The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This last section opens with another instance of emotion reflected in nature - midnight, a "bloodied" moon, dark silhouettes, and the steeple a "skeleton". The river is "molten pewter", the sky unsettled and the clouds "shuddered". There is an abandoned windmill with broken vanes, the shrill cry of an owl, and trees "like deformed dwarfs." Then there is lightning "like a fearful scimitar". Dumas doesn't include a lot of description compared with some others of his era, but it usually has a scene-setting purpose.

What do you think of Milady's final stratagems and the response of d'Artagnan and Athos? What about the trial and condemnation? I assume the reason the executioner takes her across the river is so that the killing happens outside the country of France. (The other side would have been Flanders/Belgium.)

My French copy has a sentence that is not in the Ellsworth translation. Right after the executioner throws the money in the river, there is a new paragraph

"Look," said Athos, " this woman has a child, and yet she hasn't said a word about her child!"

Then it goes back to the boat going across the river. For those of you reading other translations, do you have this sentence?

In Chapter 67, all the musketeers are chastened by their experience, left serious and silent. Earlier on, we remarked on how they seemed to be able to kill with little remorse, in duels or in war. How is this different?

In this last chapter, we come full circle to the first because d'Artagnan learns the name of his mysterious nemesis. What do you think of d'Artagnan's interview with Richelieu and his responses? And what of our friends' futures? Do you think Porthos will be contented as a rich man or Aramis in the church? And what of d"Artagnan without his friends? (Hint: We'll find out more in our next book!)

Although Chapter 67 ends on a bittersweet note, Dumas returns to his cynical humor for the very end of the Epilogue and the final word on Bonacieux.

Have you enjoyed our adventure? Were there sections you didn't remember or know about from previous reads or movies? Why do you think this story still attracts us almost 200 years after its writing?

Thanks, everyone, for your participation. For anyone who is behind, feel free to catch up in December and post any comments you like. We will start Twenty Years After in January. Please note - the Ellsworth version of Twenty Years After is only half the usual book, with the other half, also translated by him, being called Royal Blood. I have added a thread about this. As far as I know all other versions have the whole 800-900 pages in one volume.

I enjoyed reading TM but not enough to continue with the project. Thank you for letting me read with you.

Francis wrote: "I enjoyed reading TM but not enough to continue with the project. Thank you for letting me read with you."

Thanks for joining us, Francis! Anyone is welcome to go in or out of the project as you wish.

Robin P wrote: "My French copy has a sentence that is not in the Ellsworth translation. Right after the executioner throws the money in the river, there is a new paragraph.."

Wow, that extra sentence is not in any of my books. Interesting.

I assume the reason the executioner takes her across the river is so that the killing happens outside the country of France. (The other side would have been Flanders/Belgium.)

I never considered this possibility before - it makes a lot of sense though.

When i first read the book I was happy that Milady got what she deserved. Now I wonder if they had the legal right to take matters in their own hands.

I still find myself wishing for a more traditional happy ending, but I guess d’Artagnan gets his promotion and Porthos gets married - that’s as happy as Dumas lets his characters get.
Fewer people died than in Queen Margot, so that's a plus.

Have you enjoyed our adventure?
This was my first time participating in a group read-along &
I really enjoyed it.

I listened to the audio book version of Twenty Years After a few months ago (for the 20 year anniversary of when I first read it), but I’m still looking forward to re-reading it with the group in January.
I have the free edition on my Kindle from Project Gutenberg.

I loved your comment "Fewer people died than in Queen Margot"! I think that's the book that starts out kind of amusing with two swashbucklers from different sides of the religious war, but later involves torture, which is one thing I can't stand to read about, and which I didn't expect from Dumas.

Of course our heroes didn't have the right to declare their own justice and punishment but nobody mourns Milady, even the Cardinal. This is where the famous letter signed by the Cardinal comes in handy. It is a bit disturbing to my modern feminist sensibilities that the most horrible villain is a woman - but I mostly enjoy the story so much that I can set that aside.

I'm sure the free edition of 20 Years After will be fine. I haven't decided if I will spring for the 2 volumes by Ellsworth or not.

I have a color illustrated hardbound readers digest copy, which is not the copy I read- I had a very thick scrappy paperback I donated when I found this one, and the rest of my musketeers series is all the oxford editions. Unfortunately because it's very nice. It has the sentence
"Mark," said Athos, this woman has a child, and yet has not said one word about him."
Also some other little differences like the moon is "red as blood", "distorted dwarfs". Still has the fearful scimitar!
The copyright says it's the 1920 George C Harrap & Co Ltd edition

I finished! I was behind (as usual, lol) and haven't commented in the other discussions but I did it! I listened to the audio book, it was over 20 hours but it was great fun to listen to.

"Look," said Athos, " this woman has a child, and yet she hasn't said a word about her child!"

Yes was in the audiobook I listened to, I don't know what translation was read but this quote was in there.

> Have you enjoyed our adventure?
This was great fun to listen to. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

> Why do you think this story still attracts us almost 200 years after its writing?

I think the friendships that were so strong these fellas would do anything for each other. That's a pretty amazing friendship to have in your life. Also adventure!

Great! It's not too late to join Twenty Years After, and again you can read at your own pace.

I'm planning on it! One of the reasons I listened to the audio book vs. reading it for Three Musketeers so I'd get caught up.

Robin P wrote: "This last section opens with another instance of emotion reflected in nature - midnight, a "bloodied" moon, dark silhouettes, and the steeple a "skeleton". The river is "molten pewter", the sky uns..."

Thanks for letting us know about that sentence. I read the Ellsworh translation but also had the Barrow one. Barrow does have it: "Mark," said Athos, "this woman has a child and yet she has not said one word about him."

I wonder why Ellsworth did away with this sentence. As it is I am not happy with Ellsworth's insistence that Aramis is the least likable of the Musketeers. I found him better than the others esp as his letter-writing skills played such a crucial part in the novel.