The Three Musketeers (Wordsworth Classics)

Introduction and Notes
By Keith Wren, University of Kent at Canterbury.

Overview
One of the most celebrated and popular historical romances ever written, The Three Musketeers tells the story of the early adventures of the young Gascon gentleman, D'Artagnan, and his three friends from the regiment of the King's Musketeers — Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

Key Features

• Defending Honour:
  Under the watchful eye of their patron M. de Treville, the four musketeers defend:
  • The honour of the regiment against the guards of Cardinal Richelieu.
  • The honour of the queen against the machinations of the Cardinal himself.
• Historical Setting:
  The power struggles of seventeenth-century France are vividly played out in the background.
• Unforgettable Villain:
  Their most dangerous encounter is with Milady, the Cardinal's spy and one of literature's most memorable female villains.

Narrative Style
Alexandre Dumas employs all his fast-paced narrative skills to bring this enthralling novel to a breathtakingly gripping and dramatic conclusion.

Edition Details
This edition uses the William Barrow translation, first published by Bruce and Wylde (London, 1846).