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The Chevalier de Maison Rouge (The Marie Antoinette Romances #5)
The time is that of the French Revolution. King Louis has been beheaded, and Queen Marie Antoinette has been imprisoned. The Chevalier de Maison Rouge to the rescue Will he succeed? Or will his enemies discover the plot?
Paperback, 456 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by Classic Books Library
(first published 1843)
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*Minor spoilers*
I must admit, I had this book on my shelf for about 3 years, and I tried to read, but as I was young and simply uninterested in history when I was younger, I was unable to read it properly. Now, History is my favourite subject at school and I started to read this book, promising myself to not put it down until I was at least 30 pages in.
You get what you would expect in a typical Dumas novel: sword fights, intrigue, betrayal, honor, and a tragic love story … a rather dramatic one,...more
I must admit, I had this book on my shelf for about 3 years, and I tried to read, but as I was young and simply uninterested in history when I was younger, I was unable to read it properly. Now, History is my favourite subject at school and I started to read this book, promising myself to not put it down until I was at least 30 pages in.
You get what you would expect in a typical Dumas novel: sword fights, intrigue, betrayal, honor, and a tragic love story … a rather dramatic one,...more
*SPOILER ALERT*
this book is verrrry dramatic! that being said, though, i kinda like it. the main character is a republican soldier named maurice lindey and he is one of those heroes that is brave and noble, and generally respected by people on both sides of the war. he falls in love with a married woman (hence the drama) named genevieve dixmer, one of the conspirators attempting to free marie antoinette and her children from the bastille and (gasp!) an opposer to this revolution!! oh noes!
one th...more
this book is verrrry dramatic! that being said, though, i kinda like it. the main character is a republican soldier named maurice lindey and he is one of those heroes that is brave and noble, and generally respected by people on both sides of the war. he falls in love with a married woman (hence the drama) named genevieve dixmer, one of the conspirators attempting to free marie antoinette and her children from the bastille and (gasp!) an opposer to this revolution!! oh noes!
one th...more
Unlike its predecessors, Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge is not a high-adventure novel that one, who has immersed into the two universes of D'Artagnan and that of the Comté de Monte-Cristo, may expected from Dumas. In fact, there is a scarce amount of battles and chivalrous acts present in the book.
Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge starts like a history textbook in which Dumas invite the readers into the time of the French Revolution and the Terror. Once done, the novel advances slowly into a mystery no...more
Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge starts like a history textbook in which Dumas invite the readers into the time of the French Revolution and the Terror. Once done, the novel advances slowly into a mystery no...more
It was a nice ride. This book is like the ferris wheel at amusement parks. It's just a simple and relaxing ride. It's not the most popular ride, but everyone pretty much enjoys it. This is not Mr. Dumas' best book.
'The Knight of Maison-Rouge' is not a typical book I usually read. It heavily shows the Revolutionaries side and a little bit of Marie Antoinette's side. Too be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Yes, it did show a different viewpoint and it shows a very strong-willed and courage...more
'The Knight of Maison-Rouge' is not a typical book I usually read. It heavily shows the Revolutionaries side and a little bit of Marie Antoinette's side. Too be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Yes, it did show a different viewpoint and it shows a very strong-willed and courage...more
Detailing the exploits of a valiant young man unexpectedly embroiled in Royalist plots to rescue Marie Antoinette, this novel would make a great movie. Like A TALE OF TWO CITIES, there are several mawkish, sentimental scenes (including the conclusion), but the fact that Marie Antoinette doesn't ultimately escape doesn't prevent Dumas from building suspense. The translation occasionally distracted me with its odd idioms--"bites the dust" was used twice without being the least bit tongue-in-cheek,...more
Sep 13, 2008
Misfit
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
19c-lit,
historical-fiction
The story begins in March 1793 as Louis XVI has been beheaded, Marie Antoinette and her children are imprisoned and the Committee for Public Safety has unleashed The Reign of Terror. Unaware of a curfew, a young woman is stopped by members of the National Guard but saved from arrest by Civic Guard office Maurice Lindey. The woman disappears into the night but the enchanted Maurice finally locates her, and becomes friends with Genevieve and her older husband (who finds Maurice to be useful in his...more
Amazing. Dramatic. Lorin is just a great character, he's so light-hearted and loyal. I fell in love with him almost instantly. Genevieve was alright, i guess, but her character was a little weak; I like Marie-Antionette better. I like Dumas's portrayal of The French Revolution and the feeling of the people involved, even though he does stretch historical fact sometimes.
The translation kinda sucked in some places, though, where modern phrases and words were thrown in. (Zounds? Wince.)
The translation kinda sucked in some places, though, where modern phrases and words were thrown in. (Zounds? Wince.)
This was my first foray into Dumas and I really enjoyed his style and this story about Marie Antoinette and her Knights of Maison-Rouge. You get all that you would expect from an Alexander Dumas book Paris, swordfights, intrigue, betrayal, honor and love, in a condensed 400 pages vs. jumping right into The Count of Monte Cristo with runs a whopping 1400+. I'm excited to read more by Dumas but I'll have to set aside several weeks for the other books, none of which seem to be under 1000 pages.
While the story was intriguing and filled with suspense (I had to constantly remind myself that Marie Antoinette did not, in fact, survive), the translation left much to be desired. Was the translator trying to make it more 'accessible' to the modern reader? Phrases like 'Let's crush this bastard legally!' and 'Lawyers will have a field day with him!' had me cringing throughout.
There must be a better translation out there. There has to be.
There must be a better translation out there. There has to be.
This has to be one of the most under-appreciated books from Dumas! A non-stop action-packed book from beginning to end with intelligent, witty prose, it has all of the fun, and little of the tedium of dinner table descriptions as Dumas was wont to do. The ending is incredible and should be quoted like Shakespeare. Anyone interested in the Reign of Terror will appreciate this book!
*spoiler alert*: At first I couldn't put this book down (exciting schemes to save the queen, romance...etc.), then it bogged down a bit in the middle, and in the end, all of the main characters die (some take their own lives and three by the guillotine). A story of love and loyalty. Kind of weird that the Knight (the title of the book!) dies before the book ends.
I had such high expectations for this novel. The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books. I didn't think I would be so disappointed reading this novel. It was a struggle to get through. Alexandre Dumas is, of course, a good writer. But this novel seemed to be missing a lot; I didn't even find the characters engaging. I wasn't intrigued by the plot he seemed to be trying to weave. I don't think he was trying to build sympathy for the revolution, but rather, for the love story. Even when...more
This book was better than I thought it was going to be but it was still a little too dramatic for me. I went to Paris and wanted to take a book that was set in Paris so I chose this one. It mentioned several places in Paris that I saw when I was there so I enjoyed it.
And... here, come and have a drink, Maurice. Let's get sozzled, let's move motions, and study political economics. But for the love of Jupiter, don't let's be in love, let's love only liberty.
Dumas is a skillfull author, who has a moral subtly hidden within the story. This book is totally worth reading, even though you feel in the midst of it that he is a hopeless romantic - just make it to the end!!
I love Dumas as much as the next classics nerd, but the sad trombone of an ending on this one really soured me on the rest. Big overture, little show.
oh how I love Dumas - and this book, a win - win combo of my favorite historical character, Marie Antoinette and my favorite author did not disappoint..
This is the first Dumas I've ever read, and I really enjoyed it. It's about Maurice, a Republican who falls for Genevieve, a married woman. Genevieve is tied up in a plot, along with her husband and with the Knight of Maison-Roughe, to rescue Marie-Antoinette from prison. Maurice unknowingly becomes a party to the plot, putting himself, and his best friend, Lorin, in grave danger.
It was funny because even though I knew Marie-Antoinette's fate going into the book, I still wanted the Knight to su...more
It was funny because even though I knew Marie-Antoinette's fate going into the book, I still wanted the Knight to su...more
Lots of fun although I must admit that the hero was a little bit of a jerk! Now on to Monte Cristo.
This was an entirely new and amazing way to look at the French revolution!
Classic French bodice-ripper based around various plots to free the captive Marie Antoinette in French Revolution Paris. Bit slow to start and in danger of being as deathly awful and grim as Dickens' Tale of 2, from the same era. Its not easy to sit through grim as grim can be Paris with heads rolling left right and centre, im very loathe to pick up the lengthy Les Mis now. In Dumas style though, there is humour and it does reach a swashbuckling page turner pace for the 2nd half. Really not a pa...more
I realize, of course, that this is "French Literature Lite," but I really enjoy these books. Rather guiltily, I plow through these stories of heroes and heroines, of nobility and honor and love and tragedy, and it's a great ride. I fully admit that it's not Hugo, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for Dumas too!
Slow moving at times. Interesting take on the French revolution.
A wonderful and sad story. It's got a neatly woven romance, full of chivalry, very poetic, and a crude sense of what Liberty costs!
Dec 20, 2009
Cone
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
historical-fiction
I was really happy to find a Dumas in English in a Japanese bookstore that I hadn't read yet. Overall I really loved this book as far as the depth of the characters and the storyline itself, the only reason I didn't give it a higher rating was because I relate better to some of Dumas' other work such as The Count of Monte Cristo.
Absolutely amazing!
Set during the French Revolution, this story centres around the imprisoned Marie Antoinette and a ring of royalists led by a shadowy figure calling himself the Knight of Maison-Rougue. Full of secret messages, hidden identities, attempted jail breaks, denunciations and executions.
Exciting story, but fairly predictable. It was obvious to me from early on in the book what all of the secrets were, and the fact that this was so transparent, made the main character, Maurice, look pretty oblivious.
I thought the book was great. The innocence of love is touching in this book. Also what a turbulent time this was. How totally insane!
Classic Dumas. It is set during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette is in jail, and the Knight of Maison Rouge is determined to free her. The story was a fascinating lesson on the French Revolution and the craziness of that time. There's innocence corrupted, failed jail breaks, and a love story to boot. Spoiler: like other Dumas tales, this doesn't have a happy ending...but how could it? It was the French Revolution. Completely intriguing. Loved it.
I enjoy Dumas stories. All the history, swashbuckling and adventure of 18th century France. This book takes place during the French revolution and is a condemnation of it and its excesses. Against the back drop of a chaotic time it tells a love story of a Knight and a Revolutionary and the conflicts and issues that arise. It parallels A Tale of Two Cities in many ways but gives a different point of view. It is worth reading in my view.
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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
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