The Three Musketeers

Trust and honor and the fellowship of battle against wrong. It's as though the characters always keep saying, "Stick with me and you'll be safe."

It wasnt really for me. I struggled to follow along, and at times I felt I'd missed something important to the storyline.
Might just be a me thing, but I grew bored of it and it put me off reading for a couple of weeks, just cause I felt I had to finish it.

Read this and your swash will never buckle. Great stuff: timeless adventure, heroism, flashing swords, thrills galore, humor on every page, a romance in the grand tradition! Probably more popular now than it was when Dumas first wrote it because modern homes can afford to buy and keep books. The Three Musketeers is a book that everyone should buy and read and keep around for the kids.

Un excellent roman, bien meilleur que toutes ses adaptations, et dominé par le remarquable personnage de Milady de Winter. Une histoire particulièrement sombre et triste à bien y regarder, loin du cape et d'épée clichetoneux.

A great and sad adventure.

As swashbuckling as I remember, even though it's been several decades since I'd read this classic. Did find myself skimming through the chapters with Milady's verbal seduction of her jailer; brilliantly done, but it went on for too long, IMO. The ending's perfect. One star down for the skimming.

I just couldn't finish it. D'Artagnan is a swaggering ass (or at least he starts out that way), and Dumas writes so well that it's like actually having a douchebag right there in the room with you. I don't need to read a book for that experience; I can just leave my house.

This was a good book. I loved 'Count of Monte Cristo' so I wanted to try another book by Alexandre Dumas, this did not let me down. Full of action, duels, intrigue, romance and even some comedy. Easy to see why this is a classic, although it was really long and I became a little bored in the middle, I'm glad I stuck with it.

Full of intrigue, swordplay, and revenge, it is the story of d'Artagnan, a young nobleman who travels to Paris in hopes of joining the Musketeers, a group of swashbuckling adventurers who serve King Louis XIII. His wit and fighting ability make d'Artagnan a welcome addition to their ranks, and together the four young men work to foil the King's evil rival, Cardinal Richelieu.

I tried reading this when I was younger. I suspect my failure was partly due to lack of interest, and partly due to a bad translator. I've found the Penguin "Read Red" series, so far as I've read them, to be pretty well translated and easy to read. Including this one.

The Three Musketeers is an unrepentant adventure story, with some politics and romance thrown in. It's exciting to read -- it only took me so long because I got distracted: shame on me -- and fun. It isn't that heavy on characterisation, I suppose. For the most part we don't learn much about the musketeers, only what they are doing at the immediate time. Possibly Milady gets the most character building, since she's so evil and we see so much of her during the last part of the book.

Not all of it is happy fun adventure, I suppose: there are some bits that drag. Possibly if you found a good abridgement, that'd be worthwhile. But I liked the way it all came together. I'm a little sad that I don't actually own it, and it's going back to the library, but that's easily remedied. Once I'm allowed to buy books again, anyway...

Considering how many books I read per month, I am staggered that it took me 32 years to finally get around to reading the Three Musketeers. This is an excellent book and one of the best pieces of literature that I have ever got my hands on. I was totally gripped from start to finish.D'Artagnan goes to Paris to seek his fortune and hopefully to join the coveted King's Musketeers. No sooner is he in the capital than he is fighting a duel with the Musketeers and this brings him to their notice. Since there are no vacancies in the elite group, D'Artagnan is put in the Kings Guards and promised a place in the Musketeers when a vacancy arises. Despite this though, D'Artagnan and the three Musketeers, Porthos, Aramis and Athos, are soon inseparable and are soon getting into fights and adventures, especially with the dangerous Cardinal Richeleau and the deadly but mysterious Milady. But with people like the Duke of Buckingham, Lord De Winter and Monsieur De Trevielle, the group soon triumph and get the girl...A wonderfully written, absorbing story and I can't wait for part 2 in the Musketeers trilogy.

The best book i have read so far, the story line is impeccable.

I liked it until the end.

Lawrence Ellswoth's new translations (2018) of the classic provides a humorous and fast moving telling, though except for the multiple demonstrations of their, when not otherwise required for the plot, exemplary fighting skills, I found the virtues of the characters entirely show rather than tell. The titular 3 drink, eat, fritter and gamble away any funds that enter their hands - or their friends' hands - and treat woman as sources of funds or outlets of momentary exuberance. D'Artagnan seems a bit more judicious as to funds on his own, but his behavior to Kitty and even Milady is that of a complete cad. Ah, well, it is full of swash and buckle and derring-do.

Ah Mr. Dumas!

This was a light, enthralling novel for me. I never felt like I had to do much thinking when reading this book, and I enjoyed it for the racing plot that bound it together. I usually read heady bullshit if we're being honest here, and picking this up amidst a difficult time of bereavement and being able to just escape into a world was welcome. At times I was just flying through chapters, and as the plot unfolded I found myself honestly not wanting to stop. It was fun, and I loved the four boys we were privy to.

Ironically, I think the points of the book I liked least were the action sequences (which there are many). It's a failing of my own, but I kept going for the character interactions. With the likes of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and our boy d'Artagnan, the interactions between the four were amusing, and the boyish (and yet gallant) reactions to the wildness of their lives in this plot were often hilarious and something I would read again and again. If you're like me and don't like action, try it out regardless, but don't tell I didn't warn you.

Not necessarily injuring my opinion of the novel, but definitely making me a bit uncomfortable was the flagrant abuse for the servants. It honestly appalled me that it was treated so blasé, and combined with the rampant misogyny and very odd and sexist characterization of Milady, the book dates itself pretty bad. It rubbed me, but I didn't take stars away from it because of it. I understand it's a product of its time... but damn son...

Anyways, I usually grade books beginning with a 5, and go down as I see fit. This book went down to a 4 only because I felt like it really slogged in middle, and me not being one for action, I don't believe I would honestly reread it (800 pages ... yeah no. Sorry Mr. Dumas) I'm still happy I read it though; I think we should be acquainted with the source material of such large cultural staples, and I feel like I have an understanding of that now. The likes of the four friends were a joy and the #wild historical fanfiction plot had me reveling in equal parts hilarity and drama, and it was a truly pleasant read.

Great adventure, and I had no idea it would be so humorous!

Dumas is great at plot twists, but the "four" musketeers were all jerks.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas is a long but very good novel; especially in storytelling. I liked how it was full of sword fighting, romance, adventure, and religion. I was surprised to see a lot about the French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) mentioned ad how the Catholics, Huguenots, and Puritans played into the novel. Lastly, I liked how Athos, Porthos, and Aramis were more like early versions of superheroes than just average characters.

Tearing through this book in a matter of six days (while working full time) i can easily say that this sordid tale of intrigue, deception, loyalty and love holds one of the most evil and mischevious female characters in literary history, Lady de Winter (otherwise known as Milady for first two-thirds of the book). The death and chaos that she leavs in the wake of her porcelain and dainty feet astounds the reader and makes you pray for vengence. I will say i was a little surprised at how the vengence was timed and what was allowed to take place before it, but it just goes to show some of the differences between todays writers and those of years past (about 150 years past to be exact). I personally loved this book and i will most likely find more by Dumas to devour with pleasure.

Read for the first time. I am pretty sure I had never read it but probably saw various movies that were based on the book. The story of 4 men, three musketeers and a young man, d'Artagran who is an intern. The setting is France during the 1600s. The novel, while an adventure and romance, has a political setting. It is a time of religious upheaval with Luther and Calvin. Louis XIII is the king of France and Richelieu is cardinal who had control over the government and power over Louis XIII. In this setting, the story is of the three musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The musketeers and d'artagran are caught up in a political conspiracy launched by the Cardinal. This is a an enjoyable, entertaining story as an adventure ought to be.

With no spoilers im gonna say, This has a tad of mystery a tad of romance, a scoundrel or 2, a hero and a heroine, morals both right and wrong. Its everything all wrapped into one, Laughter and tears! A true classic good for any book nerd!

This is so absurd, it has to be a satire. Most characters demonstrate how deplorable humans can be to each other. Even among this cast, Athos is the clear winner for most terrifying psychopath. But, I like dark - particularly how the casual cruelty was often more horrific than the intentional. And gotta love that after all that violence, death, and destruction - the "heroes" end up in bed with the "villain". But what an endearing story of adventure and friendship! ROFLMAO.#drunkreview---Then, casting a last glance at the handsome young man, who was barely twenty-five years old, and whom he left lying there, insensible and perhaps dead, d'Artagnan heaved a sigh over the strange destiny that leads men to destroy each other for the interests of people who are strangers to them and who often do not even know that they exist.And Planchet burst into tears, we will not venture to say whether from terror, on account of the threats made against him, or from the emotion of seeing four friends so closely united. [… in threatening him]The two women embraced each other for a moment. To be sure, if Milady's strength had been equal to her hatred, Mme Bonacieux would never have left that embrace alive. But, not being able to smother her, she smiled at her.

Lots of action in this novel. I can see why it would appeal to young boys, but not so much to young girls. For one thing, the women are all simply things to be exploited despite the musketeers' professions of love towards these women. D'Artagnan's 'true love' is Constance (most inappropriate of names) Bonacieux who promptly drops her husband when D'Artagnan comes into the picture, and his love for her doesn't stop him from sleeping around with others including Milady and her maid. Portos also woos a married woman so that she would provide for his expenses. None of the musketeers are particularly virtuous and basically pick a fight with almost everyone they happen to run across, killing people right and left with very little provocation. Milady de Winter is the most interesting of all the characters, she is sly, manipulative and evil; and in many ways smarter than any of the musketeers. It was always enjoyable to read about her exploits. Overall, it is a pretty good adventure novel and not much more. The Count of Monte Cristo was a deeper, more interesting novel.

A six episode audio drama adaptation of the classic novel. A really excellent listen full of drama, romance, and plenty of swashbuckling. All of the cast do an excellent job of distinguishing themselves in their roles and listening to this version has had me add the original print version to my want to read list.

Not all old books have held up--The Three Musketeers has. Yes, you can tell Dumas was paid by the word, but even so, wow, could he write. The book abounds with action, adventure, wit, and romance. I love how distinctly he wrote the characters--men and women--and made them far more realistic and nuanced than I expected. (Alas, movies versions make the cardinal into a mustache-twirling evil dude, and he's not written that way at all.)This finishes up my personal challenge to read a classic book every month of the year. I plan to read more of Dumas in 2020!

This was A Book Over A Hundred Years Old on my reading list. My Barnes and Nobel Classics version came in just under 700 pages, so it's a lengthy slog from a time when writers were paid by the line. Given this was Dumas' revenue model, this is a surprisingly readable book with an entertaining, if meandering plot, and some suspect characters - even the good guys perform some questionable (albeit satisfying) acts. I was clipping along through the first 500 pages, then got bogged down when the femme fatale turned into Hans Gruber, committing super-crimes under everyone's nose for the flimsiest of reasons. In this case she doesn't crave money but revenge and she proves as unbelievably difficult to bring down as Hans did.Dumas drops plenty of commentary on human relationships throughout the novel, many of which would fit easily into a contemporary novel were such authorial intrusions still en vogue. If you approach this book from the perspective that it was serialized as entertainment in a newspaper and set quite a few of your modern beliefs aside (you don't kill perfect strangers in duels over perceived slights would be a good place to start), this is a fun book with more than its share of the typical coincidences critical to grand adventures from this period of literature, particularly the number of times the good guys and bad guys run into each other by chance in some corner or other of France and the plethora of near-death experiences of D'Artagnan. I'm curious why this book was titled as it was, given that D'Artagnan is actually the protagonist without whom we have no story. Although I struggled with Milady's imprisonment and escape, it's interesting to see how powerful and cunning Dumas made a woman in his tale. In the end she gets her just deserts at the hands of the so-called heroes in an act of vigilante justice that is equally abhorrent and applause-worthy.A better than average read when you want lighter fare that reads a lot like a Wild West novel.

I almost put it down in the beginning, despite the better translation, when the only thing that happens is d'Artagnan getting into duels with every single person he meets. The story did become interesting after a while, but the characters really weren't (with the exception of Milady).

And can you use the term "fridging" for a book that takes place prior to the invention of the refrigerator?

The plot was more intrigue, perhaps like a political spy novel of a sort, than swashbuckling, but very entertaining, nevertheless.Dumas starts a bit less than the first quarter of the book introducing his characters in humorous fashion. Then, it becomes steadily more serious with each passing page, and from the humorous to the grave and dark, while the characters seem to grow, especially D'Artagnan, from irresponsible seeming like children to men handling the affairs and maintaining their character as men, proud, yet honest men. A character study each person would be quite interesting.The ending was a bit gruesome.Dumas' writing is genius and conveys much of the sense of that is most of all challenged in the story is a man's honor. It inspires one to accept honor as something of value to die for; and, it's anonymous translation, whenever the book is put down, inspires one to speak in proper English.

D'Artagnan, Gascon on his unlikely yellow nag gets into a spot of bother with a stranger in Meung. The latter flees with a beautiful lady. D'Artagnan goes to Paris and obtains an audience with M. De Treville, the captain of the King's musketeers who need to be differentiated from the Cardinal's (Richelieu) musketeers.He bumps into three musketeers - literally - Athos, Porthos and Aramis and after petty incidents is challenged to duel with each of them, The duels do not take place as the four team up against some of the Cardinal's men and wreak havoc. I'm out of breath already!

After re-reading it (read it back when I was in grade 4 for a book report), I decided to give it 2 stars. I did not like any of the characters maybe except for Lady De Winter (who is smart, beautiful and evil villaneiss). The musketeers are arrogant, rowdy and unprofessional for my taste.