Le vicomte de Bragelonne

Following The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After, Dumas continued his D'Artagnan romances with a final trilogy set during the reign of Louis XIV. Louise de La Valliere, the second novel in that trilogy, continues the suspense which began with The Vicomte de Bragelonne and will end with The Man in the Iron Mask. Filled with behind-the-scenes political intrigues and set against a tender love story, the novel brings the aging Musketeers out of retirement to face an impending crisis within the royal court of France. It is 1661, and King Louis XIV is strengthening France's military, preparing to undermine superintendent of finance Nicolas Fouquet at the behest of wily social-climber Jean-Baptiste Colbert. D'Artagnan has assumed command of the king's Musketeers while Aramis has risen to the top of the Jesuit order. Meanwhile, Porthos remains tied to the military, and the wealthy Athos is concerned with the affairs of his son, Raoul, who finds himself smitten with the lovely Louise de la Valliere. As always, Dumas brings French history to life with excitement and romance.

To paraphrase the note from the translator, The Celebrated Crimes of Alexandre Dumas père was not written for children. The novelist has spared no language-has minced no words-to describe violent scenes of violent times. In this, the eleventh of the series, Dumas switches away from his usual narrative style and gives us, instead, a detailed review--almost a bibliographic essay--on the various ideas and theories advanced by historians, speculative writers and critics on one of the enduring fascinations of French royal history: the case of The Man in the Iron Mask. Ever since the time of Louis XIV, the story has been told of a man mysteriously snatched out of the world and buried for life, not merely in a prison cell, but also in an mask of iron: an imprisonment designed to ensure that no one would ever know his name or even see his face. Dumas asks, who was the man in the iron mask? Why was he imprisoned? Why were such strange precautions taken, and why was he treated with such respect and care, given everything he asked for--except his freedom and his name? Dumas is very scrupulous about his sources, carefully citing the full bibliographic details, while also indulging his novelist's flair for the dramatic. This recording preserves all that, to give the listener the full air of authenticity Dumas so carefully manufactures. Enjoy!

In this, the last of the Three Musketeers novels, Dumas builds on the true story of a mysterious prisoner held incognito in the French penal system, forced to wear a mask when seen by any but his jailer or his valet. If you have skipped the novels between The Three Musketeers and this, a few notes will bring you into the story: On one side — Aramis, now a bishop and secretly the Captain-General of the Jesuit Order, who believes he has found a path to a higher honor — the papacy. Monsieur Fouquet, the vastly rich minister of finance, Aramis' ally. Philippe, the identical twin of King Louis XIV, who grew up in ignorance of his pedigree, and whose surrogate parents were murdered on the king's order and himself sent into the notorious Paris prison, the Bastille, there held in solitary confinement. On the other side — King Louis XIV, selected as the twin who would be king by his mother, and who intends that his brother will never challenge him. Monsieur Colbert, first minister, who is jealous of Fouquet and plots his downfall. Unaligned and in danger of collateral damage — d'Artagnan, now captain of the King's Musketeers and so the king's chief defender, who suspects plots running beneath the surface and who is trying to unearth them. Athos, now the Comte (Count) de la Fer and one of the most respected noblemen of France. Raoul, Athos' son and vicomte (viscount), desperately in love with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, who the king has taken as his mistress. Porthos, grown extremely stout and happy as the Baron du Vallon. Aramis discovers the hidden Philippe and hatches a plot to substitute him for the sitting king, putting Louis in Philippe's cell in the Bastille. This even succeeds... for a short while. But Aramis has not reckoned with a man whose loyalty to the throne exceeds his own welfare and who disastrously reverses the plot. Now it is time for the plotters to scurry to cover, there to figure some way to recover their lost ambitions.

Timeless Classics--designed for the struggling reader and adapted to retain the integrity of the original classic. These classic audiobooks will grab a student's attention from the first page. Books sold separate. The mysterious prisoner is called Marchiali- but is that his true name? And why has an innocent man been imprisoned for so long? The fabled three musketeers suspect a royal conspiracy. But there are deadly dangers in confronting the royal family. The musketeers could be killed- and poor Marchiali could end up wearing an iron mask!

The Man in the Iron Mask continues the adventures of the dauntless heroes of The Three Musketeers – Aramis, Athos, Porthos and d'Artagnan. In old age their swashbuckling ought to have been replaced by a more gentle way of life, but the veteran warriors find themselves at the centre of a plot in which both hearts and heads are broken, and the very throne of France is at stake.

These literary masterpieces are made easy and interesting. This series features classic tales retold with color illustrations to introduce literature to struggling readers. Each audiobook retains key phrases and quotations from the original classics. This is the sad fate of Philippe, twin brother of the King of France, until a daring plan to rescue him unfolds.

Dumas' famous musketeers return in another exciting swashbuckler. And this time, Aramis is embarking on the most perilous mission of all: to depose King Louis XIV and put his twin brother Philip on the throne instead. Since childhood, Philip has been hidden away so no one would know of his existence-but Aramis believes that he would be the superior ruler. Is Aramis right...or is he making a deadly mistake? Dumas' famous musketeers return in another exciting swashbuckler. And this time, Aramis is embarking on the most perilous mission of all: to depose King Louis XIV and put his twin brother Philip on the throne instead. Since childhood, Philip has been hidden away so no one would know of his existence-but Aramis believes that he would be the superior ruler. Is Aramis right...or is he making a deadly mistake? Author Alexandre Dumas.

Thirty-five years after the events of The Three Musketeers, D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis find themselves caught between conflicting loyalties in a power struggle that could change the face of the French monarchy. For eight long years, a young prisoner has languished within the dreaded Bastille, his face hidden in an iron mask. He knows neither his true identity nor the crime for which he has been imprisoned. But Aramis knows this secret-a secret so dangerous, it could topple the King from his throne. Will his cause divide the once indivisible band of musketeers? A tale of mystery, adventure, and political intrigue, this conclusion to Dumas's swashbuckling musketeer saga is based on the true story of a masked prisoner who dwelled in the Bastille during Louis XIV's reign and whose identity remains in question to this day.

Dumas continues his Musketeer Romances with a final trilogy. The Vicomte de Bragelonne opens an epic adventure which continues with Louise de la Vallière and reaches its climax in The Man in the Iron Mask. It is May 1660, and the fate of nations is at stake. Mazarin plots, Louis XIV is in love, and Raoul de Bragelonne, son of Athos, is intent on serving France and winning the heart of Louise de la Vallière. Meanwhile, d'Artagnan learns that his old comrades have great projects in hand. Athos seeks the restoration of Charles II, while Aramis, with Porthos in tow, has a secret plan involving a masked prisoner and the fortification of the island of Belle-Ile. D'Artagnan finds a thread leading him to the French court, the banks of the Tyne, the beaches of Holland, and the dunes of Brittany. Never short on swashbuckling action, breathtaking suspense, and romantic intrigue, Dumas's classic works are must-haves for any collection.