The Last Cavalier

By: Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 35 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

The story of France from the Renaissance to the 19th century, as Dumas vibrantly retold it in his numerous enormously popular novels, has long been absent one vital, richly historical era: the Age of Napoleon. But no longer. Now dynamically, in a tale of family honor and undying vengeance, of high adventure and heroic derring-do, The Last Cavalier fills that gap.

The last cavalier is Count de Sainte-Hermine, Hector, whose elder brothers and father have fought and died for the Royalist cause during the French Revolution. For three years Hector has been languishing in prison when, in 1804, on the eve of Napoleon's coronation as emperor of France, he learns what is to be his due. Stripped of his title, denied the honour of his family name as well as the hand of the woman he loves, he is freed by Napoleon on the condition that he serve in the imperial forces. So it is in profound despair that Hector embarks on a succession of daring escapades as he courts death fearlessly. Yet again and again he wins glory, against brigands, bandits, the British, boa constrictors, sharks, tigers and crocodiles. At the Battle of Trafalgar, it is Hector's bullet that fells Nelson. But however far his adventures take him, from Burma's jungles to the wilds of Ireland, his destiny lies always with his father's enemy, Napoleon.

(P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

It is rousing, big spirited, its action sweeping across oceans and continents, its hero gloriously indomitable. This newly discovered last novel of Alexandre Dumas, lost for 125 years in the archives of the National Library in Paris, completes the Dumas oeuvre.
"Absolutely wonderful....Alexandre Dumas remains, now as ever, the Napoleon of storytellers." - ( Washington Post)
"James Bond, Indiana Jones, and many others owe a deep debt to Dumas, who stuffs his tales with thrilling exploits and exotic locales. No one with a pulse will be able to resist Dumas's lost classic." ( Christian Science Monitor)

Dumas' uncompleted novel

What is it about many 19th century novelists that they could write such gripping and well researched historical novels? The fascinating thing about this recently rediscovered novel of Alexandre Dumas set in the Napoleonic period, is its attention to historical detail and every chapter gives insights into the political and social tensions of that turbulent period. An excellent history lesson and a great story-line superbly narrated by Simon Prebble. And what a brilliant touch of Dumas to portray the hero as the french-man responsible for killing Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Pity that Dumas died without completing the novel, but even without an end worth every one of the 35+ hours in the car spent listening. This audio-book has motivated me to now go back and listen to the other Dumas novels that I first encountered as a teenager nearly 60 years ago.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

a word of warning

My warning is: This book begins with about a two hour and fifteen minute introduction in which the author justifies the historical accuracy of his writings and especially in defense of The Last Cavalier. During this portion many aspects of the story will be shared before hand and for those who want a surprise you may want to skip the introduction. They do attempt to warn you about the disclosure, but do not give you any indication of how long it takes to skip it. Also, due to the fact that in many instances the author is reading from letters dealing with the story, it is not always obvious when the introduction ends and the novel begin.
Additionally, this novel is not finished by Alexandre Dumas because he dies before it is completed. The ending of the novel is continued by another writer who, in my opinion, does an excellent job of wrapping up the story. The narrator is very good and the story line is an action packed Dumas tale, in character with his previous works.

20 of 21 people found this review helpful

Alexandre's last hurrah!!

While this audio book doesn't have the je ne sais quoi of Dumas's well known masterpieces, it is nonetheless a rich story, full of the familiar style and substance that I find absolutely captivating. The story is complex (perhaps a little contrived), but entertaining and easy to get drawn in to. Dumas steps outside Europe here, as his protaganist sails into the Indian Ocean in seach of adventure and reward, then back headlong into Italian intrigue and banditry, all in the name of pennance and honour.

The reading was excellent, well paced with good characterisations and easy to listen to. It's quire long, and as Dumas wasn't able to complete the project himself, it has been finished off faithfully and without any real change in style.

I rate it 4 stars.It doesn't compare with The 3 Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo, but it does not embarass them either. Recommended.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

For Dumas fanciers only

A bit of a 'Boys Own' adventure.(lots of adventures with swords and pistols).
Highwaymen and Corsairs (pirates) along with heroic and grizzly accounts of heads chopped off and people hung as Napoleon strides the European Stage make for an interesting life.

It really did not suffer for being unfinished as Dumas had recorded the plot.

I liked the pirate bits the best.

Simon Prebble read well.
Unless you really must read the last unfinisged novel, or you like old fashioned adventure stories, I think there are better Dumas to capture your imagination.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Historic Journey Across the Globe

If you are a fan of Dumas or just a fan of history this book is a must have. This epic novel will pull you directly into the Napoleonic era, with countless first hand historical references. Follow René, from personal conversations with Bonaparte himself, into the smoky haze of the Battle of Trafalgar face to face with Nelson and just about everywhere else in the colonial French empire. This is swashbuckling at it's very finest told in the elegant, detailed style unique to Dumas. The breadth of history covered is staggering. The true shame is that Dumas did not get to finish this epic masterpiece.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The Last Cavalier

Although I did enjoy this book, at time it reminded me too much of Louise de La Vallière in that it went too far with unnecessary and irrelevant details. The ending was also too abrupt, but I guess it was adequate. What can I say, I'm a Dumas addict and will read anything they say he wrote. It was enjoyable and the main character, Victor/Rene/Leo was as complex and interesting as Edmund Dantes (That is when the story didn't spend too much time on Napoleon or Nelson). All in all if you are also a Dumas fan, I think you'll enjoy this book

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Finished wanting more!

Wow! Left me mourning the death of Dumas before finishing in this masterpiece. Story is worthy of Dumas and reading is is masterfully done.

Outstanding performance!

Outstanding performance and story. Sad that it, even with its great length, remains an incomplete text. Hopefully, the remainder of Dumas' tale will one day find its way into a future printing and performance.

Rather mediocre for Dumas

I loved many of Dumas’ books, but have found that some of them don’t measure up to what I’ve come to expect. This one is like that, and the fact that a big deal is made (a long introduction) about how this was never published as a book at the time he wrote it and it was recovered made me hope for something much better than it was. The story kind of drags for parts, especially the whole beginning until any of the adventure gets going. The “history lessons” are a bit too much of the novel. But the worst aspect is that the Count is too perfect a hero. He’s handsome, so well-mannered, sings beautifully, is a perfect shot, duals better than anyone, plays music, is rich and generous (to the point of being too much so - how does it feel to all the people that he is tossing them a gold coin so easily?; you’d think they resent such wealth), hunts animals (ugh!, but that’s a 19th century thing), is daring, and charms everyone. He’s too perfect. No flaws. That doesn’t make for an interesting character. Interesting characters are like the Count of Monte Cristo, or d'Artagnan who are flawed and have human weaknesses that give you food for thought. He meets two sisters and I won’t spoil the plot for you, but let’s just say that what befalls one of them is overexaggerated. Simon Prebble’s performance is OK, but not outstanding. Too many of his characters’ voices were similar. He does not do women’s voices at all as well as some of the male narrators do. This book is awfully long for how the plot develops (and the introduction pretty much sums it all up).

Not Dumas’ Best

Being a history buff there were some
interesting digressions for background and scene setting. The story and the fictional characters were pretty ridiculous. First time I think I cheered for a character’s death. The female characters were little more than caricatures and two dimensional.

Excellent story, beautifully narrated.

Where does The Last Cavalier rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's certainly one of the best, most particularly in terms of the wonderful, truly wonderful, narration. I have not listened to anything by Simon Prebble before but I definitely will again, he is a master at fully understanding the text and interpreting it with the author's intended humor, satire and depth of vision.

What did you like best about this story?

I always like Dumas's somewhat fantastical figures. I loved the Count of Monte Cristo for his equally ridiculous talents and this is really no different but the story here is different indeed. The accuracy of the historical context is perfect and wonderfully rendered into a fascinating account of not only Napoleon but also Nelson and all the minor characters around them.

This is the 'missing piece' from Dumas's work and you'll find he features his own father (in real life, his real father!) in a minor role in this book.

If you love this period of history, the Napoleonic wars and the increasing madness (or, some might say, megalomania) of Napoleon, then you will LOVE this.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I certainly shall again. He was quite wonderful, lovely characterizations, never sounds bored in what is, after all, a very long tome and he delivers the speeches with exactly the right amount of pathos and/or quietude without ever resorting to caricature.

A truly marvellous performance.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not especially but then I have read War and Peace which is perhaps the greatest book ever written about this period and THAT did make me cry. However, I WAS very sad when this book ended and tried to ration out the final few hours so it did not end too soon as Simon Prebble's beautiful narration had made all the characters sympathetic and one was left wanting to know 'what happened next' to them all.

Any additional comments?

Just BUY IT! It's fantastic and I shall definitely listen to it again as it time well invested.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

one of dumas greats

This book is just great adventure history love and more the character's are so well done most the ones who are taken from history are done so well he writes them in a way that's help you form an opinion vast on what you read not what The history books tell and the back ground information on the events and places you see in book is great.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

really impressed with narration.

narrator was really good at expressing emotions through his voice. the story was also entertaining.

What a surprise. 170 years old and still great.

I loved it. I wish there was a sequel. Real genteel early Victorian Franco adventure.

Perfect

The only thing wrong with this is that there was no end! But I appreciate that an attempt was not made, a lovely story and a great narration

Very good

Equally as good as D'Artagnion series. Enjoyed battle of Trafalgar from French perspective, and section in Burma.