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Summary: Let the adventure begin...
Review: For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga:
In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!). The reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series! I highly recommend this series from Oxford University Press containing the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books. The notes are located in the back of each book so as not to slow down the flow of the text. Most of the notes give additional info on historic characters and places. And a few point out that Dumas was a better storyteller than historian, as keeping dates seems to be such a nuisance!
Rating: 
Summary: The start of an epic adventure....
Review: For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga: I was thoroughly confused by the order of books. In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. That's it - no more. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!). So the reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series! I highly recommend the Oxford University Press': Oxford World's Classics editions - which has the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books.
Rating: 
Summary: It's Abridged!
Review: Look, I love The Three Musketeers, absolutely love it. It's clever, adventurous, and laugh out loud hilarious. It is one of my all-time favorites, but this version is abridged. If you are going to go to all the trouble to read a book, why not read the whole thing? At the time I bought this book, I did not know it was abridged. When I began reading it, I realized little parts of the story were missing and I was not at all pleased. If you want Dumas, get unabridged. It may take a bit longer to finish, but it is very much worth it.
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Summary: Greatest adventure story!
Review: Ok, my favourite Dumas work is the Count of Monte Cristo, but this is better as an adventure story. The story is about the adventures of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan, (aren't those just great names?!) to escape and plot against Cardinal Richelieu and his spy Milady. The quiet Athos with a troubled past, the flamboyant and good-naturedly arrogant Porthos, the reserved and confused Aramis (my favourite), and D'Artagnan, the hotheaded and impulsive musketeer-in-training: these characters are dragged through the political and amorous plots of French and English royalty, played out with duels, battles, and horse-chases, all in the name of honour and friendship. Do not be fooled, however, our four heroes are not as moral and honest as is usually thought, a little deceitful seduction in the name of self-interest won't get in their way. A musketeer has to to have some money you know! Ah well, it's all fun and entertaining for the reader. One of the most interesting characters is the extremely evil and cunning Milady, whose intelligence and beauty aid her to fool and control the four friends and many others. All the characters are interesting and detailed, even the valets of the musketeers each have distinct personalities. Because it was written as serial fiction for a newspaper, the author holds your attention incredibly well. It has that 'find out tomorrow!' quality at the end of every chapter. The writing is packed with dialogue and action with no boring paragraphs that might scare away a non-classics reader. In fact, it's more fast-paced and suspenseful than the best action movie. Who needs gun fights and car chases when you can have clashing swords and galloping horses in the colorful and glorious 17th century?! This book brings it all to life: Illustrious heroes, cunning villians, and damsels in distress. As with all classics, however, it's more than just entertaining. In the end, the book leaves you with admiration for good, virtue, loyalty, honour, love and friendship. Don't ever miss this book, if only to read that famous oath where it was first and originally written, "All for one, and one for all!."
Rating:
Summary: A Classic!
Review: The Three Musketeers is a unique book. History and political events are woven into the plot of this clever book. I find the characters fasinating and feel like I already know these noble men. The loyalty of them is overwhemling. The illustrations capture the life of the book! I am in the middle of Dumas's next book, "Twenty Years Later" and am enjoying it too.I have read many books, and this is one of my personal favorites.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is the definite swashbuckling, romance novel. It is beautifully written and a true joy to read. The adventures of the Musketeers are so compelling that the book is hard to put down once you start reading.
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Summary: Pure Joy
Review: Reviewer and reader of this book, Emily, says this is the best book she has read. You, Emily, are a person of good taste in books -- and I think you are right! Until you have read Alexander Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo" -- unabridged. (Please, not the movies!) What adventure! What excitement! What joy! (For both books.)I first read 'The Three Musketeers' over 40 years ago, and three times since; and it has been pure joy each time.
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Summary: The Fantastic Four
Review: The story starts out with a young naive Gascon by the name D'artagnan who goes to seek his fortune with the King's Musketeers. On his journey to Paris he has a tangle with a man named Rochefort whom D'artagnan chases throughout the book, along with his female companion Milady, a woman of pure evil. He meets the Three Musketeers and they don't get off to such a great beginning as he finds himself preparing to fight a duel with all three of them. Eventually D'artagnan wins over Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and together the four set off on adventures to protect their majesty the queen (Anne of Austria) against the bad intentions of the cardinal. It's all intigue and romance and swashbuckling! I loved it all, every sentence. And i love how M. Dumas twists history to his own literary devices. I played hooky to finish reading this book!
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Summary: All for One and One for All -review for The Three Musketeers
Review:
D'Artagnan was a young lad who wished to become a "servant" of the king. One day, he met three of the king's three faithful guards (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis) and was challenged by fighting. This is how the young lad met the three musketeers. After all these, D'Artagnan would accompany himself with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis by being at their side and causing trouble everywhere. Hoever, a little spoiled rat can be the hero in the book; it is D'Artagnan who discovered the secret plans of Cardinal Richelieu that might destroy the whole France.
This book is really amazing with the structure of the plot. It talks mostly about loyalty: loyalty to the king, loyalty to husband/wife, loyalty to friends, and loyalty to the nation. There are many interesting places where a problem is brought up, and then another problem will evade when the other problem has been solved.
Readers can easily have a picture on every stage of the book and the outward appearance of the characters. Dumas, the author, has really described each place and section of the book carefully with many adjectives while he is "weaving" the book. He can describe a thing so well that you won't have difficulty telling what happened in the book. This is really important in reading a book; it is difficult to read a book if you do not understand what is going on with the author's words.
While reading this book, readers may feel jumpy where there are many problems and exciting words, and readers really wish to keep reading. After I read the book, I discovered the importance of unity in a society and friendship; this book also provides you with many philosophical thoughts. This is a great book to read and the plot will still be in your mind while sleeping!
Rating: 
Summary: They Don't Name A Candy Bar After Any Old Book
Review: In a world plagued by ludicris pulp fiction and so called "clasics" which serve no other purpose than curing insomnia, The Three Musketeers serves as a redeeming element to literature. I found its wonderous blend of adventure, friendship, and political turmoil to be well worth my time. I encourage everyone who has every fantasized about crossing swords with an enemy to buy this book.
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