The third installment of The Three Musketeers, The Vicomte de Bragelonne opens in 1660, the time of Cardinal Mazarin. In failing health, Mazarin knows the end is near and Louis XIV is eager to truly being his reign. D'Artagnan, still loyal to the king of France, feels a little dejected by his lack of fame and fortune after all the years of service (he's been a Musketeer for over 35 years). After witnessing an encounter between Louis XIV and Charles II of England, D'Artagnan turns in his resignation and begins a journey that will lead to the fame and fortune he has always sought. Along the way he encounters Athos (aka the Count de la Fère), Aramis (now Bishop of Vannes) and Porthos (now Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds) as they are on quests of their own. After accomplishing amazing feats, stories of D'Artagnan's heroics meet the ears of Louis XIV, who promises D'Artagnan the position of Captain of the Musketeers and a large pension if he would continue to serve the king and give him his loyalty. Raoul, the Vicomte de Bragelonne and son of Athos, at the same time earns the king's respect for an act he performed, and Raoul is sent as an ambassador of France to receive Princess Henrietta of England on her arrival in France for her marriage to Philip, Duke of Orleans and brother of King Louis XIV. He returns and finds his lady love, Louise de la Vallière, has been promoted to a maid of honor for Henrietta. Due to a childhood injury, Louise has a slight limp, and afraid for her well-being in a court as malicious and debase as the one of France, he seeks to marry her and protect her. Athos is against the union, but love of his son finally causes him to relent. The story ends with the departure of Athos and Raoul to Paris to ask the king's permission for the marriage.
It was quite an abrupt ending, but this book, as well as the next two in the series (Louise de la Vallière and The Man in the Iron Mask) were originally written as one. I really enjoyed this book. Dumas has a way of always keeping me interested and wanting more. I love D'Artagnan! He has no faults (even his short-temper is considered a strength for him) and sometimes seems super-human with his cunning and strength - which I find kind of funny in this book because he is over 50 years old! But, he's still the same D'Artagnan. Per the title, this book is introducing us more intimately with Raoul. His character is loveable, but not as much as his father, Athos. I am a big history fan and reading about the events of that time are pretty exciting. I can't wait to read the next two books and see how it all ends!
Rating: 3.75/5
2 comments:
I can't believe you're going to read all 5 in the series! Someday I'd like to read The Man in the Iron Mask, but I have no interest in the other three. I'm glad you like them, though!
Heck yes I'm reading all of them! You can't just read the first and the last... you'll be missing lots of important things in the middle!
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