The Three Musketeers
A few months ago I was in the mood to read a good classic, and stumbled across Alexander
Dumas' famous narrative The Three Musketeers in a bookstore.
This story has everything you would ever want: romance, camaraderie, heroism, and, above all,
adventure.
D'Artagnan is a young boy who dreams of becoming a famous musketeer (the soldiers who protect
the king of France in the 17th century). Along the way to achieving this dream, he finds, in Paris,
the musketeers disbanded by the evil Cardinal who hopes to undermine the King's reign and rule
France on his own. With the help of three famous Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis,
D'Artagnan fights to protect the King and his throne.
The Three Musketeers is written with such eloquence and style that it is obvious why it has gone
down in history as a distinguished novel. The sword fights are described with such magic that you
feel you are standing with Athos and Porthos to fight the Cardinal's guards.
As a hopeless romantic, I am always looking for a great romance. So if there is one negative, it
would be the love story. I don't want to give away the ending. But as an avid reader of Jane Austen,
if the lovers don't end up happy and together, I finish the book feeling unfulfilled. Dumas does,
however, compensate with the wonderful relationship of the band of musketeers. Even though in
the end they follow their own paths, you know they will always be able to rely on each other.
In all other regards, The Three Musketeers is excellent. It leaves you exhilarated and reminds you
that true friends come together in troubled times.