Flamboyant heroes, adventure, riveting duels, and of course romance.
Alexandre Dumas and his swashbuckling Musketeers have fascinated for ages!
To honor Dumas on his birthday today
July 24th 1855, I wanted to share his many works featuring the most beloved comrades The Musketeers.
Here are the D’Artagnan Romances:
The Three Musketeers
An adventurous tale of the young man d’Artagnan. Leaving home to travel to Paris, d’Artagnan wishes to join the Musketeers of the Guard. He is not one of the musketeers of the title but befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis (inseparable friends who live by the motto “all for one, one for all.”) This motto which is first put forth by d’Artagnan, has become a most well known and loved signet. This a historical fiction full of memorable adventure and characters.
Rated: 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Un café
A coffee, plain and simple, but not as we would have in the U.S. Order “Un Café” and you will get a small cup of plain strong espresso.
Twenty Years Later
Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. However, treason and stratagem still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is a titanic struggle with the son of Milady, who wears the face of Evil.
Rated: 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Chocolat l’ancienne
Rich and decadent melted dark chocolate poured into cups, and served alongside it’s own separate dish of fresh whipped cream. So thick and creamy, I’ll have mine with Un café please!
Ten Years Later: The Vicomte de Brabelonne
In the English translations the 268 chapters of this large volume are usually subdivided into three, but sometimes four or even five individual books. In three-volume English editions, the three volumes are titled “The Vicomte de Bragelonne”, “Louise de la Valliere”, and “The Man in the Iron Mask.” Each of these volumes is roughly the length of the original
The Three Musketeers.
Here they are in Three Volumes:
The Vicomte de Bragelonne
It is May 1660 and the fate of nations is at stake. Mazarin plots, Louis XIV is in love, and Raoul de Bragelonne, son of Athos, is intent on serving France and winning the heart of Louise de la Valliere. D’Artagnan, meanwhile, is perplexed by a mysterious stranger, and soon he learns that his old comrades already have great projects in hand. Athos seeks the restoration of Charles II, while Aramis, with Porthos in tow, has a secret plan involving a masked prisoner and the fortification of the island of Belle-Ile.
Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Cafè latte au Chocolat
Espresso with steamed milk and drizzled with
chocolate on top.
The Musketeers are now in their late 50’s.
They are still vital characters but they are no longer young men looking for any excuse to duel with the Cardinal’s Guard. From this point on, there is a lot less sword play and campaigning (Sorry Swashbuckler fans.)
The focus of the story now shifts to the intrigues of Louis XIV court.
Lousise de la Valliere
Devoted in large part to romantic events at the court of France’s King Louis XIV. It is filled with behind-the-scenes intrigue, the novel brings the aging Musketeers and d’Artagnan out of retirement to face an impending crisis within the royal court of France.
Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Chocolat chaud
Otherwise known as good old Hot Cocoa 🙂
The Man in The Iron Mask
Some thirty-five years on, the bonds of comradeship are under strain as they end up on different sides in a power struggle that may undermine the young Louis XIV and change the face of the French monarchy. In the fast-paced narrative style that was his trademark, Dumas pitches us straight into the action. What is the secret shared by Aramis and Madame de Chevreuse? Why does the Queen Mother fear its revelation? Who is the mysterious prisoner in the Bastille?
Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Cafè au Lait
A coffee with hot milk added (In comparison to the Itallian caffè latte.) In the U.S. a café au lait is a drink of strong drip coffee or French pressed coffee, to which steamed milk is added.
Fun Fact: Two further sequels to the D’Artagnan books — the novels The Son of Porthos (1883) and D’Artagnan Kingmaker (1900) — were written and published after Dumas’s death. D’Artagnan does not appear in the first novel, which, although written by Paul Mahalin, was published under the pen name “Alexandre Dumas” and is still sold as such. The second novel was supposedly based on one of Dumas’ plays (wikipedia)
Have you read any or all of these novels?
Please share your thoughts.
I never got beyond the basic. I do enjoy his Count of Monte Cristo. I’m actually reading Dumas’s memoirs as part of a research project. He is an engaging storyteller and is life was quite colorful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read them, but I intend to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on worldtraveller70.
LikeLike
Just imagine TV shows have become my new books since I lost half my eyesight. So, I’ve been ‘watching’ Muskateers. Season 3 . They are still young & hot. Plenty of sword play.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I LOVE the show too. I don’t watch much TV and very few shows can convince me otherwise, but The Musketeers hooked me big time!
LikeLike
Like the Musketeers (much less so the later volumes), love Monte Cristo. Highly recommend The Black Count, the story of Dumas’ father, a mixed-race emancipated slave who became a famous Napoleonic general.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Monte Cristo myself! I hadn’t heard of that, looks awesome thank you!
LikeLike
I too have been watching TV series over here at the present called “The Musketeers”, which in its third series has featured Richard Everett seeming to enjoy himself hugely playing Féron, who I think is not an original Dumas character. The series is very much a ’tish/tash’ affair, but great fun.
I started to read the original, but have stalled; the style is not for me (I can’t really explain why) and I am resolved not to persist with anything I’m not enjoying, as there are only so many books before I die. “People say I’m lazy…”
Thanks for the neat and informative summaries of the books.
LikeLike
I have enjoyed following your posts. One of my favourite quotes from The Three Musteteers: “Never fear quarrels, but seek hazardous adventures!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love to know your thoughts on some of the film adaptations of these works. In particular the new BBC series “The Musketeers.” I only got around to watching the pilot, which I enjoyed, even if it seems to take the source material and chuck it out the window.
Also, cafè latte au chocolat sounds absolutely delightful. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never really liked any of the film adaptations much, didn’t hate them but they were all a bit “Eh.” I did like Man in the Iron Mask, but I was also quite young then… However, I am in love with the recent BBC series. I know the context is off etc. but the show is so good that I just don’t care.! Kind of like The Lord of The Ring (although a lose comparison.) 🙂
LikeLike
Ok, now I have to find my copy and actually read it! Fun reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Moore to Say and commented:
One of my favourites!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
LikeLike
Athos, Portos, au revoir. Aramis, adieu. The best example of the difference between aur revoir and adieu in french. Wonder how it is in english?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The Three Musketeers” was the first “classic” I read, the summer before high school. I enjoyed it, though maybe more so if I chanced to read it again these days. I always wondered if the whole Musketeer series was available in English or easily accessible in America. If so, I may try to reread the entire story, though the Count of Monte Cristo is another adventure yet to be taken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Profound Paragraphs: WISO | Cafe Book Bean