Last week, I reviewed Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers (1884). That story has much to do with many in its genre (Romance/Action), and showcases a plot of intrigue and danger. Considering we have been examining a variety of different books in a similar vein, the expansion into Dumas’s sequel with further expand our knowledge of the subject and the genre. In this post, I am going to review Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas (the second novel in the series), and we will see just what the musketeers have been up to for some time.
Outline
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas is set against the backdrop of historical events, particularly the Fronde, a series of civil wars in 17th-century France. The novel unfolds two decades after the original story; it picks up with the once inseparable musketeers—d’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—having gone their separate ways. In the novel, historical figures and events come to life, such as Oliver Cromwell, King Louis, and Charles I. The novel also explores the romantic entanglements of the musketeers, intertwining their personal lives with the broader political landscape.
Book Blurb:
From the Wordsworth Classics: “In ‘Twenty Years After’ the much beloved D’Artaganan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis reunite to fight the forces of evil. In the original novel they defeated Milady, a formidable foe; now they need to face her vengeful son Mordaunt, as well as countering the machinations of the sinister Cardinal Mazarin. Their adventures also take them to England, where Cromwell is about to topple Charles I. Meanwhile, they must overcome the obstacles which the passing of time has placed between them. Rediscovering strength in unity, they fight for Queen and country. ‘The Musketeer’ novels were a huge success in Dumas’ own lifetime, and have lost none of their original appeal. Translated into many languages and adapted for cinema and television, they have helped to make Dumas arguably the most successful exporter of French culture to the wider world.”
Critical Reception
On Goodreads, Twenty Years After has 23,523 ratings and 786 reviews. Of the ratings, there were 8,806 five-star ratings, and 138 ratings.
Five-star reviewers stated that the book is a “‘getting the band back together’” story, with “friends in their forties and fifties, still vigorous in decline, constrained by the comforts and commitments of middle age,” which is an excellent descriptor. Additionally, reviewers stated that “It is a far more mature book than The There Musketeers and the character studies are absolutely stupendous.”
Moreover, one-star reviews stated that the characters don’t really seem like themselves in this book outside of their names. Likewise, one-star reviewers stated that the musketeers “spend the duration of this novel lamenting their lost youth and longing for a return to their old life…”
Impressions
Along with the first book, The Three Musketeers, I am always enraptured by these characters, and Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas does not disappoint. The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) film reminded me that these characters are engaging in not just in one scenario–but many. With that said, I believe that their characters and friendship must feel exciting as readers return to their continuing adventures, as I certainly was upon opening to the first page.
Works Cited
Dumas, Alexandre. Twenty Years After. Translated by William Robson, George Routledge and Sons, 1846.
