The Vicomte de Bragelonne (Oxford World's Classics)

Unless you are familiar with Alexandre Dumas and his truly “addictive” writings, beware!!!As a schoolgirl in France, like most, I became enamored with his “Three Musketeers” and its sequel “Twenty years later”. On a business trip to Paris, a long time ago, I picked up both volumes from one the the famous bookseller along the Seine.- When I had a bad bug a couple of months ago and wanted something to read that wouldn’t bore me, I dug up these two copies - each about 600 pages long - and enjoyed them as much as I did in my youth. But then, I knew I needed the “Vicomte de Bragelonne”, their sequel.I have never tried drugs but these books seem to be just as addictive. The derring dos of the “Three Musketeers” who are actually four, eclipses by far any Superman story and in suspense, only the very ending of a top Agatha Christie mystery may remotely compare. You simply cannot put them down.After enjoying the “Vicomte de Bragelonne” as much as its two prequels, towards the end of the book, I swore that this was it. However, I did not reckon with Alexandre Dumas. The book doesn’t exactly end in mid-chapter nor even in mid-sentece, it just ends in a way that you absolutely must have the next installment, namely “Louise de La Valliere”, immediately. Of course, i just ordered it.If you loved the "Three Musketeers” and “Twenty Years later”, you’ll love the “Vicomte de Bragelonne just as much. Just be aware that when you are finished, your encounter with Alexandre Dumas will simply not be over by far.

This edition appears to be the best available on Kindle, with a clean transition to digital and including all of the references and the list of historical characters from the Oxford World's Classics edition. It is the first volume in the 3-part break down of THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE - TEN YEARS LATER, that also includes  Louise de la Vallière  and  The Man in the Iron Mask . The story picks up around 10 years after the close of  Twenty Years After , and focuses on the choppy transitions occurring in France and England in the early 1600's. Cardinal Mazarin is not long for the world, and the balance of power in France is at stake. In England, the monarchy has failed, but the winds have shifted and the exiled Charles II is aiming to take back his father's crown. Of course, we learn here that it is our old friends D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis that are the real movers and shakers behind the scenes. Their exploits and adventures continue to shape the course of history, and they take center stage here (especially D'Artagnan and Athos). The next generation of heroes is also introduced here, mainly Athos' son Raoul (The Vicomte de Bragelonne), who is led by D'Artagnan to make his own mark on history. One of the things that Dumas has received a lot of praise for is his masterful character development. There are subtle changes that take place in each of the main characters here, as the Musketeers grow older and adjust their outlooks on life, but the old personalities that we all loved so much in THE THREE MUSKETEERS continues to shine through. Athos remains the noble-to-a-fault leader he has always been, D'Artagnan still shows his willingness to face danger and pursue hair-brained ideas, Porthos continues to play the role of the under-respected oaf that observes more than he lets on, and Aramis is still the cryptic genius we've come to expect. The story in this first book of three jumps around a lot, lacking the focus of the previous books. The intrigue and adventure are just as satisfying as ever, but the lack of a central antagonist and the general feeling of aimlessness made this one less enjoyable to me. There is also an abrupt ending that in no ways concludes any of the main storylines, but that is due to this being the first part of a much longer book. I look forward to continuing the story, but can't say that I loved this one as much as other Dumas novels I've read.

This book is part one of a three part series, the next two being the Louise de la Valliere, and the final being the more well known Man in the Iron Mask. I understand this was originally one HUGE book, but is now more commonly broken up into these three books.This book starts about ten years from where  Twenty Years After (Oxford World's Classics)  ended. Although the book is titled the Vicomte de Bragelonne (who is the son of Athos), we don't see much of him except for the first and last parts of the book. The rest is filled with the adventures of D'Artagnan and Athos while they separately scheme (unbeknownst to the other) to aid Charles II of England to claim his throne. LOL, D'Artagnan's scheme in regards to General Monk. Aramis and Porthos are up to something mysterious and make only the briefest of appearances. The rest of the novel is filled with the mysteries and intrigues of the French court, and ends with the marriage of Henrietta (Charles II's sister) to Louis XIV's younger brother, Phillip.If you loved the musketeers, history and intrique it is well worth your time to spend on these books.

First of all let me say that I read the Forgotten Books edition and lots of reviewers bash them. I would have bought another edition if I had been able to find one, but I couldn't. Therefore, I take what I got without criticism. The story itself continues the Three Musketeers tale and is the pivot point in the story. Charles II is restored to his place on the Throne of England. He isn't actually restored because he never sat on the throne, but the English got around that by ignoring 13 years of history, or whatever it was. It also covers the emergence of Louis the 14th, the Sun King. Both happen half way through this book, and set the stage for the rest of the saga. If you have read the first two books and are wondering if you should continue, or maybe jump to the end and read The Man In the Iron Mask, I strongly advise against it. The whole story turns on this volume and the musketeers even find themselves in the position of two against two. Read on, and don't miss a thing.

Another good story filled with adventure, chivalry, humor, and the anticipation of excitement. This book consist of two volumes in a single work.

The first 2 Musketeer books are full of swashbuckling adventure. In this third book, they are 30 years older than when we first met them as young guys, and they aren't swashing too much, but that doesn't matter unless the swashing was all you enjoyed earlier, and you don't want to see them as very mature men. The later 3 books are full of intrigue and Court goings-on, the selfish and often silly young Louis XIV being too often a pest, and most importantly the start of Aramis's exciting and grand scheme that comes to finality in The Man in the Iron Mask. Aramis is really the main character rin the later three books from my point of view, but those who prefer d'Artagnan may see him as the No.1. For me, Aramis is the best because he is a free spirit, he has grand ideas and he plans them and carries them through. D'Artagnan is "merely" in my view a servant to the King, tied to his oath to always uphold the King's interests no matter what those interests may be, which sometimes are not beneficial, and admittedly then d'Artagnan does try to get around his orders rather neatly. The last three books show us two opposing sides - Arams on one side with his often mysterious activities and influential friends (he was always mysterious and with important secret contacts, even in the first book), On the other we have Cardinal Mazarin who has his own agenda which usually drags Anne of Austria along with him. Whether you like her or not, it's seriously hard to like anything about Mazarin. He's no substitute for the great Richelieu whose interest was always for the best for France, even if having to oppose the King sometimes. But Mazarin.... urk.The book is named after Athos's young adopted son Raoul, but he doesn't feature all the time. He has fallen for a young neighbour, Louise de la Valliere, and we watch that progress as she grows up and in the next book goes to Court. Athos is a restrained and upright nobleman. Porthos is as he always was though now a rich country gentleman, and hoping to get a Barony somehow.

The book is a brilliant Dumas Classic... Louis the XIVth's first love while frolicking in the gardens on Fontaineblau castle, and musketeers, now in their 60's, mulling over existence ...However beware if you are after the entire Vicomte de Bragelonne book, this is only the first third. Disappointed that Amazon did not says so expressly in its description. Bought this for my mother and gave her an incomplete gift because Amazon description was misleading.....

Alexander Dumas, remember the name. His Dartangan series of novels are fantastic and this is the same.Fantastic story and long enough to keep me going during lockdown (for a few days)

I HAVE ONLY COMPLETED THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES AND I'M ON THE THIRD ONE NOW AND THEY HAVE ALL BEEN EXCELLENT,THE STORIES RANGE OVER ABOUT 40 YEARS WITH D'ARTAGNAN AND FRIENDS SAVING FRANCE AGAIN,

This book was enjoyable and kept you interested. However it was a little slow in places and ended rather abruptly. Looking forward to ten years later now.