The Three Musketeers

By: Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by: Walter Covell

Length: 25 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Set during the reign of Louis XIII (1610-43) and based on actual events, The Three Musketeers is perhaps the greatest "cloak and sword" story ever written. Three Musketeers, loyal servants of the King, are joined by the dashing D'Artagnan, a veritable Byronic hero. These four are pitted against the master of intrigue, Cardinal Richelieu, and the quintessential wicked woman, Lady de Winter. Dumas was quite expert in pacing and varying action while weaving historical fact with purest fiction. This great work is the unchallenged archetype for literary romance and has been a perennial delight for generations of readers.

©1990 Jimcin Recordings

Critic Reviews

"The Three Musketeers is excitedly brought to life by the gifted, energetic voice of Walter Covell, who seems to be reading with a smile and enjoying the story as much as any listener." (Booklist)
"This classic story of heroism and friendship set in prerevolutionary France needs no introduction. The wonderful tale should be background reading for every French history course. Covell's semi-voiced reading is entertaining and he interprets the story effectively and reads the different characters with varying degrees of emotion and intensity. Although the whole recording is over 25 hours, the listening experience is well worth the time required." (Kliatt)

Dumas is King!

His great masterpiece.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

Covell does a wonderful job with this enjoyable classic.

16 of 17 people found this review helpful

A Classic well worth the listen.

A Classic tale, nothing more to say there. The narration was very good and added to the story. Excellent.

16 of 17 people found this review helpful

nobility and storytelling

On first listen the first ten minutes or the antiquely ornate language put me off and made me think the book might be tedious. Another twenty minutes or so and I was hooked, eventually even by the language itself, which in part carries the spirit of the story, which plays heavily on the romanticism of honor.

A reviewer below seems to say that the French culture depicted was amoral and even degenerate, and there may be some truth to it, but I'd say rather that the characters get their appeal exactly from their having such a lofty sense of "morality", or ethics, or honor - only very different from what we're used to. Strange maybe to us that having a married mistress would be considered honorable, and that it's less whether you kill someone (or are killed) than how you kill or are killed, and for what cause. But despite its weaknesses, it's not weak: it's fun and lively and full-blooded - really living. In our culture, where it feels like lives are thrown away for no reason, while others live lives that risk and mean nothing, it's so terribly appealing to read about people living life on a high and courageous and adventurous edge - heroic. It's not that they don't value life - when I finished the book, after all, I was filled with such a desire that my life could be worth as much as theirs - but life to them is worth so much exactly because they value honor and integrity so much more than life itself. The book puts you in touch with nobility of spirit; it got me seriously thinking how to live in greater adventure.

But beyond this response to that review, I gained an enormous respect for Dumas' storytelling abilities - his way of milking every last bit of pleasure and excitement out of the plot. He makes you eager to know what's going to happen, but you don't want it to happen any faster because you're enjoying the telling so much - in particular the company of the characters (and in particular Athos!). Extremely fun to listen to - and affected me deeply.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

A classic worth reading.

A French historical novel, written in 1844, set in 1625. Both reader and story are terrific. A fabricated plot is woven into the genuine fabric of the assassination of the English Earl of Buckingham. 18 year old D'Artagnan is the protagonist. He travels to Paris to join the Musketeers, the personal guard of King Louis XIII. He is poor, courageous, and an exceptional swordsman. He has no pity. Through duels he repeatedly, at the drop-of-a-hat, kills anyone who insults him. No insult is too trivial. He encounters a mysterious 25 year-old beauty that we subsequently learn is a brilliant but evil spy for Cardinal Richelieu, the King's chief advisor and swore enemy of the Musketeers, even though they serve the same King. The book is translated to English keeping a strong French flavor. The author portrays France as Christian more in appearance than in actuality, depicting a French love-hate relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, and ridicule of Protestant Christianity and the British Empire. Respect is shown for individual Englishmen. If you are an Anglophile this book will confirm your prejudices, i.e., France has always been morally bankrupt. In addition to an absence of respect for life, French chivalry also does not include reverence for the sanctity of the marriage bed, by French men or women. Revenge is a recurrent theme, forgiveness is not. In addition to their addiction to honor, Frenchmen also appear to be addicted to romance with a peculiar, almost feminine, absence of lust. From a 21st century American perspective the book portrays a society destined to implode from the weight of its own moral contradictions. The 3 musketeers are Porthos, Aramis, and Athos. D'Artagnan is their constant companion and a Musketeer aspirant. Milady is the beautiful young sociopathic spy and Cardinal Richelieu is also a sociopath. Books that follow include: 20 Years After, The Viscount do Bragelone, Lousde de Vailiere, and The Man in the Iron Mask.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Truly Amazing Narration

The reader of this book was one of the best I have heard on Audible at distinguishing between a large number of voices and keeping the story energized. Make your own mind up about how much the story of swashbucling and mistresses appeals, but rest assured the narrator is excellent!

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Excellent Reading

I've always enjoyed Dumas as an author. Though all his works are long, you don't feel overwhelmed by them where listening would be a chore. I prefer the unabridged versions from Audible and this was a delight to listen to. I started with the Man in the Iron Mask - I recommend that one as well.

Both readers give great interpretations and bring the characters to life. I really admire Athos in this story, he's my favorite. You can feel his pain as his secret life is slowly revealed in the story.

I also love the way Dumas blends history and fiction together into an enjoyable adventure. I commute for an hour each way daily and enjoy the time where I can escape with a good story. You won't be disappointed in this.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Give us more Dumas

A very colorful, passionate story of the musketeers, the King, Cardinal Richelieu, Lord Buckingham, and the Queen of France. Strong characterization and a fascinating, intricate plot. I even felt the same regret the musketeers displayed when they caught-up with My Lady. Each of the Dumas novels available on Audible is highly satisfying: Three Musketeers, Man in the Iron Mask, and Count of Monte Cristo. Let us have even more of the novels made available. I will read any that are added to Audible.

Excellent narrator.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

What's to review

It's a classic. Read well and holding it's own.Reliably entertaining, witty, fun and a reminder that they did things well once.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

fabulous

Amazing reading by Mr. Covell and an exciting, humorous adventure as always by Mr. Dumas. Loved it.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Classic

I have been a fan of the films all my life. I finally decided to try the original sorce of all the hours of enjoyment.

This is a classic. Fun and existing from days of honer and friendship to long gone.

History is repeated.

This book is a very interesting action and adventure book setting in court of Luis XIII, King of France at earlier sixteenth century. It reflects the ignorance in which a King may be living. You can see how a (or more) scropulous person can manipuate a King who only knew the reality through the visión of their advisers. It is a funny book but, at the same time, it is a vivid reflect of the current monarchies.