2005.12.04

The Three Musketeers

The Three MusketeersIn the process of cleaning up the bookshelves in my room I refound this book I’d been given for Christmas in 1998. The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas, is an easier read than I expected, and I was delighted to find the story goes far beyond the movie version I am familiar with starring Michael York. I should note that it’s one of my favorite movies in case someone is thinking of something simple to get me for XMas (wink wink).

If there’s anyone not acquainted with the story it is basically about a young man named D’Artagnan from Gascony who goes to Paris to try to join the King’s Musketeers, led by Monsieur de Treville, how he gets mixed in with three of the most famous Musketeers named Athos, Porthos and Aramis, and involved in various court intrigues. I was impressed at how faithfully the movie (not the lame Disney version) follows the events in the story up until the end.

What I didn’t expect was the blithe manner with which love and women were treated. I can’t say women were treated as objects, but the book definitely describes an era past, and probably better gone. Fidelity seems to be not known (and Dumas makes asides hinting that even in his day it was shocking), and the simple goal of getting laid by the most eminent women was an honest goal held by most young men. It didn’t matter if the woman was married, either.

Strangely, the four men we follow were never rich. In fact their problems with money are a constant device used throughout the story. How they get money would be considered mildly unethical these days, as well. For example when Porthos needs to get new equipment to go off to war he manipulates his lover, who is married to a stingy lawyer, until she gives him the money he seeks. The others behave barely better at times.

I also thought the ending, which focuses greatly on Lady de Winter, could have been shortened greatly, though it is quite a portrait of a conniving and evil woman who gets everything that comes to her.

Despite the negative aspects, though, the story is great and has stood the tests of time well. If you’re looking to read a classic over the winter holidays I recommend The Three Musketeers.

2 Comments Categorized: books

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2 Responses to “The Three Musketeers”

1. Jordan says  (December 5th, 2005 at 12:06:34 )

   Keep Going!
   The Three Muskateers is fantastic.
   If you’re a brave soul, keep going and read 20 Years Later and 10 Years After and finally Man in the Iron Mask. They are worth the time.
   But, if you want to skip around, Man in the Iron Mask is without a doubt on equal footing with the first book, and I found it better.

2. dugh daren says  (December 6th, 2005 at 00:51:56 )

   I’ll have to take a look
   Dumas is one of those writers I always figured I would like but hadn’t bothered to look into. I probably will pick up a few more (maybe even before heading home for the winter holidays) and read them. First though, it’s back to catching up with all the manga my employer produces…