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The Three Musketeers

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The Three Musketeers

Written by: Alexandre Dumas
Narrated by: John Lee
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Buy Now for ₹1,338.00

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About this listen

 Mixing a bit of seventeenth-century French history with a great deal of invention, Alexandre Dumas tells the tale of young D'Artagnan and his musketeer comrades, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. Together they fight to foil the schemes of the brilliant, dangerous Cardinal Richelieu, who pretends to support the king while plotting to advance his own power. Bursting with swirling swordplay, swooning romance, and unforgettable figures---including the seductively beautiful but deadly femme fatale, Milady, and D'Artagnan's equally beautiful love, Madame Bonacieux--- The Three Musketeers continues, after a century and a half of continuous publication, to define the genre of swashbuckling romance and historical adventure.©1923 Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor Classics

Editorial Reviews

Of course you've heard of the three famous swordsmen, but did you know that the novel is really funny, as well as replete with romance and adventure? John Lee does, and his narration plays up all three attributes to great effect. For those who need a reminder, Dumas's classic adventure presents the escapades of three of King Louis's musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, plus D'Artagnan (a musketeer in training) as they foil a few of Cardinal Richelieu's many devious plots. Amid much swordplay, they actually utter the famous line: "All for one and one for all." Lee struggles a bit with accents and characterizations early in the production. His hesitations disappear after a few chapters, however, and he gives fine voice to the rest of the madcap tale.
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This is perhaps not the best of tales but is undoubtedly one of the most swashbuckling thrillers ever written. I had read an abridged version years ago and heard the complete one now and it was thoroughly entertaining, I only regret not having read or heard it in the original French - for the language is unknown to me. There are indeed some dull moments in this epic but for the most part the suspense of the chase is almost palpable and the pace is unerringly consistent.

As interesting as this story was (as too The Count of Monte Cristo - which I heard about 2 years ago) I am a little ambivalent about John Lee's reading. His diction & enunciation are (were) impeccable.. his pronunciation of French and Italian words almost orgasmic (making me want to drop everything and learn to speak the 2 languages without delay) .. but his intonation and character voices were sometimes so feeble that at certain instances I struggled to discern one persona from another. He seemed unable to bring the feminine in his baritone (unlike say a Martin Jarvis or a Stephan Fry) and the only modulation he would offer.. could offer were these 'oohs' and 'aahs' that really left you wholly unamused and underwhelmed.

On the whole though.. it is a must listen.. if for nothing else but to revel in 19th century literature - by one of the greats - about the goings-on of 17th France.

A swashbuckling thriller!

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This was a wonderful companion while reading the physical copy of the book as I am unfamiliar with the pronunciation of all the French names and phrases. The narration has enough pomp and flair to transport me to the chaotic world of 17th century France where our main character D'Artagnan teams up with the three musketeers - Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

What I enjoyed: The humor, the fast paced plot and the high stakes political intrigue with multiple moving parts, the non-stop scheming of the formidable and capricious Milady, and of course the unwavering friendship of the core group.

What I disliked: The character arc of our "heroes", mainly D'Artagnan and Athos. Without spoiling anything, let me just say that I did not cheer at the "justice" meted out at the end of the book. Somebody's crimes were punished while someone else's crimes were disregarded altogether.

Do I recommend the book despite the unsatisfactory ending? Absolutely, yes!

Stellar narration, dramatic story

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