Most helpful customer reviews
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, HORRIBLE edition, Aug 23 2007
When one thinks of Dumas, the adventures of D'Artangan and his fellow Musketeers are quick to surface. The story relayed in the sequel to "The Three Musketeers" indeed lives up to the adventures of its predecessor, and for the story alone I would rate "Twenty Years After" 5 out of 5 stars.
However, I was extremely disappointed with this edition. The book claims to include "explanatory notes" as well as historical biographies. While the latter proved to be helpful and interesting, the explanatory notes were annoying and insulting. Rather than footnote throughout the book, the publishers used asterisks with the notes at the end of the book so the reader must constantly flip back and forth to read these notes. The notes themselves were mostly just an opportunity for the publisher to point out where Dumas was wrong in his history, as as they frequently point out, the dates were often incorrect. This alone makes up for at least half of the "explanations" provided.
But what really sent me over the edge, that which I can -never- forgive, what caused me to write this scolding review of this edition, was the VERY LAST NOTE in the book. This "explanation" explains, in great detail, what happens IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK". This is a spoiler, through and through, and is unacceptable.
Buy the book, but do not buy this edition.
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Musketeers are still swashbuckling twenty years later!, Jun 23 2007
It's been twenty years since the close of The Three Musketeers, and only D'Artagnan remains in service to the French Crown. Richelieu is dead and his protege Mazarin now holds the power behind the throne. Anne of Austria rules as regent for her young son, and civil war threatens France.
D'Artagnan is sent to bring the Musketeers out of retirement, but they find themselves at odds between the two sides in the civil unrest. D'Artagnan wants to be promoted to captain and Porthos who wants to be a baron, side with Mazarin, Athos and Aramis with the Fronduers (sp?). However, they soon find that although much has changed, their love and friendship for each other remain intact, particularly when faced with the evil son of Milady, who is bent upon revenge against those who executed his mother.
There's way too much plot to even try to explain, leave it to say that there is much adventure and derring do, from the civil war in France to the conflict between Charles I and Oliver Cromwell in England. I expecially enjoyed the nail biting, sit on the edge of your seat excitement during the escape from England and Mordaunt, along with the rescue of D'Artagnan, Porthos and Athos from Mazarin (what fun!). Along with the excitement comes the humor of their constant banter and escapades making for a near perfect read.
I personally liked the parts in England the best, but I think that's because I have a better understanding of English history than French. Even after researching that period in France and Mazarin online, I still got a bit confused at times, but that is a minor issue in comparison to the rest of the story. Dumas is brilliant (as always) and his dialogue is among the best (as always). An awesome sequel to the Three Musketeers, and I am looking forward to starting the next chapter in this story, The Vicomte De Bragelonne.
|
|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, Lots more history, maturity, May 6 2004
It is twenty years after the first Musketeers saga and Athos, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan have all gone their separate ways. Midlife has mellowed the musketeers and definitely complicated their perceptions. Porthos has been indulging himself with his widow's money and working himself up the caste ladder but is still not entirely accepted but the upper crust he wants to become. Aramis has gone into the church and, although he dreams wistfully of the days that he was a musketeer, his scheming has become more of a way of life than a troublesome quirk. Athos is the only one who still closely resembles the man he was in his youth. Even the hot tempered, rambunctious D'Artagnan has settled in to his career as a professional soldier. He is now a musketeer for the paycheck instead of the glory. Yet all deep down reminisce of 'the good old days' - the only question is what will they do to recapture them. Mazarin has replaced Richelieu as Cardinal and the queen, once persecuted by the previous Cardinal, is now in league (or at least in bed) with the despised Italian Mazarin. Though Mazarin is popularly hated by the people, D'Artagnan jumps at the opportunity for advancement when Mazarin commissions him to reassemble the foursome ostensibly for the protection of the prince regent and queen. But the others have their own ideas about working for Mazarin and Dumas maintains a delicate balance as the four eventually do come to work together though not entirely on the same side. Twenty Years After is more grounded in history than the first and I highly recommend this particular book for the notes in the back. For all the criticism that Dumas plays fast and loose with history, it depends on where you place your yardstick. He moves events around a bit with people coming back from exile a year or two early and a battle being fought several years later but, over all, this is really grounded in history. The bulk of the plot is the siege of Paris by the Queen (and Mazarin) in the late 1640's. The death of Charles I and the peasant revolt are more substantial historical events than the retrieval of the Queen's diamonds in the first novel so expect a lot more complicated plot as far as people and events. Dumas knew his history (judging by the degree of deviation suggested by the notes) and though he might move or bend it, he still tried for plausibility. We also have a new arch enemy in this one - Lady DeWinter's son, Mordaunt, who has come to seek revenge on the men who executed his mother in the first book. While still a superb adventure story, this is a more adult tale with more emphasis on psychological motivations and the effect of time on a man's ideals and motivations. I enjoyed the first one more because of the less complicated plot and swift action but that is not to suggest that Twenty Years After is lacking in any way. When taken in conjunction with the first, the idea is brilliant and brings out many more elements that a simple 'more of the same' sequel just couldn't do.
|
|
|
Most recent customer reviews
|
