The Vicomte de Bragelonne

By: Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 23 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 Valliere.

D'Artagnan, meanwhile, is perplexed by a mysterious stranger, and soon he learns that his old comrades already 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.

(P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Alternately melodramatic, sentimental, humorous, wordly, and almost always absorbing." ( Irish Times)
"I would sit down with The Vicomte de Bragelonne for a long, silent, solitary, lamplit evening by the fire." (Robert Louis Stevenson)

Why didn't I read this stuff sooner

After reading The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, I could completely understand why everyone I know loves the work of Alexandre Dumas. I thought that this book might be greatly inferior to Dumas's better-known work, but this guy can't seem to write a terrible story.

Humor, action, memorable characters - the more Dumas I read, the more of it I want to read. These books have really aged well, and I see their fingerprints everywhere I look in fantasy and sci-fi.

I wish I'd known this is kind of The Three Musketeers Part 3 before I went and spoiled bits of Twenty Years Later, which came in between the two books. I thought this was a standalone like The Count of Monte Cristo, but I was incorrect. I could have gotten that tidbit of information from Wikipedia, and I'll soon fill that gap in the narrative, but it is unfortunate that this wasn't described as a sequel in the write-up here on Audible.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Misrepresentation

I thoroughly enjoyed this story...that is to say the part which I listened to. The description of this book leads one to believe that it's the entire novel. However, it was broken into two parts and the second part "Louise de la Valliere" is not yet available on Audible. I am rather annoyed because I have no idea now when I'll be able to see how the story ended. If you like to hear a complete story like me, ensure that the second half is available before downloading this book. That being said, if the second half is as good as the first then I would definitely recommend this.

22 of 24 people found this review helpful

Dumas' prequel to The Man in the Iron Mask

I look forward to the continuation of this story, which is so necessary to the full appreciation of The Man in the Iron Mask. The style of this work far surpasses that of Twenty Years After and closely approaches that of The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask. All I ask of Audible is the addition of the second part of this work and the additional of any other work of Dumas that becomes available -- the two remaining parts of Queen Margot, for instance.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Amazing story. Captivating, intriguing

I wish I had discovered these novels earlier in life. The characters lend lessons to even modern life. The plots twist, surprise and rend the heart.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Dumas created a literary style with strong echoes heard today.

Yes, it is entertaining. And very interesting reading, well worth your time. And of course Simon Vance is the master. So the narrator does the author justice. However in addition, I am constantly amazed at the subtle wit and humor blended into the story which illuminates how people to this day really think and are motivated to act. I suppose what I am trying to say is that I have learned something about myself, my own character, my own condition, and maybe I don't take myself so seriously having benefited from reading Dumas. Take a moment to read about the author's life and the life of his father, it is fascinating.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Too slow.

I downloaded this because I LOVED The Three Musketeers and was anxious for another fun "classic" read, but I just couldn't get through this one! It moved too slowly with too many sub-stories and details to keep my interest. Once I got into the Musketeers I couldn't stop listening, but this one felt like homework to listen to. The narrator was nice, though I prefer John Lee's D'Artagnan. I'm throwing in the towel and moving on to something more interesting.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great book

great narrator read this book very well. this was a great finish to the D'Artagnan's romances and I am looking forward to seeing what will happen next in the last two book in this series.

Not Dumas' best.

Somewhat of an inbetween book and not able to stand on its own. It loses momentum a third of the way through and never recovers. There are still great moments but this pales in comparison to the Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After.

Great reader, fun story

This is the third of the d'Artagnan books in the series (as presented by Audible - there are different divisions), and the third that I've listened to. All of them are a bit slow to start, a bit slow to get into the story. Maybe the set-up is sluggish, but once it gets rolling, it is great fun. And Simon Vance is a great reader - it is amazing how he makes each character sound different. Unfortunately, the second volume has a far less enjoyable reader (you can see my review for that), but it was a delight to get Simon Vance again, and I'm looking forward to the next volume, which he will be reading to me. In fact, I usually like to mix up the authors of the books I read - not two by the same author in a row, but take a break with something else. But this time, we are left waiting for what will happen next, and so I'm off to the next volume!

Political

This book is filled with political entries of the royal court. It lacks the swashbuckle of previous Dumas writings about our heroes. The story bemoans times seeming
different time, as this book reflects a different time, but same Dumas style.

loved it

Great story. An insight into the French court. I will read this book again. I will have to get the books in the right order next time.

a great story, very well told

very well told, exceptional character voices... a good story with many characters...it sets the scene to the next book....