Alexandre Dumas was born in 1802 in Picardy, France. He was a prolific writer, and he remains one of the most widely read French authors. Many of his novels, including The Three Musketeers, began as serials. It has also been adapted many times for television and the cinema. It has also been adapted in cartoon form, as a musical and has inspired a number of computer games. Dumas died in 1870, with his last novel unfinished. (It was completed by a scholar and published in 2005, naturally becoming a best seller).

The book opens in 1625, with a yong man called d'Artagnan leaving his family home in Gascony. He's heading for Paris, where he aims to join the Musketeers. (His father was able to provide him with a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Tréville, the commander of the Musketeers. This would have made his goal much easier to accomplish). Unfortunately, and probably unsurprisingly, the young Gascon lands himself in trouble before reaching his destination. When a mysterious gentleman mocks his horse at Meung-sur-Loire, d'Artagnan challenges him to a duel. Being the underhand villain that he is, he allows his sidekicks to beat he young Gascon unconscious before robbing him of his letter to Monsieur de Tréville. This mysterious gentleman turns out to be the Comte de Rochefort, one of Cardinal Richelieu's most trusted henchmen. Rochefort is at Meung passing orders to the Lady De Winter. d'Artagnan will have the bad luck to encounter many times thorughout the book.

Despite the setback, d'Artagnan has no intention of giving up. After recovering, he continues to Paris and tries to enlist with the musketeers - a goal that has become much more difficult without his letter. Worse is to come. At Tréville's residence, he manages to offend three of the best known musketeers : Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each challenges d'Artagnan to a duel - which he feels honour bound to accept. Fortunately, at the time of the first duel, the Cardinal's guards arrive - providing the four men with a common enemy. From that point on, the four are inseparable.

A very enjoyable book overall - I was surprised at how accesible it was. (The only part that dragged, for me, was Milday's imprisonment - and I couldn;t believe how gullible Felton was). I had been expected the Musketeers to have been a little more fully developed, and I was very surprised at how small a part Rochefort actually playedin thebook. Nevertheless, very much recommended.

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