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A review by libraryvee
The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas
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!