The author and his webAlexandre Dumas, http://www.dumaspere.com/pages/english/sommaire.html
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Some websites good or more info about the Three Musketeers:1) http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/3musk/characters.html
2) http://www.the3musketeers.info/ |
A basic summary of the book
This book first starts with a man named D'Artagan who gets a letter of introduction to join the Musketeers of the Guard from his dad. He travels to an inn were a meeting with a man leaves him with no letter. Because he has no letter, he is unable to join the musketeers. However, after a series of events he the captain of the King's Guard let's him join. He also becomes friends with three musketeers, Porthos, Aramis, and Athos. Shortly after, his landlord tells him about how his wife Constance Bonacieux got kidnapped. After she gets released, D'Artagan falls for her on first sight. He finds out that she works for the who is secretly having an affair with the Duke of Buckingham. Later on, the king gives her a gift of diamond studs which she gives ti her lover. Cardinal Richelieu who wants France and England to have a war (The King is English and the Queen is French) persuades the King to ask her to wear it at a party he is sponsoring. D'Artagan and his friends as well as Planchet (his servant and friend) ride to London while the Cardinal's henchman repeatably attack them. Soon, D'Artagan and Planchet are the only ones left but they are able to get the gift of diamond studs and give it to the Queen. She gives him a beautiful ring in gratitude,
Shortly afterwards, D'Artagan finds out that Madam Bonacieux got kidnapped by the Cardinal's henchman. He then goes with his friends to Paris to meet the Cardinal's spy, Milady de Winter. As continued on Wikipedia, "D'Artagnan meets Milady de Winter officially, and recognizes her as one of the Cardinal's agents, but becomes infatuated with her until her maid reveals that Milady is indifferent toward him. Entering her quarters in the dark, he pretends to be the Comte de Wardes and trysts with her. He finds a fleur-de-lis branded on Milady's shoulder, marking her as a felon. Discovering his identity, Milady attempts to kill him but D'Artagnan eludes her. He is ordered to the Siege of La Rochelle."
He is later told that the Queen has rescued Constance from prison. While at an inn, the friends overhear the Cardinal ordering Milday to murder the Duke of Buckingham who was a supporter of the Protestant rebels at La Rochelle who sent troops to assist them. The Cardinal gives her a letter to excuse her actions but Athos, his friend later takes it. The next day, after a fight, Milday is imprisoned on her arrival in England. However, she persuades his guard named Felton to let her free and kill the Duke with her. on her arrival at France, Milday kills Constance as a chance to have revenge on D'Artagan.
However, before she meets the Cardinal, the Musketeers arrest her. As on Wikipedia, (Comte de Rochefort was the wife of Milday) "They bring an official executioner, put her on trial and sentence her to death. After her execution, the four friends return to the siege of La Rochelle. The Comte de Rochefort arrests d'Artagnan and takes him to the Cardinal. When questioned about Milady's execution, d'Artagnan presents her letter of pardon as his own. Impressed with d'Artagnan's willfulness and secretly glad to be rid of Milady, the Cardinal destroys the letter and writes a new order, giving the bearer a promotion to lieutenant in the Tréville company of musketeers, leaving the name blank. D'Artagnan offers the letter to Athos, Porthos and Aramis in turn but each refuses it, Athos because it is below him, Porthos because he is retiring to marry his wealthy mistress and Aramis because he is joining the priesthood. D'Artagnan, though heartbroken and full of regrets, gets the promotion he coveted."
Shortly afterwards, D'Artagan finds out that Madam Bonacieux got kidnapped by the Cardinal's henchman. He then goes with his friends to Paris to meet the Cardinal's spy, Milady de Winter. As continued on Wikipedia, "D'Artagnan meets Milady de Winter officially, and recognizes her as one of the Cardinal's agents, but becomes infatuated with her until her maid reveals that Milady is indifferent toward him. Entering her quarters in the dark, he pretends to be the Comte de Wardes and trysts with her. He finds a fleur-de-lis branded on Milady's shoulder, marking her as a felon. Discovering his identity, Milady attempts to kill him but D'Artagnan eludes her. He is ordered to the Siege of La Rochelle."
He is later told that the Queen has rescued Constance from prison. While at an inn, the friends overhear the Cardinal ordering Milday to murder the Duke of Buckingham who was a supporter of the Protestant rebels at La Rochelle who sent troops to assist them. The Cardinal gives her a letter to excuse her actions but Athos, his friend later takes it. The next day, after a fight, Milday is imprisoned on her arrival in England. However, she persuades his guard named Felton to let her free and kill the Duke with her. on her arrival at France, Milday kills Constance as a chance to have revenge on D'Artagan.
However, before she meets the Cardinal, the Musketeers arrest her. As on Wikipedia, (Comte de Rochefort was the wife of Milday) "They bring an official executioner, put her on trial and sentence her to death. After her execution, the four friends return to the siege of La Rochelle. The Comte de Rochefort arrests d'Artagnan and takes him to the Cardinal. When questioned about Milady's execution, d'Artagnan presents her letter of pardon as his own. Impressed with d'Artagnan's willfulness and secretly glad to be rid of Milady, the Cardinal destroys the letter and writes a new order, giving the bearer a promotion to lieutenant in the Tréville company of musketeers, leaving the name blank. D'Artagnan offers the letter to Athos, Porthos and Aramis in turn but each refuses it, Athos because it is below him, Porthos because he is retiring to marry his wealthy mistress and Aramis because he is joining the priesthood. D'Artagnan, though heartbroken and full of regrets, gets the promotion he coveted."
About the Character from Sparknotes:
D'Artagnan - The central character of the novel, d'Artagnan is a young, impoverished Gascon nobleman who comes to make his fortune in Paris. He is brave, noble, ambitious, crafty, and intelligent. Like any Romantic hero, he is driven by love and ruled by chivalry, but occasionally prone to fall into amoral behavior.
Athos - The most important of the Three Musketeers, Athos is something of a father figure to d'Artagnan. He is older than his comrades, although still a young man. Athos is distinguished in every way--intellect, appearance, bravery, swordsmanship--yet he is tortured by a deep melancholy, the source of which no one knows.
Aramis - A young Musketeer, one of the great Three. Aramis is a handsome young man, quiet and somewhat foppish. He constantly protests that he is only temporarily in the Musketeers, and that any day now he will return to the Church to pursue his true calling. Aramis has a mysterious mistress, Madame de Chevreuse, a high noblewoman, whose existence and identity he tries to keep from his friends.
Porthos - Porthos, the third of the Three Musketeers, is loud, brash, and self-important. He is extremely vain, and enjoys outfitting himself handsomely; but for all that, he is a valiant fighter and a courageous friend. His mistress is Madame Coquenard, the wife of a wealthy attorney.
Lady de Winter - A mysterious, beautiful, dangerous, and ultimately evil Cardinalist agent. D'Artagnan becomes obsessed with her, but eventually she and the Musketeers become fierce adversaries. Milady has a secret, and she kills anyone who finds it out--her left shoulder is branded with the Fleur-de-Lis, a mark put on the worst criminals.
Madame Bonacieux - Wife of Monsieur Bonacieux and lady-in-waiting for Queen Anne. Madame Bonacieux is loyal to the Queen through and through. D'Artagnan falls in love with her, and in doing so gets involved in the Queen's secret affairs.
Monsieur Bonacieux - D'Artagnan's landlord, and Madame Bonacieux's husband. He originally comes to d'Artagnan for help when Madame Bonacieux is kidnapped, but after a private audience with the Cardinal, turns on his wife and becomes a Cardinalist agent.
Monsieur de Treville - The head of the King's Musketeers. Monsieur de Treville is an honorable and distinguished gentleman, and close friend to the King. He treats all his Musketeers as his sons, and is an important figure of support for the young d'Artagnan. He is a rival of Cardinal Richelieu for favor and influence with the King.
King Louis XIII - King of France. Louis XIII is not much of a ruler, and is dominated by his advisors, most notably Cardinal Richelieu, the most powerful man in France. He is a petulant and petty person, and those around him who are most successful are those who have learned to manipulate his pettiness.
Cardinal Richelieu - The King's most influential advisor, Richelieu is the most powerful and important man in France. He is furiously self-absorbed, but also an extremely effective leader of the state. Richelieu works hard to maintain the reputation and power of the king, since this is the stock on which his own status is based.
Queen Anne - Queen of France. Anne is Spanish, and her loyalties are divided between her Spanish heritage, her position as Queen of France, and her love for George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. The King does not trust her, or particularly like her, and the Cardinal hates her. Anne leads an unhappy life in the court.
George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham - Favorite and Minister of War for King Charles I of England. Buckingham is the perfect English gentleman, handsome, witty, brave, wealthy, and powerful. He is desperately in love with Anne of Austria, who, more reservedly, returns his affections. Throughout the novel, Buckingham's only motivation is to see and please Anne.
Lord de Winter - Lady de Winter's brother-in-law. Lord de Winter is a foppish gentlemen, not given to intrigue or action, but he rises to the occasion when more is demanded of him toward the end of the novel.
Comte de Rochefort - The Cardinal's private spy, a dangerous man.
Comte de Wardes - A Cardinalist agent; Milady is in love with him.
Kitty - Milady's maid; she falls in love with d'Artagnan.
John Felton - A British Naval Officer, ward of Lord de Winter; a Protestant.
Planchet - D'Artagnan's manservant. A very intelligent, reliable, somewhat brave man.
Grimaud - Athos' manservant. Athos has trained him to communicate in hand-signals, to minimize speech.
Mousqueton - Porthos's manservant. Like his master, he enjoys the finer things in life.
Bazin - Aramis's manservant. He wants nothing so much as for his master to enter the Church.
Madame de Coquenard - Porthos's mistress, the wife of a wealthy attorney. She dotes on Porthos, living for his affection. Porthos keeps her identity secret from his friends, telling them his mistress is a Duchess.
Madame de Chevreuse - Aramis's secret mistress, and a close personal friend of the Queen. Madame de Chevreuse is banished from Paris because the King, goaded by the Cardinal, suspects her of aiding the Queen in her personal and political intrigues.
Athos - The most important of the Three Musketeers, Athos is something of a father figure to d'Artagnan. He is older than his comrades, although still a young man. Athos is distinguished in every way--intellect, appearance, bravery, swordsmanship--yet he is tortured by a deep melancholy, the source of which no one knows.
Aramis - A young Musketeer, one of the great Three. Aramis is a handsome young man, quiet and somewhat foppish. He constantly protests that he is only temporarily in the Musketeers, and that any day now he will return to the Church to pursue his true calling. Aramis has a mysterious mistress, Madame de Chevreuse, a high noblewoman, whose existence and identity he tries to keep from his friends.
Porthos - Porthos, the third of the Three Musketeers, is loud, brash, and self-important. He is extremely vain, and enjoys outfitting himself handsomely; but for all that, he is a valiant fighter and a courageous friend. His mistress is Madame Coquenard, the wife of a wealthy attorney.
Lady de Winter - A mysterious, beautiful, dangerous, and ultimately evil Cardinalist agent. D'Artagnan becomes obsessed with her, but eventually she and the Musketeers become fierce adversaries. Milady has a secret, and she kills anyone who finds it out--her left shoulder is branded with the Fleur-de-Lis, a mark put on the worst criminals.
Madame Bonacieux - Wife of Monsieur Bonacieux and lady-in-waiting for Queen Anne. Madame Bonacieux is loyal to the Queen through and through. D'Artagnan falls in love with her, and in doing so gets involved in the Queen's secret affairs.
Monsieur Bonacieux - D'Artagnan's landlord, and Madame Bonacieux's husband. He originally comes to d'Artagnan for help when Madame Bonacieux is kidnapped, but after a private audience with the Cardinal, turns on his wife and becomes a Cardinalist agent.
Monsieur de Treville - The head of the King's Musketeers. Monsieur de Treville is an honorable and distinguished gentleman, and close friend to the King. He treats all his Musketeers as his sons, and is an important figure of support for the young d'Artagnan. He is a rival of Cardinal Richelieu for favor and influence with the King.
King Louis XIII - King of France. Louis XIII is not much of a ruler, and is dominated by his advisors, most notably Cardinal Richelieu, the most powerful man in France. He is a petulant and petty person, and those around him who are most successful are those who have learned to manipulate his pettiness.
Cardinal Richelieu - The King's most influential advisor, Richelieu is the most powerful and important man in France. He is furiously self-absorbed, but also an extremely effective leader of the state. Richelieu works hard to maintain the reputation and power of the king, since this is the stock on which his own status is based.
Queen Anne - Queen of France. Anne is Spanish, and her loyalties are divided between her Spanish heritage, her position as Queen of France, and her love for George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. The King does not trust her, or particularly like her, and the Cardinal hates her. Anne leads an unhappy life in the court.
George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham - Favorite and Minister of War for King Charles I of England. Buckingham is the perfect English gentleman, handsome, witty, brave, wealthy, and powerful. He is desperately in love with Anne of Austria, who, more reservedly, returns his affections. Throughout the novel, Buckingham's only motivation is to see and please Anne.
Lord de Winter - Lady de Winter's brother-in-law. Lord de Winter is a foppish gentlemen, not given to intrigue or action, but he rises to the occasion when more is demanded of him toward the end of the novel.
Comte de Rochefort - The Cardinal's private spy, a dangerous man.
Comte de Wardes - A Cardinalist agent; Milady is in love with him.
Kitty - Milady's maid; she falls in love with d'Artagnan.
John Felton - A British Naval Officer, ward of Lord de Winter; a Protestant.
Planchet - D'Artagnan's manservant. A very intelligent, reliable, somewhat brave man.
Grimaud - Athos' manservant. Athos has trained him to communicate in hand-signals, to minimize speech.
Mousqueton - Porthos's manservant. Like his master, he enjoys the finer things in life.
Bazin - Aramis's manservant. He wants nothing so much as for his master to enter the Church.
Madame de Coquenard - Porthos's mistress, the wife of a wealthy attorney. She dotes on Porthos, living for his affection. Porthos keeps her identity secret from his friends, telling them his mistress is a Duchess.
Madame de Chevreuse - Aramis's secret mistress, and a close personal friend of the Queen. Madame de Chevreuse is banished from Paris because the King, goaded by the Cardinal, suspects her of aiding the Queen in her personal and political intrigues.