The Vicomte de Bragelonne
In the grand finale of Dumas's D'Artagnan Romances, *The Vicomte de Bragelonne* reunites the legendary musketeers in their twilight years, now navigating the treacherous currents of Louis XIV's burgeoning court. D'Artagnan, ever loyal, serves the Sun King, while Athos grapples with the coming-of-age of his son, Raoul, the titular Vicomte. Aramis and Porthos, however, are entangled in a clandestine plot whose tendrils reach from the restoration of Charles II in England to the highest echelons of French finance, culminating in Dumas's audacious answer to the enduring mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask. This sprawling epic weaves together courtly romance, political intrigue, and swashbuckling adventure on a truly monumental scale.
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The Vicomte de Bragelonne
Standard Ebooks
The Vicomte De Bragelonne; Or, Ten Years Later: Being the Completion of "the Three Musketeers" and "twenty Years After
The Vicomte De Bragelonne; Or, Ten Years Later: Being the Completion of "the Three Musketeers" and "twenty Years After
Project Gutenberg · 1,406 pages
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
Project Gutenberg · 758 pages
About The Vicomte de Bragelonne
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- At the castle of Blois, two young maids of honor, Louise de La Vallière and Montalais, are interrupted while writing a letter to Raoul de Bragelonne by the arrival of the Vicomte himself, bearing news of the king's impending visit.
- 2
- Raoul de Bragelonne arrives at Blois as messenger from the Prince de Condé, announcing that King Louis XIV will visit. He is received by M. de Saint-Remy and eventually meets with Monsieur.
- 3
- Montalais arranges a secret meeting between Raoul and Louise in her chamber, where the young lovers are reunited after a long separation, discussing their feelings and the court news.
Key Themes
- Honor and Loyalty
- The code of honor that binds the musketeers and nobility is tested as personal loyalties conflict with political necessities. Characters must choose between serving their hearts and serving their duties.
- Power and Corruption
- Cardinal Mazarin's manipulation of the young king illustrates how power corrupts and how those who wield it behind the scenes often control those who appear to rule.
- Love vs. Duty
- The central tension between personal desires and political obligations drives the narrative, particularly in Louis XIV's renunciation of Marie de Mancini for reasons of state.
Characters
- Louis XIV(major)
- Young King of France, twenty-two years old, struggling with his authority under Cardinal Mazarin's influence. He is torn between love for Marie de Mancini and political duty to marry the Spanish Infanta.
- D'Artagnan(protagonist)
- Former lieutenant of the King's Musketeers, now seeking his fortune independently. A seasoned warrior of fifty-four, cunning and brave, who resigns from royal service to pursue a daring plan to restore Charles II to the English throne.
- Cardinal Mazarin(major)
- Italian-born chief minister of France, wielding enormous power over the young king. Avaricious and calculating, he manipulates royal policy for his own ends while amassing great wealth.
- Athos (Comte de la Fère)(major)
- Noble gentleman and former musketeer, father figure to Raoul de Bragelonne. A man of honor and integrity who undertakes a secret mission to help the exiled Charles II of England.
- Charles II(major)
- Exiled King of England, living in poverty and seeking restoration to his throne. A melancholy but dignified prince who has suffered greatly since his father's execution.
- Marie de Mancini(major)
- Cardinal Mazarin's niece, beloved by Louis XIV but exiled to prevent their marriage. A passionate young woman caught between love and political necessity.
![Alexandre Dumas, [Père] (Gutenberg Index)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3b2n8gj62qnwr.cloudfront.net%2FCOVERS%2Fgutenberg_covers75k%2Febook-58024.png&w=3840&q=75)
