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deannalovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
lindseysparks's review against another edition
2.0
This took forever to get going. Its 658 pages long and it's only the first of three parts of the final novel in The Three Musketeers trilogy. (Some editions break the last novel into four parts, mine is in a set of three.) It sounded like it would be about the next generation, and is a bit, but mostly follows D'artagnan. Poor Porthos and Aramis are barely in here. I was horribly bored by the sections with Monk and there was so much that could have been cut. I did enjoy the parts about the restoration of Charles II of England and seeing the early life of King Louis XIV, before people know he'll become the Sun King. But most of it just dragged on and on. I will finish the series as I want to get to the third part, which is The Man in the Iron Mask, but am not super excited about starting part two.
haazex's review against another edition
4.0
A Sizzling French Court
[b:The Vicomte de Bragelonne|369042|The Vicomte de Bragelonne (The D'Artagnan Romances, #3.1)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1174184067l/369042._SY75_.jpg|21838371] carries on the story of [b:Twenty Years After|7184|Twenty Years After (The D'Artagnan Romances #2)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1165607713l/7184._SY75_.jpg|666376]. It appears as if Dumas and his cohort had a long story to tell as this third volume is the first of the original mega volume. Nowadays it is traditionally published in three parts out of which this book is the first one. The main characters of d’Artagnan, Porthos, Athos and Artemis still figure in this novel, but their presence is diminished and replaced by other characters. I feel as if the reader to some degree leave them behind as slowly descending stars and forcefully enter the realm of historical fiction – a template of well depicted historical figures and places. Even though I somewhat grieve the humor and escapades of the four heroes, I still very much enjoy the court intrigues in the 1660s France with sojourns to Normandy as well as England. The old translation provides a wonderful escape to this time period as Dumas manages to paint characters and situations with his usual eloquence and fierceness. It is definitely a Dumas summer! Onwards to [b:Louise de La Vallière|937643|Louise de La Vallière (The D'Artagnan Romances, #3.3)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179623535l/937643._SY75_.jpg|16183198]!
[b:The Vicomte de Bragelonne|369042|The Vicomte de Bragelonne (The D'Artagnan Romances, #3.1)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1174184067l/369042._SY75_.jpg|21838371] carries on the story of [b:Twenty Years After|7184|Twenty Years After (The D'Artagnan Romances #2)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1165607713l/7184._SY75_.jpg|666376]. It appears as if Dumas and his cohort had a long story to tell as this third volume is the first of the original mega volume. Nowadays it is traditionally published in three parts out of which this book is the first one. The main characters of d’Artagnan, Porthos, Athos and Artemis still figure in this novel, but their presence is diminished and replaced by other characters. I feel as if the reader to some degree leave them behind as slowly descending stars and forcefully enter the realm of historical fiction – a template of well depicted historical figures and places. Even though I somewhat grieve the humor and escapades of the four heroes, I still very much enjoy the court intrigues in the 1660s France with sojourns to Normandy as well as England. The old translation provides a wonderful escape to this time period as Dumas manages to paint characters and situations with his usual eloquence and fierceness. It is definitely a Dumas summer! Onwards to [b:Louise de La Vallière|937643|Louise de La Vallière (The D'Artagnan Romances, #3.3)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179623535l/937643._SY75_.jpg|16183198]!
kalervonpoika's review against another edition
5.0
I must say bravo! monsieur Dumas, bravo! Most people only know "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Three Musketeers", and "The Man in the Iron Mask" which is the last SECTION of the epic second sequel to the latter of the former two books. What I have just read is the first section of this epic sequel.
Firstly, I must say that I have never before been so excited to read a book in my life! I might have anticipated the story for others or I might have had a good feeling, but for this I knew I'd love it!
Secondly, I simply must address the reviews of some people who did not like it for bad reasons. These bad reasons regard certain aspects (to be listed below) of the work titled "The Vicompte de Bragleonne: Ten Years Later" which takes place ten years after the first sequel to "The Three Musketeers" titled "Twenty Years After". As one can tell (hopefully) from the titles, the book I just read starts roughly 30 YEARS after the famous book.
The grievances which I noticed mainly regarded the length of this masterpiece and the slow start. For shame on disliking a book because it's too long! When reading books from this era, one must first know they are not getting themselves into a small boat in a small pond, but they are rather getting on a raft and embarking upon the widest and deepest of oceans, and as such, they had better have a life jacket.
"The Vicomte de Bragelonne" is only the first section of the much larger work, the others being titled "Louise de la Valliere" and "The Man in the Iron Mask". When one endeavors to write such a thing as Dumas has, one pays as much attention to detail as Michelangelo must have done when painting the Sistine Chapel. Therefore, he didn't spare any words! Again, if anything above 500 pages frightens you, take care! for you cannot fathom what you are losing.
Regarding the change in narrative style, I pose a question: when you were fifty and two years of age, do you think you could drink, fight, and run as well and as much as you could when you were twenty and one? Almost invariably not. It is then a miracle that D'Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis, and Athos could (to a certain extent) do so thirty (THIRTY) years afterwards. Seeing that this is written to have taken place THIRTY YEARS after the first book, one can understand if they are a bit slower to act and much faster to think. One cannot, therefore, blame Dumas for taking his time to immerse the reader in his world, his France, in order to the better allow the reader to enjoy the peace (while it lasts), to see the building up of tension, and to feel the thunderous wave of the final conflict and to feel the pain at the death of Monsieur (spoilers). Therefore, if you do not have the patience to get to the climax of a book of an era that is known to produce titans, why begin? I myself learned this lesson with "Moby Dick" which has at leas ONE-HUNDRED and FIFTY pages about whaling (bloody whaling!).
In any case, my main point is this: "The Three Musketeers" is a book about young men doing young man kinds of things (like getting into fights every 10 pages). Twenty years after, in the book titled "Twenty Years After", the musketeers are a bit older - pushing 40 now- and are a bit more hesitant to go out to save their king and country, but they are brought round soon enough. Ten years later, in the book titled "Ten Years Later", they are in their fifties, they tend to think for three days before fighting for three minutes and rightly so. Age has not entirely evaded them, though they are from an era, in the book, which makes the men of their elder years look like Lilliputians in comparison. They take their time to go fight for king and country (over 200 chapters if my reckoning is correct), but when they fight, they do indeed! They performs feats that one could only imagine from Greek mythology! They excite and command the respect of their most beloved friends and their most bitter enemies, as they had 35 years before as well.
The narrative style changes as a person changes as they get older. If you don't like it today at twenty years, try reading it again in thirty years. I am even more excited to read the second part of this masterpiece! Vive "Les Trois Mousquetaires"!
Firstly, I must say that I have never before been so excited to read a book in my life! I might have anticipated the story for others or I might have had a good feeling, but for this I knew I'd love it!
Secondly, I simply must address the reviews of some people who did not like it for bad reasons. These bad reasons regard certain aspects (to be listed below) of the work titled "The Vicompte de Bragleonne: Ten Years Later" which takes place ten years after the first sequel to "The Three Musketeers" titled "Twenty Years After". As one can tell (hopefully) from the titles, the book I just read starts roughly 30 YEARS after the famous book.
The grievances which I noticed mainly regarded the length of this masterpiece and the slow start. For shame on disliking a book because it's too long! When reading books from this era, one must first know they are not getting themselves into a small boat in a small pond, but they are rather getting on a raft and embarking upon the widest and deepest of oceans, and as such, they had better have a life jacket.
"The Vicomte de Bragelonne" is only the first section of the much larger work, the others being titled "Louise de la Valliere" and "The Man in the Iron Mask". When one endeavors to write such a thing as Dumas has, one pays as much attention to detail as Michelangelo must have done when painting the Sistine Chapel. Therefore, he didn't spare any words! Again, if anything above 500 pages frightens you, take care! for you cannot fathom what you are losing.
Regarding the change in narrative style, I pose a question: when you were fifty and two years of age, do you think you could drink, fight, and run as well and as much as you could when you were twenty and one? Almost invariably not. It is then a miracle that D'Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis, and Athos could (to a certain extent) do so thirty (THIRTY) years afterwards. Seeing that this is written to have taken place THIRTY YEARS after the first book, one can understand if they are a bit slower to act and much faster to think. One cannot, therefore, blame Dumas for taking his time to immerse the reader in his world, his France, in order to the better allow the reader to enjoy the peace (while it lasts), to see the building up of tension, and to feel the thunderous wave of the final conflict and to feel the pain at the death of Monsieur (spoilers). Therefore, if you do not have the patience to get to the climax of a book of an era that is known to produce titans, why begin? I myself learned this lesson with "Moby Dick" which has at leas ONE-HUNDRED and FIFTY pages about whaling (bloody whaling!).
In any case, my main point is this: "The Three Musketeers" is a book about young men doing young man kinds of things (like getting into fights every 10 pages). Twenty years after, in the book titled "Twenty Years After", the musketeers are a bit older - pushing 40 now- and are a bit more hesitant to go out to save their king and country, but they are brought round soon enough. Ten years later, in the book titled "Ten Years Later", they are in their fifties, they tend to think for three days before fighting for three minutes and rightly so. Age has not entirely evaded them, though they are from an era, in the book, which makes the men of their elder years look like Lilliputians in comparison. They take their time to go fight for king and country (over 200 chapters if my reckoning is correct), but when they fight, they do indeed! They performs feats that one could only imagine from Greek mythology! They excite and command the respect of their most beloved friends and their most bitter enemies, as they had 35 years before as well.
The narrative style changes as a person changes as they get older. If you don't like it today at twenty years, try reading it again in thirty years. I am even more excited to read the second part of this masterpiece! Vive "Les Trois Mousquetaires"!
eb00kie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
spiderstapdance's review against another edition
4.0
It's somewhat difficult to rate this book appropriately because it's only the first part of the English translation of Le Vicomte de Bragelonne. Dumas didn't intend for it to be a book on its own, and so the ending, due to the intervention of the translator, is artificial and lacks a climax.
Nevertheless, The Vicomte de Bragelonne constitutes an admirable continuation of the D'Artagnan Romances. Dumas once again demonstrates his incredible ability to tell a story, still coupled with his amusingly loose grasp of English geography and history and his use of the same of France only as it suits his storytelling needs. (As the explanatory notes of my edition said "Dumas' calculations as cavalier as his heroes). Things are brought full circle by the entrance of the sons of characters from The Three Musketeers; taken with Raoul and the ascension of Louis XIV, it is clear that a new generation is rising.
Yet The Vicomte de Bragelonne holds several departures from the form of [b:The Three Musketeers|4534897|The Three Musketeers|Alexandre Dumas|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348845606s/4534897.jpg|1263212] and [b:Twenty Years After|7184|Twenty Years After (The D'Artagnan Romances, #2)|Alexandre Dumas|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1165607713s/7184.jpg|666376]. For one, our four musketeers have entered what we would now deem middle age, but what must, in the 1600s, probably have been considered their twilight years. Accordingly, there is less swashbuckling adventure and more political intrigue contained within The Vicomte de Bragelonne. This does not, as some have suggested, necessarily detract from the story on principle, in fact, it is admirable of Dumas to allow his characters to age, and to do it so faithfully to their original characters. One can see how the events of the intervening years have shaped and changed the heroes into what they are in The Vicomte de Bragelonne. The considerable length of the French edition relative to the first two books is probably due to the fact that Dumas follows more characters than in the previous installments and several more different, though interlocking, story lines. The Vicomte de Braggelone is different, but that doesn't make it bad, in fact it makes it rather refreshing, particularly as I struggled painfully through Twenty Years After.
Nevertheless, The Vicomte de Bragelonne constitutes an admirable continuation of the D'Artagnan Romances. Dumas once again demonstrates his incredible ability to tell a story, still coupled with his amusingly loose grasp of English geography and history and his use of the same of France only as it suits his storytelling needs. (As the explanatory notes of my edition said "Dumas' calculations as cavalier as his heroes). Things are brought full circle by the entrance of the sons of characters from The Three Musketeers; taken with Raoul and the ascension of Louis XIV, it is clear that a new generation is rising.
Yet The Vicomte de Bragelonne holds several departures from the form of [b:The Three Musketeers|4534897|The Three Musketeers|Alexandre Dumas|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348845606s/4534897.jpg|1263212] and [b:Twenty Years After|7184|Twenty Years After (The D'Artagnan Romances, #2)|Alexandre Dumas|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1165607713s/7184.jpg|666376]. For one, our four musketeers have entered what we would now deem middle age, but what must, in the 1600s, probably have been considered their twilight years. Accordingly, there is less swashbuckling adventure and more political intrigue contained within The Vicomte de Bragelonne. This does not, as some have suggested, necessarily detract from the story on principle, in fact, it is admirable of Dumas to allow his characters to age, and to do it so faithfully to their original characters. One can see how the events of the intervening years have shaped and changed the heroes into what they are in The Vicomte de Bragelonne. The considerable length of the French edition relative to the first two books is probably due to the fact that Dumas follows more characters than in the previous installments and several more different, though interlocking, story lines. The Vicomte de Braggelone is different, but that doesn't make it bad, in fact it makes it rather refreshing, particularly as I struggled painfully through Twenty Years After.
Spoiler
Plus, it was nice to see D'Artagnan, though still embittered, much more hopeful than he was in Twenty Years After, even if it won't be for long.libraryvee's review against another edition
4.0
In the true spirit of friendship, I've come to rely on this series for more than just a story to enjoy. Dumas and his band of brothers have become a refuge and a joy, and even the slow chapters, made up of pages awash with palatial politics, are comforting.
For those wishing for more adventures of d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, though, prepare to be slightly disappointed. For most of the book, they aren't even in the same city. Actually, for most of the book, we don't even see Porthos and Aramis. At the beginning, when d'Artagnan goes in search of his friends, he learns only that they are off together on a mysterious errand. And that's about all we hear of them for the next 450 pages.
Instead, d'Artagnan is broke (which he's unhappy about) and feels redundant and useless (which he's even more unhappy about.) The young king and the entirety of his court is under Cardinal Mazarin's thumb. d'Artagnan, frustrated with everything, quits his position as a musketeer.
Once a musketeer, always a musketeer, however, and it's not long before he gets wind of the English king Charles, seeking to come back to England's throne with the help of France. Well! Nothing like an impossible plot for our spirited hero, and d'Artagnan whips up a truly splendid and truly outrageous plan and is back in royal service.
Meanwhile, Athos, smart and forever the gentleman, is also quietly working towards the same end, although he and d'Artagnan are unaware of each other's schemes. Eventually, after a pretty fun hundred-odd pages, the old friends reunite.
It all slows down after that, because the book becomes mired in political and financial strategy. Spoiler alert: Mazarin dies, and his successors vie for French power at the same time that the young King Louis is tested.
Meanwhile, the "next generation" is up and coming with Louis, Charles and his sister Henrietta, Athos' son Raoul and his friends. They lack the energy and presence of the original Musketeers and I read in one of the footnotes that it's on purpose: their slightly passive, romantic personalities were Dumas' way of critiquing the next generation. He found them too soft.
As always, whenever the original four Musketeers show up, the narrative gains a sharper edge and a focused energy: everything becomes funnier or riskier or just plain more interesting. It's cool how Dumas allows his characters to actually age, and he definitely points out the weaknesses that each of the four men have. In particular, Dumas shows us that they are their best selves when they are together; d'Artagnan's edges always soften with Athos, and the Comte's adventurous spirit is brought out by his friend. I can't think of another book that explores male friendship so well or so deeply.
This book feels like a "middle" book. The stage is very slowly set with new players among the old, and the plot is mostly something that sneaks up on you. Once we do catch up with Porthos and Aramis on Belle-Île-en-Mer, everything comes together quickly, and fate feels set in motion.
The adventures of the Musketeers have lost their defiant youth, but they've lost none of their spirit and plotting. Even some of their brazen heroics come forward and shine. I can't wait for more of them in Louise de La Vallière. Next!
For those wishing for more adventures of d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, though, prepare to be slightly disappointed. For most of the book, they aren't even in the same city. Actually, for most of the book, we don't even see Porthos and Aramis. At the beginning, when d'Artagnan goes in search of his friends, he learns only that they are off together on a mysterious errand. And that's about all we hear of them for the next 450 pages.
Instead, d'Artagnan is broke (which he's unhappy about) and feels redundant and useless (which he's even more unhappy about.) The young king and the entirety of his court is under Cardinal Mazarin's thumb. d'Artagnan, frustrated with everything, quits his position as a musketeer.
Once a musketeer, always a musketeer, however, and it's not long before he gets wind of the English king Charles, seeking to come back to England's throne with the help of France. Well! Nothing like an impossible plot for our spirited hero, and d'Artagnan whips up a truly splendid and truly outrageous plan and is back in royal service.
Meanwhile, Athos, smart and forever the gentleman, is also quietly working towards the same end, although he and d'Artagnan are unaware of each other's schemes. Eventually, after a pretty fun hundred-odd pages, the old friends reunite.
It all slows down after that, because the book becomes mired in political and financial strategy. Spoiler alert: Mazarin dies, and his successors vie for French power at the same time that the young King Louis is tested.
Meanwhile, the "next generation" is up and coming with Louis, Charles and his sister Henrietta, Athos' son Raoul and his friends. They lack the energy and presence of the original Musketeers and I read in one of the footnotes that it's on purpose: their slightly passive, romantic personalities were Dumas' way of critiquing the next generation. He found them too soft.
As always, whenever the original four Musketeers show up, the narrative gains a sharper edge and a focused energy: everything becomes funnier or riskier or just plain more interesting. It's cool how Dumas allows his characters to actually age, and he definitely points out the weaknesses that each of the four men have. In particular, Dumas shows us that they are their best selves when they are together; d'Artagnan's edges always soften with Athos, and the Comte's adventurous spirit is brought out by his friend. I can't think of another book that explores male friendship so well or so deeply.
This book feels like a "middle" book. The stage is very slowly set with new players among the old, and the plot is mostly something that sneaks up on you. Once we do catch up with Porthos and Aramis on Belle-Île-en-Mer, everything comes together quickly, and fate feels set in motion.
The adventures of the Musketeers have lost their defiant youth, but they've lost none of their spirit and plotting. Even some of their brazen heroics come forward and shine. I can't wait for more of them in Louise de La Vallière. Next!
bangel_ds's review against another edition
5.0
This can't really be a complete review since The Vicomte de Bragelonne is the first of fourth (or three, depending on the versions) volumes into which the whole books was split. I have to say I read this even quicker than the last two, even if the story wasn't as compelling as the others (based solely on this volume's plot). The characters are still there in their classic fashion, though we don't see Aramis and Porthos until the end of the volume but it was definitely worth the wait cause it is a very peculiar reunion. I like that Dumas never forgot the times in which he set the story: the political agendas, the sides, the intrigues DO enter the lives of our protagonists and they DO shake their friendships in such an abrupt manner. We're digging even deeper into the political times with this volume and I can't wait to read Ten Years Later (getting old there, eh) and see what will happen with your friends.
ele_b's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed all but the last few chapters, but I've forgotten everything that happened here. I have no clue what goes on in this book anymore. So I've knocked it down a star for being so unmemorable. And for the boredom that were those last few chapters