The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas Père

The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas Père – 1844

Reviewed by: Guillermo Maynez        Date: 12 November 2002

When I was a kid, I used to read this book every two years or so, along with its sequel, “Twenty years after”. They remain part of my fondest childhood’s memories. This book is the ultimate adventure book, full of fights, intrigue, tension, night-time escapades, revenge, passion and much else. Oh, and the politics. Dumas is a genius at mixing fiction with fact. I remember I kept browsing history books to make out what had really happened and understand where Dumas’ fiction came in.

But I think the main subject of the book is friendship. We are witnesses to the great friendship betweeen these completely different men. As in any true friendship, harmony is not always predominant, but it is reassuring to know that you can fight with someone and still remain good friends.

The plot and subplots are stupendous; the characters are real and always have two sides to them. Cardinal Richelieu is simply superb, a true Statesman, cunning, vicious, malicious and brave. So much that his enemies deeply respect him and understand him to be simply a rival in politics (but they also fear him). Milady is the pretty woman from hell. She is truly BAD, as opposed to the Cardinal, who is just doing what he thinks he has to do in order to protect the State. D’Artagnan is a flawed but real hero, a full human being, and you can not help but like him and wish him well. Athos is an aristocrat with a past; Prothos is your ideal pal; Aramis is not much likable but he’s enigmatic, pedantic and interesting. It is very advisable to read this wonderful novel even if your adolescence is way back. You’ll understand what it is to read just for the pure pleasure of it.