respect, d'Artagnan agrees to go to England and find a piece of jewelry that Queen Anne of France had given the Duke of Buckingham as a token of their love. After returning alive and successful, the young Gascon is rewarded with love and a valuable ring. In a rendezvous with d'Artagnan, Madame Bonacieux is abducted.

With the four friends back on their regular duties, their lives are hardly calm. After a duel with Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan receives the promise that he will be introduced to the Lord's his sister-in-law. Lady de Winter, or Milady, turns out to be a beautiful Englishwoman that has crossed paths with d'Artagnan in several secret missions. D'Artagnan falls in love with Milady and makes frequent visits. Milady turns out to be involved in Madame Bonacieux's second abduction and d'Artagnan decides to take revenge by pretending to be her lover, Count des Wardes. At private meeting between d'Artagnan and Milady that they both find out secrets about the other. D'Artagnan discovers that Milady is Athos' ex-wife and also a convicted criminal. Milady is enraged to find out that d'Artagnan has pretended to be Count des Wardes; she vows that she will kill him as her revenge. Following Monsieur des Essarts' guards departing to the siege of a fort, Milady tries to kill d'Artagnan by sending two guards to end his life. The four friends manage to get some time off-duty and plan to find Milady and Madame Bonacieux. Milady arranges the Duke of Buckingham's death, he dies a happy man knowing of the Queen's love for him. The four friends encounter Madame Bonacieux, poisoned by Milady. D'Artagnan is devastated after her death. The musketeers and d'Artagnan find Milady, and sentence her to death for her crimes. The Cardinal calls on d'Artagnan to sentence him; but the young Gascon's proves Milady a criminal and escapes being sentenced. The Cardinal is impressed with d' Artagnan and promotes him as the lieutenant of Musketeers.

Readers look for novels that captivate their interest and hearts, characters that are relatable to oneself, stories that provide interesting or exciting moments throughout. The Three Musketeers never fails to meet the reader's expectations. The book constantly provides entertaining moments. For instance, duels between the four friends and noblemen or with the cardinal's company of guards. The duels provide the reader with concern of the character's survival. The reader may also encounter conversations between the characters to be a source of amusement and entertainment. Conversations between pairs of lovers like Queen Anne and the Duke of Buckingham, Madame Bonacieux and Monsieur d' Artagnan, Monsieur Athos and Milady De Winter. Conversations that may result risky for a character or compromise someone's honor, never fail to amuse a reader and mixed with a touch of romanticism that never fails to attract readers of all ages. One of the novel's most interesting aspects happens to be the author's deep understanding of each of the character's personality and development throughout the story; for instance this brief glimpse of author's thought's and the character's humanity, "It was this fear that held him back; such is the powerful influence that a man of truly great character exercises on everyone around him." Brief additions from the author that remind the reader that the characters are also human beings and the reader will find it easy to relate to them. Several unique aspects spread out throughout a book will make a story captivating and successful. Such is the case of The Three Musketeers.

One of the book's most acknowledgeable features is its proximity to historic events. The reader will undeniably recognize and admire Alexandre Dumas' ability to incorporate fiction to real life events, location and time period. The author uses historical characters and gives them important roles, for instance King Louis XIII of France and his wife Anne of Austria, that veridically ruled France during the 17th century. The author gives a thorough description of the characters, their personalities, their affairs, and their priorities. A meticulous description is given of the time period, the buildings, the clothing and jewelry, the food, transportation, government, and currency. Despite having never been exposed to the late French culture, the reader is completely capable of picturing the aspects and rigorous details of life in France during the 17th century. The historic references are irrefutably one of the feature that distinguishes the book from any other classic.

No matter what reason the reader may have for opening the book in the first place, the reader is likely to find a pleasing narrative that will capture their attention. The book will stand out for its uncommon features and agreeable aspects. The author does and outstanding job at providing a brief entertainment to distract the reader from everyday life.

I think most people are wary of "classics", either because the writing style is hard to read, or they're "school reading", or just boring. I won't lie, to some extent these are true...I still despise Dickens or any book about life in a boarding school. However, this is far from one of those. I'll assume if you're reading this that you're not afraid of books, and also that you're somewhat familiar with the story already. So here's what you should know: this is a fast paced book, so don't worry about the page count. There's a little genre in it for everyone: some romance, some spy-novel intrigue, historical politics, and plenty of action. It was written in the 1800s, not the 17th century, so the writing's not tricky and there are plenty of footnotes about the context. All of that aside, I liked this as much as any modern novel I've read lately. If you're considering this, don't hesitate; it's cheap and it's good.

I first read this book at the urging of my brother when I had just finished college and learned that the common misconception of _The Three Musketeers_ as a children's book is deeply misplaced. Yes, children might enjoy the adventure, but this book is so much more than mere fighting. We follow the historical twists and turns of the French court, the control certain characters exercise over others, and the passions of love and betrayal. And in the midst of this, we get to know D'Artenian, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis like they were our own friends. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read, whether historical fiction, adventure, romance, or drama.

I knew nothing about this book before starting it. Believe it or not, I have never seen the movie or anything like that. But since I'm reading only classics this year, I decided to give it a shot. It was AWESOME! I couldn't put it down. Tons of action, a lot of comedy and a touch of romance. I plan to read the sequel.

I haven't read it entirely yet, but I am enjoying it. It definitely keeps me on my toes when I lay it down and then pick it up later. I have to read a few paragraphs that I've already read to get back into the flow.

I've seen several renditions of the story through the years, and finally read the original story. I've also been a long-time fan of author Steven Brust, who I have seen credit Dumas as an inspiration.
I'm glad I finally took the time to read the classic. It was worth it just for the dialog - clever, witty and always funny.
The story is only mediocre, however, and the wheels really seem to fly off at the end of the book, but overall a really fun story.

I love this book and I have read it a least a dozen times. It is such a grand adventure. Just an FYI for those that don't know. The Twenty Years After is the book that follows the Three Musketeers and is also a wonderful book. I think most people think the Three Musketeers is a stand alone book or that the one to follow is the Man in the Iron Mask, but many people haven't read or even heard of the Twenty Years After and if you like the Three Musketeers, then you should read the Twenty Years After and the Man in the Iron Mask as well.
Happy reading!

The novel beings by introducing one to D'Artagnan a young swordsman on his destiny to become a great Musketeer under the command under one of the most honored generals who is one of his fathers old friends. Our young Musketeer meets three friends on his way to greatness; they are the well known three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis On his journey to become a great musketeer he runs into some trouble. He constantly falls in love with women, and just when he finds one that he truly loves, the wife of his landlord, the evil and mischievous Cardinal kidnaps her. The four friends become very close and decide to go and save the beloved woman of D'Artagnan. While trying to find D'Artagnan's love the musketeers stumble onto a much bigger conspiracy between the Cardinal and the Queen of France who is secretly in love with the Lord Buckingham of England. But their journey is full of surprises and unexpected turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout your whole book. This is a great book to read if you are a fan of chasses and unexpected action. A lot of times you can't wait to pick up and read the book again because you want to see what is going to happen next and how it is going to turn out. The novels plot is very adventures, always keeping the reader on the edge of his seat. The descriptions the Dumas gives of the many battles and duels that take place are superb, and one of the best parts of the book. The glimpse that the reader gets into the past from this novel is fascinating for it is based somewhat on facts. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, it really is a classic.

Writing flowery words about this book is pointless. It's a classic no matter what anyone says. Just remember, it's not history, it's Alexandre Dumas' wild brain in print. If you can accept that fact, you're on your way to a book you'll read over and over again throughout your life. D'Artagnan is one of literature's all-time great characters -- along with Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan. Buy a copy of "The Three Musketeers" now.

The Three Musketeers is the first of the Musketeers' series by 19th century French novelist Alexandre Dumas also known by the Count of Monte Christo. This chivalry story is based upon the Louis XIV era France. It starts from the plight of D'artanian, reckless hero aspiring to become one of the Musketeers. Through the number of adventures he gains respect almost equal to the Musketeership. The three musketeers Aramis, Porthos and Athos are described so vividly that we can easily come up with our own image. (Aramis might be close to Guan Yu our hero from Chinese Epic 3 Kingdoms).

This particular one the real villain is beautiful woman named Milady who nearly encaptured the poor D'artanian. D'artanian keep outsmarting that lady with mysterious brand on her hand but Milady takes the harsh revenge at the last part. Evil Milady's escape from house imprisonment is excellently described.

Verdict: Truly entertaining novel particularly Milady escape part.

Rating: 91 out of 100

Recommended for: Chivalry tales fans who like Robin Hood, King Arthur, and The Romance of Three Kingsoms.

Thee best historical novel to start with if you haven't read many. One of the most entertaining and memorable reading experiences for me. Dumas writes of such camaraderie and real men which escapes the average reader. Forget the many bad movie-versions. They have never done justice to his original Three Musketeers novel. This version(translated by Richard Pevear,Penguin Classics Deluxe edition)also is the perfect size:not too small or cumbersome, with helpful notes also.

I loved reading The Three Musketeers! It's a classic adventure story, filled with swordplay, romance, and tragedy. I guess this book was the Hollywood blockbuster of its day. I liked the illustrations which added to my enjoyment

This is by far one of the best (if not the best) books ever written. The First in a Series of Five (The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The Viscount of Bragelonne, Louise de la Vallere, and The Man in the Iron Mask) Dumas does an incredible job of bringing you into his world of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artangan. Good for all ages and great for the adventerous. This book is a page turner. Certainly the best in the series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who dares to get hooked on Dumas.

Its a fast-paced book with few lulls, not 2 many dead moments. It is much funnier than I thought before picking it up, and the interaction between the 4 friends is classic. The style is brisk and light, often tounge-in-check. While long, it breezes by. But a few warnings: do not look at it with modern eyes. The value system is flawed (in addition Dumas has a habit of both glorifying & making fun of them nearly symultaneously) but this is not a book to read for a complex theme or deep thinking. To Dumas' credit, that is not at all what he set out to do, so its unfair when people hold that againist him. What this book is is a fun adventure that resists being put down.

This has been my favorite book for as long as I can remember - I can't find a single thing to criticize in Dumas' best book (I have read many of them - I also recommend The Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged!) and the Knight of Maison-Rouge).

A few years ago, a friend 'borrowed' my copy of the book and never returned it. Needing my own copy, I researched many of the available translations. I found this one to be the best. I've never read the French version, so I can't tell you how true it is to the original story as written by Dumas, but I can say that this book seems to have the most realistic, believable, and subtle character developments, and is a relatively easy read, unlike other translations that you have to labor through. I highly recommend this translation for anyone who wants to give this book a try. And if you decide to choose another translation, please make sure it is unabridged! You lose so much of the story by reading abridged versions!

One stupid rookie farmboy with a nice sword, 3 veterans, evil religious villains and wenches, enough beer and good swords means an outstanding good time, especially with the dry wit of Dumas. Crazy swashbuckling superskilled heroes, an evil controlling supervillain, crazy henchmen, a black widow, stupidity, sarcasm, and anything else you could want. Classic adventure.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a classic story of adventure, friendship, and bravery set in 17th century France. The tale follows the exploits of the young nobleman d'Artagnan as he travels to Paris and tries to join the king's musketeers. Soon after he arrives he accidentally offends three of these musketeers and arranges to duel all of them in the same day. Circumstance leads the swordsmen to refrain from killing d'Artagnan, and they quickly become friends. The young man's fighting spirit and almost foolish bravery lead the four into a series of adventures that test their friendship and make them into enemies of Cardinal Richelieu and his minions. I truly enjoyed this book, but more because of Dumas' unique and sometimes almost comedic voice than the storyline. The character dialogue is also wonderful, and the relationships and the ways the characters respond to one another is very realistic. While I think it is primarily a book for older children, it can be enjoyed by adults too. Younger children would have a harder time and would not comprehend, appreciate, or fully understand some of the parts. A deservedly well-known and loved example of classic adventure literature.

Richard Pevear's translation of the Three Musketeers is without a doubt the best I have ever seen. His translation makes the story flow much easier and makes the language much more intelligible to modern readers. My hope is that he continues to translate Dumas' other works where the Musketeers also make an appearance. I would recommend this book to those who have already read previous translations and those who are new to the works of Alexandre Dumas.

Being only an eigth grader and a thirteen year old, you may think I don't have very much experience with books. However, I have read The Three Musketeers, and I can easily say, it is the best book ever written. It is witty with 18th century humor. It has fencing, fighting, romance, betrayl, action, seduction, death, hatred, true love, and so much more. It is filled with creativity, and Alexandre Dumas has a wonderful style of writing that really lets him connect to the reader.
D'Artagan is a young Gason boy who wants to become a Musketeer. It follows him and his adventures with his three friends and fellow musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The journeys that the four of them take together are unforgettable. This book is a must read. It is hard to get into at first, but once you start reading, at least twenty pages, you have to finish.

By definition one of the most fluent authors of all time, Dumas has the ability to completely captivate a reader, and the unparalleled knack of tempting climax and changing scene-- both part of his style that is relentlessly addicting. If you feel this way at the finish of the tale, you must know that withdrawal is not necessarily imminent-- and the path is not directly to The Man in the Iron Mask.

I'm just making sure everyone is aware of the existence of the full D'artagnan Romances, a saga that continues with 20 Years After, Le Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, Ten Years Later, and finally, the Man in the Iron Mask. If anyone wishes to hold on to that Dumatic euphoria, the series should be read in its respective order, and order that perpetually thrills and writes itself in beautiful continuity.

I picked up this book because as a little kid I have always seen the movies and found them extremely entertaining. The book enhanced my knowledge of the three musketeers. It was brilliantly written with action packed adventurous scenes and a couple of twisting love stories. It was a long read I'd have to admit, but after those 700 pages or so I feel I really know each character. Dumas made them so dynamic and wonderful.

The Three (or more rightly, Four) Musketeers are now high among my list of all time favorite books. Why is this? It is because of the undermining tension between the forces of good and evil, the passion of true love, and the high adventure of the Musketeers. The story is based upon young D'Artagnan's quest to become a musketeer and seek fame and fortune. The novel follows a time in European history where religious and civil strife is everywhere, and The Musketeers must battle to save France and their own purses! There are moments of hilarity, sadness, passion, and a surprise ending thrown in for good measure. The way Dumas was able to twist the plot in so many directions was a marvel to me. I guarantee you will not be disappointed after reading this book; the characters will come alive and the drama will unfold.

The story starts out with a young naive Gascon by the name D'artagnan who goes to seek his fortune with the King's Musketeers. On his journey to Paris he has a tangle with a man named Rochefort whom D'artagnan chases throughout the book, along with his female companion Milady, a woman of pure evil.
He meets the Three Musketeers and they don't get off to such a great beginning as he finds himself preparing to fight a duel with all three of them. Eventually D'artagnan wins over Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and together the four set off on adventures to protect their majesty the queen (Anne of Austria) against the bad intentions of the cardinal.
It's all intigue and romance and swashbuckling! I loved it all, every sentence. And i love how M. Dumas twists history to his own literary devices.
I played hooky to finish reading this book!

Great book! I had read The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask many years ago as a teen, but never had read this Dumas tale until now. It has very little resemblance to popular Disney movie. It has humor, adventure, mystery, romance, and a great plot to boot.

without a doubt this is one of the best books i have ever read. the story is facinating and gripping the characters are amazing. the interaction between characters is brilliant. i have read it several times and enjoy it every time. if you enjoy the musketeer movies then give the book a read, will be well worth the effort.

Alexandre Dumas is one of the best writers who ever lived, and this book is one of the best books ever written. It is exciting, fast-paced, and chock-full of intrigue, love, treachery, and the like.
Describing the plot in detail is pointless. All you need to know is that it's a story of three musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and one naive young man who wants to be a musketeer: D'artagnan, and their adventures in 17th century Europe. It's swashbuckling good fun, and impossible to put down. I highly recommend the unabridged version, though the abridged is wonderful too. It doesn't matter who or where you are: If you can read, read this book. You'll never regret it. Enjoy!

The only reason I picked up the book was because it was one of "those" books in the school library. You wanted to read it for the points, but everybody who picked it up gaze up and put it back down. *I* even tried to read it once and gave up. But I'm always up for a challenge. The next year I checked it out and informed everybody I knew that I was going to be one of the first people in our school to read the book. Then I decided to begin reading.
The first couple pages are basically one long paragraph that doesn't make sense unless you're re-reading it and already know the characters and what's going on. I was tempted to put it down, but I wasn't going to back down. By about page 30, it was easy to read, and I began to get into it.
What I discovered was that this is possibly one of the best pieces of fiction ever written. I couldn't put it down, and spent a whole Saturday reading it. I never expected it to be what it was from what I'd read on the back. But then, the plot is so complex, and there are so many sub-plots that you wonder how anyone can do it justice.
I read once that many people associate the word "classic" with the word "boring". As I've discovered, this is entirely not true. When I thought about it, the reason books become classics aren't because they're old and boring, but because people love them, because they are read by millions. The reason that they lasted for so long is because people kept them alive. I'm sure that in a century from now, only a select few books that we enjoy will still be in print, and those particular books will be the best of our time, just as The Three Musketeers was the best of its time.
I'm sorry if this review didn't suffice, I'm just hoping that maybe somebody will read it and give it a try. So far I haven't talked anyone I know into reading it, but they're not bookworms like me. People are intimidated by its size, but from my experience, the best books are the largest. When an author really has a story to tell, one that you will enjoy, one that has a complex, satisfying plot, then it's going to be long.
Okay, I'm done lecturing anyone who got this far. :)

The Three Musketeers is a unique book. History and political events are woven into the plot of this clever book. I find the characters fasinating and feel like I already know these noble men. The loyalty of them is overwhemling. The illustrations capture the life of the book! I am in the middle of Dumas's next book, "Twenty Years Later" and am enjoying it too.I have read many books, and this is one of my personal favorites.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. Published by MobileReference (mobi)

The story is entertaining, full of action, and humorous. But it's the characters that make it such an enjoyable, memorable read: d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, Cardinal Richelieu.

Not as good as The Count of Monte Cristo, but Milady de Winter is one of literature's all-time greatest villainesses. Worth reading, but I would recommend Victor Hugo's novels over Dumas's as the pinnacle of French romanticism.

I saw the movie made by Disney some ages ago. I loved it and thought that it was a wonderful tale. Thought the movie was pretty decent, it had little or nothing to do with the true tale.

This was my first introduction to Dumas. The characters in it are larger than life. The storyline is terribly exciting while developing the characters magnificently. The subtlety of the French court sparring with the Cardinal, while exchanging smiles and pleasantries to one another is indicative of another time and place. All in all it is a beautiful work. It gave me new respect for the French people. Any culture that can produce a man with Alexandre Dumas' genius has benefited the whole world.

One would think, based on the price of this "limited edition" publication, that this would be an elegant and well produced hard-cover edition. What I discovered on delivery is that this is a truly plain-jane publication: no foreword, no introduction, no mention of who translated this edition, no dust cover and so on and so on. Save your money, and don't order this edition. This is a great story, and it deserves a better treatment.

The Three Musketeers is a unique book. History and political events are woven into the plot of this clever book. I find the characters fasinating and feel like I already know these noble men. The loyalty of them is overwhemling. I am in the middle of Dumas's next book, "Twenty Years Later" and am enjoying it too.I have read many books, and this is one of my personal favorites.

Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" is a captivating story of a young man's rise to greatness. Readers follow the charming d'Artagnan through a series of adventures of love, loyalty, and betrayal. The mixture of exploits allows the pages to turn quickly, while also identifying with a broad spectrum of readers. Dumas' use of an assortment of characters provides a dynamic narrating style which retained my undivided attention. The constant presence of Porthos, Aramis, and Athos is essential to d'Artagnan throughout the novel. Their friendship and common goal of honor is made particularly realistic through its depth and complexity. "The Three Musketeers" has all the quintessential aspects of a classic, making it a must read.

The Three Musketeers is a unique book. History and political events are woven into the plot of this clever book. I find the characters fasinating and feel like I already know these noble men. The loyalty of them is overwhemling. I am in the middle of Dumas's next book, "Twenty Years Later" and am enjoying it too.I have read many books, and this is one of my personal favorites.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is filled with action in the form of conflict & sword-fights. Set during the reign of Louis XIII & Cardinal Richelieu in France, D'Artagnan seeks enrollment into the Musketeers. But the plot thickens as he courts a woman. There is even more conflict as Milady, a beautiful but demon-like woman, is hunted down by D'Artagnan & company. D'Artagnan also faces several sword-fights against the Cardinal's Guards, and conflicts with the Cardinal himself. There is action on almost every page, and I recommend The Three Musketeers to those looking for an action-filled classic!

The characters of D'Artagnan, Aramis, Athos, and Porthos are so beautifully described in the book, it was one real joy of reading the story overall. Cardinal Richelieu, too, took on so much more than the typical two-dimensional "evil villain" character; we see much more to his personality than a review of his schemes. I found him to be more interesting than the character of Milady, who could be counted upon to be nasty and deceitful in any circumstances. The plot is simple (revolving around the illicit romance of the queen and the Duke of Buckingham), relying upon the details to add the rich colors to the tapestry of the story. It is a wonderfully fun story to read, full of adventure, intrigue, comedy, romance, and plenty of swishing swords. It does not end tidily or even happily, and was more poignant to me for that reason.

I heartily recommend it!

The Three Musketeers
By: Alexandre Dumas, et al
Reviewed by: E. Kim
Period: 2
The book is about that a young cadet, D'Artagnan, goes to Paris to be trained as a King's musketeer, who teams up with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Cardinal Richelieu and his spy, Milady de Winter, are trying to thwart the evil schemes to save the Queen's honor. Milady de Winter has poinsoned D'Artagnan's true love and gets revenge on Richelieu and Milady de Winter. There, an another spy of Richelieu, Count Rochefort, was part of this evil scheme. There D'Artagnan was having a sword battle with Rochefort and there Rochefort got stabbed by D'Artagnan's sword. Then Athos, Porthos, and Aramis called upon an executioner to execute Milady de Winter. Then D'Artagnan was called upon Cardinal Richelieu and promotes him lieutenant of the King's musketeers.
I liked the book because it is an action/adventure book that all children and adults would really enjoy. I really loved that quote,"One for all, and all for one!" because that quote saids that we must work together as a group or with a friend. In this book, it saids that they say this quote every time they fight or they did it beacause they are fighing as a team. I think that if everyone did this book as their project, they would get As or Bs. Then they will be very happy.
There will be no people rejecting this book, because they think that this is the best action/adventure book published by Alexandre Dumas. The people should get this book, it tells about the medieval period, help on your history homework about what it is like during the medieval period, this chapter book can help you with your comprehension skills.
My favorite part of this book is when that D'Artagnan and Rochefort are fighing at the church, because the sword fighing has the same technique has the medieval period. The least favorite part of this story is at the beginning of the book, because, it tells the boring stuff, no conflict, etc. The middle and the ending part is okay, but the beginning is verry dull and it doesn't tell you what happens next. So, I really enjoy this book and you might enjoy it too.

I have no serious complaints. This is an excellent novel. My one complaint which is not serious is the cover of the ebook misspelled musketeer. It is spelled muskateers, don't ask me why. Digital books should retain a higher level of grammar. Treat the classics with the respect they deserve.

The Three Muskateers is a fantastic novel about friendship, loyalty, and honor. It has its dry spots, but is definitely worth reading. It gives a background of Spain in the 18th century, and is filled with both excitement and humor. This book is definitely worth reading.

This is an excellent, even-handed examination of how thoughtful Christianity and responsible science can co-exist. The authors examine the basic principles underlying most of today's "hot topics" in science and ethics (evolution, abortion, cloning, the environment, etc.) and give the reader the facts they need to come to their own understanding of what is "right." This book does not assume that all good Christians will agree on these dificult issues, but they do assume that we need to be responsible in thinking them through.

I really appreciated the way they focussed on the science behind the issues and the basic relevant biblical principles behind the debate, and then let their reader come to his/her own conclusion.

I've only seen the Disney version (the one with Kiefer Sutherland) of this book, so thought I might enjoy it for my classics challenge. Boy, was I surprised. It was not an easy read. It's large and cumbersome. I didn't have to force my way though it, just had to take my time. I was most shocked by the differences. I was under the impression that D'Artagnan was a follower and more of the type to get into trouble. He's actually more of the leader in this book. The musketeers aren't as valiant and courageous as I thought. More along the lines of men who like their women and their wine, and prefer to haggle their way to getting them for free. There wasn't as much suspense, intrigue, coercion, and backstabbing as I anticipated. I was glad when I finished it, but happy I read it

This is seriously one of my favorite books in the world. I loved it! The characters were awesome and I think more people should read this amazing classic. This is one of the few classics that I actually think anyone would enjoy. It's long but you really just zip through it and honestly not all classics are like that. This is just a really awesome book. Thank you Alexandre Dumas!

My kids, ages 8 and 9, love the books from the Great Classic Series for children. They both enjoyed reading The Three Musketeers and my older one now at 10 yrs just read the full version of this classic tale of courage and friendship.

This is probably my favorite classic. I loved this book soo much. Everyone should read it because I don't understand how anyone could not enjoy it. The plot keeps you entertained and the characters are absolutely awesome! It's long but it actually doesn't take that long to read because you find yourself just reading huge chunks of it in one sitting.

I've seen a lot of movies about the Three Musketeers but did not truly appreciate the story until I read the book. It's truly a classic novel with lots of swashbuckling adventure. The book is long but reading it is worth the effort. I recommend it highly.

If you cannot get enough of the Three Musketeers, read For Honor: An Adventure of What Might Have Been by Kat Jaske. The feisty young heroine, Laurel, enlists their aid to save France. This lady can write! She makes the characters come to life. Wow!

The Three Musketeers is a unique book. History and political events are woven into the plot of this clever book. I find the characters fasinating and feel like I already know these noble men. The loyalty of them is overwhemling. I am in the middle of Dumas's next book, "Twenty Years Later" and am enjoying it too.I have read many books, and this is one of my personal favorites.

a thrilling story. i find parts ofensive being a woman and not liking the way they lived but the story is ingaging and you cant really start the story without knowing our little group are a bunch of wominizers so as long as you set that aside its a fun read though of course its still there. id not recomemend it to my daughters but I dont prevent them from reading it either. you have to love a classic and how they make you think and this one has a lot of riotus fun reading.

I really like the fact that I can read along with my Audible subscription. I downloaded my purchased copy of "The Three Musketeers" audiobook, read by Michael York, and loaded it onto my Creative Muvo. Then I can listen and read at the same time.

I like the fact that I can turn to any chapter I wish. It saves me time as compared with turning pages one by one or searching.

The Three Musketeers (with chapter navigation)

A rousing action-adventure-comedy-romance about the famous Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and their new friend D'Artangnan, the young hot-head, all whom get embroiled in courtly intrigues with the Cardinal, the Queen, the King, the Duke of Buckingham, and the villainous and evil Milady. Starts of humorous, mysterious, and exciting with strong characters, but the second half of the novel drags horribly. Grade: C

In a world plagued by ludicris pulp fiction and so called "clasics" which serve no other purpose than curing insomnia, The Three Musketeers serves as a redeeming element to literature. I found its wonderous blend of adventure, friendship, and political turmoil to be well worth my time. I encourage everyone who has every fantasized about crossing swords with an enemy to buy this book.

this book really was just a great read. i enjoyed it from start to finish, loved the subtle humor and i really felt like the characters were extremely well developed.. you start to understand their personalities and the bond that the four musketeers share is really amazing. it wasn't a boring old 'classic' book with difficult language - it was funny, entertaining, and suspenseful! enjoy!

WOW! this book is amazing! I love reading classic novels, and this book comes tops with me! Dumas uses events in history to make this great story filled with action, adventure & romance as i've never seen it b4! (I've read enough teen romances, thanku very much!) After this, its not possible 2 go back 2 teen romances, cos this is REAL love! This was 1 of the first books to make me cry! I LOVED IT!

Fished this book out of high school library a very long time ago. Yesterday purchased it at a store. Unclear how much the book has changed with different editions and everything. Recommend to all those adventurers at heart Hoping this message will get out to friends Regina, Rick, Full monty and Jake and others who might find themselves is difficult situation This might make contact difficult today. Sorry for the delay and mishaps On the internet after a very long time.
Mona

I purchased this at a library used book sale. It thought either my son could read it (9 yo and reading up to 250 pgs independently or a night time read aloud with dad). I didn't preview it as thoroughly as I do normally. My husband chose it as their night time read aloud. Though he finished it with the boys, he said he had to skip and alter a number of simple mentions of adultery and murder. My husband specifically asked me not to add it to our library, but to put it in the recycling bin. Just didn't work for us.

This book is great for all the readers up to exciting adventures. The lifes and ded of Athos, Portos, Aramis and D'Artagnan will leave you breathless , hungry to read yet desperate not to rich the end of this captivating tale. (Also recomend The man in the iron mask.)

I loved the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation of Anna Karenina. Loved it! And so I was very, very happy to see a Pevear version of The Three Musketeers, especially one with a fun cover like this new Penguin Classics Deluxe edition has. I bought it and was ready to replace my Modern Library Classics edition --until I started reading it.

Now, I admit I don't have a French version on hand, but I am honestly confused by Pevear's choices in this translation. For example, when the keeper of seals searches the queen's papers, he refers to it as a "perquisition." When the landlord is questioned in the Bastille, Pevear's text refers to the "beagles" who run the place and the "commissary" who is in charge. I held the book at arm's length --I work in a prison, am fluent in French, and have read this book before-- why don't the words match up to those people actually use in English? My old translation refers to the "commissioner" in charge of the prison. That makes sense to me; where I work the "commissary" is the service where inmates can order packaged food or hygiene products using their personal funds.

Pevear's version is still readable, but it's readable in a strange way, like a thesaurus when you're used to a dictionary. I found his choices somewhat distracting.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a page turning epic story of love and friendship. It may seem long at first but the pages will fly as soon as you pick up this book. I finished it in two weeks and it is 700 or some pages. I am hoping to read more Dumas novles in the future and i urge others to do so too.

Not as good as The Count of Monte Cristo, but Milady de Winter is one of literature's all-time greatest villainesses. Worth reading, but I would recommend Victor Hugo's novels over Dumas's as the pinnacle of French romanticism.

This is by far the best book ever created! I could go on forever singing the praises of d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis!! Never, in all my 11 years, has any book captured my heart as this one did. I recomend this book to anyone who loves adventure, READ IT!!!! I BEG OF YOU!!

I bought this classic novel on cd thinking it would hold the interest of my 2 grade school boys, who enjoy books on cd while driving to and from school. They did not like the narrator's snobby french accent nor could they understand many of the words. This is a great cd for high school or adults but not children. A bust for us.