From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Three Musketeers

Alexandre Dumas

Start date: July 15, 2016

Finish date: August 14, 2016

Discussion: "Let us Chat a Moment!"

Discussion leader: Amélia

Why we're reading this: The Classic is French and was second in the Poll!!
[close] The Classic is French and was second in the Poll!!

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What Members Thought

Jan 23, 2015 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: comedy, classics

I am a drama addict. I admit it. I don’t generally go for comedy. I will pick a movie that makes me cry over one that makes me laugh every time, and it is pretty much the same with my books. But when I do read something humorous, I love satire, wit, subtle humor. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde or Will Rogers are my style. Imagine my surprise that Alexander Dumas has made me laugh aloud in The Three Musketeers. They are so over-the-top, while written as if he is endeavoring to take them seriously. I hav I am a drama addict. I admit it. I don’t generally go for comedy. I will pick a movie that makes me cry over one that makes me laugh every time, and it is pretty much the same with my books. But when I do read something humorous, I love satire, wit, subtle humor. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde or Will Rogers are my style. Imagine my surprise that Alexander Dumas has made me laugh aloud in The Three Musketeers. They are so over-the-top, while written as if he is endeavoring to take them seriously. I have long adored The Count of Monte Cristo, and so I have never thought of Monsieur Dumas as a humorist, but I have been sadly mistaken.

Every time you think D’Artagnan and company have landed themselves in an impossible situation, they miraculously find their way out. It is Don Quixote without any of the moral overtones. These men are heroic figures only in a comedic manner. Taken literally they would be abject cads. They are self-absorbed, misogynistic, and amoral, but it little matters since the world they inhabit is villainous and petty and corrupt. The King who is the head of the state is a buffoon, the Queen a philanderer, and the Cardinal, leader of the church, a man without ethics or morals. Any wonder that their men are less than stellar examples of knighthood?

So, without any reason to admire anyone in this fictional world, we are able to enjoy the escapades of these men and even cheer them on toward their conquests of women, rivals, and the world of French politics. In fact, they are more often fighting other Frenchmen than the English, whom they profess to hate but for whom they seem to have great respect and admiration.

I can imagine reading this in serialized form and waiting impatiently to find out what happens to Milady and the Musketeers. There are cliffhangers at almost every chapter ending and the pace is fast and furious. I felt somewhat like a kid again while reading this. I remember that joy in reading just for the thrill of the story...a sensation I don’t always get with my reading these days.
...more

122 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2012 Anna Kļaviņa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, 1001books, read-in-2013, historical-fiction, europe, rakstnieks, made-into-a-film

I'm surprised that d'Artagnan and his three friends in so many people eyes are heroes and "good" guys. Because they are not. Author has made cruelty, crime and sinful deeds OK if its done by "inseparable" friends and cloaked it in heroism and gallantry.

I had a lot what-the-heck moments. Almost every chapter.

The book is full of "Duma's occasional lapses of memory"
However the story is interesting and the book is a true page turner. ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2013 Audrey rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, own-hard-copy, mystery-action-thriller, classics

Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, this historical fiction weaves high adventure, politics, scheming, revenge, and romance for full dramatic effect. A few parts are a little slow, but most of it is gripping.

I first read this in my early 20s and then listened to the audio. They are different translations and quite different from each other, but I couldn’t find any translator names in either edition. It kind of bugs me that I can’t judge the original French writing.

25 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2015 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, reviewed, adventure

D-ELIGHTFUL. An incredibly delightful romp through 17th century France full of action, adventure, swashbuckling handsome neer-do-wells, impenetrable mistresses, femme fatales. Dumas was the master of the serial. I can very well imagine the masses of France/Paris clamoring for the next day's paper, just to find out what happened to D'Artagnan and his friends. Clearly an undisputed master, he knew what his audience wanted and was quick to give it.

I would really recommend this to everyone - the si ...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fun to read, disappointing ending.

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Aug 21, 2013 ULa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alexandre-dumas, letters-and-two-guns

Intriknya bagus, sayang kisah-kisah cintanya gak banget. Dan sayangnya lagi pertarungan musketri kurang digambarkan.
Sampai akhir, masih tidak paham alasan penting dan mendesak apa yang membuat musketri memusuhi kardinal.

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