Rating: 
Summary: Wouldn't you like to be there?
Review: I bet everyone who has read this book has lamented not having been born in France, in the 17th century. The plot is well known: a young man from southwestern France, of rather humble origin, travels to Paris, to try to get admitted at the Musketeers corps, the personal guard of king Louis XIII. He achieves his aim partially, as he is accepted by another corps, as a first step towards becoming a Musketeer. D'Artagnan, which is his name, is a courageous, provincial, and impulsive man, with a knack for getting in trouble with powerful and aggressive people. D'Artagnan becomes close friend of three musketeers, each one having a very specific (and superbly created by Dumas) personality. Athos is of noble origin, a very silent and grave man, with an intriguing, mysteryous and tragic past. Porthos is a flamboyant character, an ambitious, pompous, talkative and opinionated guy who likes to party and to womanize, although he's always out of money. Aramis is a strange and, I would say, rather unlikable guy, of refined manners and enigmatic past. Even the valets of each musketeer have a full personality, and they play important and funny roles in all the adventures. These are simply extraordinary, magnificently written. They happen against the background of historical events, and play joyfully with History. The action takes place in 17th century France. Louis XIII was not a very able statesman, he was not a bad person, but he was a frivolous and somehow irresponsible man, not very interested in politics or public affairs. So he has a prime minister, one of the most fascinating historical characters of all time: Armand Duplessis, Cardinal Richelieu. He was, in reality, one of the most important protagonists of the creation of the Nation-state, just at the time where the novel takes place. Richelieu is a first-rate enemy for our heroes. He is an extremely intelligent, astute, and clever person. In this novel he plays bad guy, because the musketeers are always on the other side of problems. But they respect him a lot, knowing he is a formidable mind, without the least trace of cowardice or foolishness. Another important character is Queen Anne of Austria, a beautiful -and unfaithful- woman, who has a secret romance with the English Duke of Buckingham, an enemy of her husband. Amid the perpetual intrigues, back-stabbing, bribes, seductions and general decadence of the Court, the musketeers have incredible and perfectly-written adventures. Adventure pure. The cast of characters is long and fascinating. One important thing other reviewers have correctly noted is that the reader really comes to identify with the characters, and to feel something for them, either friendship or distaste. It is a real classic of literature, even if it is relegated to the "books for children" shelf. It is not jus that. In fact, I have read it several times and I think I have enjoyed it even more at an older age, beacuse now I have a much better knowledge and understanding of the historical aspects of it. But you don't really need that to enojy this novel, since it is one of the quickiest and easiest reading. It's simply fantastic.
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Summary: Relearning lessons from the past
Review: Fished this book out of high school library a very long time ago. Yesterday purchased it at a store. Unclear how much the book has changed with different editions and everything. Recommend to all those adventurers at heart Hoping this message will get out to friends Regina, Rick, Full monty and Jake and others who might find themselves is difficult situation This might make contact difficult today. Sorry for the delay and mishaps On the internet after a very long time.Mona
Rating: 
Summary: Good yarn, a little confusing
Review: I really liked it. It was a very good book, but it's a bit confusing. You couldn't tell who was a good guy and who was a bad guy. Sometimes the Cardinal seemed good and sometimes he seemed bad and sometimes the King seemed good and sometimes bad. Another thing is that D'Artagnan, the hero, was always getting into duels for strange reasons.
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Summary: great pice of lititure
Review: the three musketeers is a great book it may not be historicly accurate but it's not supose to be, its FICTION people. it is totaly different from all the movie versions but it's just better that way! the story of how D'tanian became a musketeer is exciting, suspensful, and it even has some romance in it. Im only 13 and i read it when i was 12 and i still enjoyed it. its part of historys lititure and i belive all ages can enjoy it.
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Summary: Adventure classics don't get any better than this!
Review: Writing flowery words about this book is pointless. It's a classic no matter what anyone says. Just remember, it's not history, it's Alexandre Dumas' wild brain in print. If you can accept that fact, you're on your way to a book you'll read over and over again throughout your life. D'Artagnan is one of literature's all-time great characters -- along with Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan. Buy a copy of "The Three Musketeers" now.
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Summary: THE GREATEST OF ADVENTURE CLASSICS
Review: This one started it all. D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Don't just watch the movie versions. Read Dumas's great prose. It may not be historically correct, but it's great stuff.
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Summary: A well aged trashy novel.
Review: There is a reason Alexandre Dumas' classic is still read and reread today. It is just plain fun to read, supposing you are not forced to do so for some sort of literature class. Gallant heroes, fair damsels, magnificent settings, war, love, duels, honorable gentlemen, nefarious villains, kings, queens, princes, French, English and Cardinal Richelieu, this book has everything. Based mostly around the character of D'Artagnan, a young man trying to enter the Musketeers, the personal bodyguard of the King of France. Befitting a King, his bodyguard contingent is very large, but D'Artagnan befriends three of the company: Athos, Porthos and Aramis, in addition to their captain, whose name I cannot recall as I am writing this review. Befitting the central character, this book is written with the exuberance of youth in such intoxicating measure that the reader cannot help but feel genuine affection for the loyal, heroic, though occasionally hotheaded D'Artagnan and his well-matched friends. The book slows down near the end for some rather unexciting, though very important, character development which itself leads to a vital development in the story. However, despite the fact the plot does tend to drag a bit in this section, it is, indeed, very important and, more importantly, the slowdown in that portion allows the frightful pace of the next few chapters to feel that much more urgent. All in all, this book is just a rollicking good time. For people who want to read a well written book with an intense plot, characters for whom one can feel genuine affection and a vivid sense of setting: this is a book that belongs in one's personal library.
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Summary: Three times better than the candy bar!
Review: I absolutley loved this book. The only book I have read that has been quite as intriging as this has been The Count of Monte Cristo, another one of Dumass' books. All the twists and turns this tell has will literally leave you shaking your head in amazment. I couldn't put this book down it was so good I read all 560 pages or so in about two days! Add this one to your list of future reads for sure, it is really worth it.
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Summary: "Historical Fiction" At It's Best
Review: Dumas specializes in a style of writing dubbed "historical fiction". Don't let that turn you off. It is not boring or anything like that in the least. Instead, it is a classic adventure story, featuring lots of action and plenty of romanticism. The whole 5 part series is worth reading. I would say that this installment and The Man In The Iron Mask are the best books in the series. This is one of the classics that should be read by everyone.
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Summary: All for one, and more for me!
Review: Reading this book you get the feeling you're actually withAthos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan as they fight for the honor ofthe king against the wicked Cardinal Richelieu and his accomplice Milady. And what a fine fight it is! All the action and adventure a person can get is right here in this book, and here's the good part: it's a classic! It's because of these remarkable traits that it is a classic and it'll go down in history along with other classics such as 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', as great adventures for all ages to enjoy!
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