The Three Musketeers (Wordsworth Classics) (Cover may vary)

What can I say about a true classic written around 200 years ago?? The paperback is great VFM - a rather dense intro with many notes at the back - these can be ignored. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the book is to read in 2023. Almost divided into 3 parts, the telling of the tale(s) does bog down a bit around the middle with not a lot happening and a lot of conversation that doesn't advance the plot...but the rest, what an adventure, and I found it just as enthralling as anything modern (well almost). The characters are pretty unpleasant - quarrelsome, violent, bullys almost, but you are with them all the way. I found that by having watched so many films and series (mostly but not all innacurate,) that I was able to more enjoy the story. The final few chapters still pack a real emotional punch. Of course this won't appeal to everyone, but, if like me, you tried to read this 50 years ago, you may well find it a bit of a pleasurable doddle now (mostly). At this price and for the quality of the product...give it a go.

A great read and this is one of the classics. You would be forgiven if you though that this would be a difficult read but it's not. A really good story that moves along at a good pace, great plot and characterisation. Thoroughly recommended.

This is a classic well worth reading. I'd seen films with the same title, but in my view, the book is FAR, far superior. This is a good translation to English, which flows well. I hadn't realised that there were other books in this 'series' - so have ordered those as well. Author doesn't thrust the characters traits upon you, either - he ekes them out, bit by bit, so you get to know each one, and do get quite attached to them all, as they are all good chaps, in their own way. A VERY good read, & highly recommended.

Alexander Dumas could certainly tell a good tale, and this is no exception. The ladies are ladies; the schemers are devilishly ruthless; the musketeers are heroes who mostly use swords. Exciting, adventurous, and generally a ripping yarn, the four friends deliver exactly what you would expect of such a classical tale, as it gallops around northern France in the 17th Century.

Swashbuckling adventure story with four very different heroes, a beautiful Queen, a nasty baddie, danger and love and courage, one for all and all for one! Huzzah!

A very good book that moves at a good pace

Sometimes classics can be over-hyped, but this is genuinely a great book. Really we'll written with a bit of a dry wit, never takes itself too seriously. Really engrosses you back to revolutionary France. You end up really caring for the characters and it's just a classic swashbuckling adventure. A page turner.

With a timeless classic like this, there is no doubt that the storyline will be great, but with it being a foreign classic, translations are always an issue. Sometimes they don't read well, sometimes they stray too far from the point that the author was trying to convey. This Wordsworth edition has it spot on! A definite must-read!

Reading.

Mine had a different cover but still a great book and a good price.

5/5

Snel en netjes geleverd. Goed boek en niet duur.

Reading The Three Musketeers for the first time was an extraordinary experience, far richer than anything I had absorbed through film or television adaptations over the years. Alexandre Dumas delivers a novel that is not only foundational to adventure literature, but also impressively modern in tone and narrative style, especially considering the period in which it was written. This makes the book surprisingly accessible and thoroughly enjoyable for contemporary readers. A Story That Has Everything The novel combines a bit of everything: suspense, political intrigue, romance, adventure, duels, friendship, and strategy. Dumas moves effortlessly between these elements, maintaining a rhythm that keeps the reader fully engaged. The plot is dense without ever feeling heavy, full of twists and colorful characters whose personalities leap off the page, far more complex and vivid than most adaptations manage to portray. A Writing Style Ahead of Its Time What impressed me most was how modern Dumas’ writing feels. His dialogue is sharp, humorous, and often filled with irony. The pacing is dynamic, with scenes that flow as if written for the screen, proof of how influential his style has been on storytelling for nearly two centuries. Even the more elaborate descriptions, typical of classic literature, feel purposeful and immersive rather than excessive. A Literary Giant Worthy of Its Reputation It becomes immediately clear why The Three Musketeers is regarded as one of the greatest literary works of all time. The novel blends entertainment with depth, delivering moments of tension, emotion, and laughter while also offering insight into loyalty, ambition, honor, and human imperfection. For readers familiar only with adaptations, the book is a revelation, far richer, more nuanced, and much more thrilling. A masterpiece that unquestionably deserves its status as a timeless classic.