Sign in with Facebook
Louise De La Valliere, Vol. I (The D'Artagnan Romances #4)
LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE, A D'Artagnan Romance: Believing D'Artagnan occupied at Fontainebleau and Porthos safely tucked away at Paris, Aramis holds a funeral for the dead Franciscan -- but in fact, Aramis is wrong in both suppositions. D'Artagnan has left Fontainebleau, bored to tears by the fetes, retrieved Porthos, and is visiting the country-house of Planchet, his old lac...more
Paperback
Published
December 1st 2002
by Borgo Press
(first published 1847)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
An excess of melodrama. Sighing. Fainting. Raging. Perspiring (I know what you think I mean, but no. Only in vexation, anger or fear). Riding horses to death. Star-crossed lovers. Ill-fated lovers. Trap-doors. Witchy women. Brave men. Fair damsels. All in a PG format.
Didn't enjoy this one even 1/2 as much as the others. Probably because of the subject matter, which is that the King is in love with the Vicomte's affianced. Said King sends Vicomte to England to get him out of the way. Said King (...more
Didn't enjoy this one even 1/2 as much as the others. Probably because of the subject matter, which is that the King is in love with the Vicomte's affianced. Said King sends Vicomte to England to get him out of the way. Said King (...more
THE THREE MUSKETEERS ROMANCES—-FROM THE WORLD LITERATURE FORUM RECOMMENDED CLASSICS AND MASTERPIECES SERIES VIA GOODREADS—-ROBERT SHEPPARD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alexandre Dumas is one of the great mythmakers of modern Western Literature. The Three Musketeers saga is of course a thrilling tale of adventure known to almost everyone through film if not by firsthand reading, and its over one-hundred film adaptations testify to its grip on the popular imagination. Having read the entire Musketeer saga of D...more
Alexandre Dumas is one of the great mythmakers of modern Western Literature. The Three Musketeers saga is of course a thrilling tale of adventure known to almost everyone through film if not by firsthand reading, and its over one-hundred film adaptations testify to its grip on the popular imagination. Having read the entire Musketeer saga of D...more
A reasonably enjoyable read, but definitely a lot slower and somewhat lacking the action of the rest in the series. My favorite Dumas will always be "The Count of Monte Cristo" I think. As a matter of interest, for fans of "The Count", I strongly recommend having a look at these brilliant new sequels by the mysterious "Holy Ghost Writer". They are written in the same style as Alexandre Dumas' original, and are equally as gripping. Titled "The Sultan of Monte Cristo" (Book II) http://www.amazon.c...more
The Oxford World's Classics Edition, edited, introduced, annotated, etc., by David Coward. The fourth installment of the Three Musketeers saga does not really feature those heroes. Athos is all but unmentioned; Porthos and Aramis play important roles but briefly, and d'Artagnan is seen sporadically. The story, or stories intertwined, center mainly around the loves and intrigues of the court of Louis XIV. For 670 pages (!) Dumas subtly outlines the devious schemes and romances that occur in the S...more
Book Four (of five) in the Musketeers Saga and this really does have the feel of the middle section of a trilogy. The pace is lower than the other sections and there's less of an over-riding plot - this one deals with Louise XIV's seduction of the eponymous Louise de la Valliere (after getting rid of Raoul to England) and while the lack of the excitement of Vicomte de Bragalonne's reinstatement of Charles II or the last volume's Man in the Iron Mask makes it drag a little, the change of pace is...more
Louise de La Valliere is not a bad story in of itself, but when held up against the rest of the saga, its weaknesses show. Still well written and full of compelling characters, the story focuses mainly on Louis XIV and his burgeoning love affair with the title character, who is a maid of honor for Louis's sister-in-law. The majority of this novel reads a bit like a Shakespearean romantic comedy, with couples coming and going in the woods, and overhearing each other, and all sorts of contrivances...more
Apart from a few chapters this book is excruciatingly dull. I'm a big fan of The Three Musketeers, and although the musketeers themselves are present here the author has shifted his focus from them to the nobility of 17th century France. Don't get me wrong, the affairs of the king and the queen were crucial to the plot of The Three Musketeers, but they were just the supporting cast. In Louise de la Valliere we have to endure chapter after chapter of "clever" conversation between varyingly boring...more
Dumas has a habit of writing over 600 pages about the grand totaly of maybe two weeks to a month. Not that I don't love the amount of detail, not respect the various scens which he must give the utmost attention to, that take place within this month, but I must say that reading all of that, only to have one more book to go in order to finish the series, is very tiring. On the other hand, this is a great book full of lovey-dovey ness with just the right sprinkingl of adventure (very much the oppo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
i absolutely love this book. i love how everything starts to reach it's climax from de bragelonne. i espeically love the glimpses dumas allows the reader to have of phillipe. everything to do with aramis is so mysterious and delicious although i started feeling kind of weary about him. :/ i don't like how he becomes so sneaky in everything he does. of course i don't completely understand his plans yet but i just feel weird about him now. perhaps once i've read the man in the iron mask i'll under...more
This review is for the whole of VdB or 10YL.
So OK, it’s split into 3 books in English, I read the Oxford translations as they were the only ones I could find.
Not Dumas at his best, but still very good in parts. The start and ending being standout points for me. The portrayal of our old friends and their changed, and at times strained, relationships.
The whole second book though is like a high-school farce with folk falling for each other or being spurned; conversations overheard/misheard; social...more
So OK, it’s split into 3 books in English, I read the Oxford translations as they were the only ones I could find.
Not Dumas at his best, but still very good in parts. The start and ending being standout points for me. The portrayal of our old friends and their changed, and at times strained, relationships.
The whole second book though is like a high-school farce with folk falling for each other or being spurned; conversations overheard/misheard; social...more
Aug 20, 2008
Misfit
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
19c-lit,
historical-fiction
It's 1661 and Louis the XIV is taking over the reign of government from his ministers. D'Artagnan is captain of the Musketeers, Aramis is now a bishop, Porthos is as big, strong and hungry as ever and Raoul, the son of Athos, is still madly in love with Louise De La Valliere. What we do see of Aramis he is plotting and scheming and has a strong interest in a mysterious prisoner in the Bastille.
Louis' effeminate brother Philippe (Monsieur) has just married Henrietta (Madame) of England, but Henr...more
Louis' effeminate brother Philippe (Monsieur) has just married Henrietta (Madame) of England, but Henr...more
اين كتاب، داستان زندگي زني زشتروي بنام «لوييز لاواليه» است كه سرگذشت زندگي شگفتانگيز او، بسيار جالب و قابل توجه است. او كه زندگي محقر خود را در دهكدهاي نزديك پاريس، در خانهء يك آشپز ميگذراند، سرانجام تبديل به مهمترين زن فرانسه و معشوقهء لويي چهاردهم يا همان گراند لويي (لويي كبير) گرديد. «لوييز لاواليه» را بخت آنچنان يار شد كه اشراف و اصيلزادگان زمان را مجبور ساخت تا در مقابل او كرنش كنند و دوستي با وي را مغتنم شمرند! جالب است بدانيم كه نخستين فرزند لويي چهاردهم، حاصل تلاش مشترك وي و لاواليه...more
Like all the books in the series, there was excellent drama drama drama drama DRAMA. The good kind of drama though, the kind that makes you want to keep reading. Sweet and happy and sad and tragic. Especially when Raoul learns of Louise's betrayal at the end...oh jeez. That was some seriously heartbreaking crap. DeGuiche is still a romantic hero, D'Artagnan is even wittier and his mustaches are even more extraordinary.
Apr 27, 2011
Melodee
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
indulgent
Once again, I immersed myself in Dumas' wonderful storytelling. This is the fourth book in the five-book Three Musketeers saga. I accidentally read them out of order, so now the series is complete for me. The characters are so engaging, the storyline is so intriguing, that I am extremely disappointed when I have to stop reading because the book has come to an end. I recommend these books to anyone who loves adventure, history and good old fashioned storytelling.
"The history of one man is the history of all, a dragging trial, more or less prolonged, more or less bitter - sorrowful. The note of human nature is nothing but one sustained cry. But what are the sufferings of others compared to those from which I am now suffering?" Poor Raoul. D'Artagnan and Athos' scenes at the end... with the King... five stars....five stars...five stars.
Love the first two books of the Three Muskateer saga, but this book and the one that came before it really slowed the whole thing down and made it much more of a soap opera. Plowed through the previous book into this one only because the books before were so much fun, but had enough when I was in the middle of this and didn't finish.
The second book of the three comprising The Vicomte de Bragelonne, this definitely suffers from middle-book syndrome. After setting up exciting plot threads for our heroes, the four musketeers, in the first book, Dumas doesn't give them much to do here, instead mostly focusing on court intrigue around Louis XIV and his love affairs. Athos, my favorite musketeer (well, tied with d'Artagnan, at least) barely appears at all, leaving the stage to his much more boring son, Raoul, the eponymous Vicomt...more
Finally, stuff is happening! The king and La Valliere are still being insufferable and everyone at the royal court is still being highly unpleasant, but Athos and Porthos are back to being actual characters and Aramis's intrigues are delightful. And the king will get his comeuppance in the next book, yay!
The only reason it's getting two stars instead of one from me is that the last third of the book, stuff actually starts to happen again. I really despise the courtly intrigue and romance that makes up the rest of the novel.
Rather a lot of intrigue around clothes and prancing about. This series is starting to feel like a life sentence.
Mind you, I'm still quite enjoying it.
Next !!
Mind you, I'm still quite enjoying it.
Next !!
Intrigues of the young Louis XIV’s court, mostly involving Louis’s eponymous mistress. Sets the scene for the next and last installment of the series.
Great story but oooh so wrenching! I gave it a three cause I really don't like Louise.
Apr 29, 2013
Melanie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ones-i-have-listened-to
So when I move to 17th-century France, my teenage daughters are so not going to the king's court. I don't care how great an honor it is, they are not going. That is what I learned from reading this book. It dragged in places, but the court intrigue was fun. Also, if the king of England ever offered me Hampton Court palace, I would not demure. I would accept so quickly he wouldn't know what happened.
This is like High school drama in royal court. Jeeze Louise! It would be nice if I could get some Musketeers in my 3 Musketeers book. I'd settle for one! But they are few and far between.
I like it.
Excellent!
Most people barely know that Twenty Years After exists, let alone the next two* books, although they have usually heard of The Man in the Iron Mask.
well, it's not entirely clear if 3/4/5 are one, two or three "books" but they are usually published as three.
But the middle section of the story is important, even if only for the purposes of setting up the destination. It's still a fun read though, albeit one that I won't rush to reread (whereas 1,2 and 5 are favourites.)
well, it's not entirely clear if 3/4/5 are one, two or three "books" but they are usually published as three.
But the middle section of the story is important, even if only for the purposes of setting up the destination. It's still a fun read though, albeit one that I won't rush to reread (whereas 1,2 and 5 are favourites.)
This one leaned more towards a complicated love story than a tale of adventure and intrigue like the those that came before. You get a taste here and there as to what Armis is up to but other than that the story focuses mainly on Louise de la Vallerie and the king. And of course d'artangan's artful hand is weaves through out. I much quicker read for me that twenty years after and le viscomte de bragleonne, but there were portions that dragged.
I love Alexandre Dumas, and this book was fun to read, but I got a little discouraged because it kept jumping around between characters. It was hard to really invest in the different storylines and characters because there were just so many of them! The last few chapters (which finally got back to the original four musketeers) were very good, however, so on account of them I will give this book four stars.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
This note regards Alexandre Dumas, père, the father of Alexandre Dumas, fils (son). For the son, see Alexandre Dumas fils.
Alexandre Dumas, père (French for "father", akin to Senior in English), born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of h...more
More about Alexandre Dumas...
Alexandre Dumas, père (French for "father", akin to Senior in English), born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of h...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Jun 04, 2013 09:42am