Александр Дюма
Список книг автора Александр ДюмаThe Man in the Iron Mask
HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.‘I've worn that mask so long I don't feel safe without it.‘The Man in the Iron Mask sees D’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis return to meet their destinies in their final adventure. D’Artagnan still remains in the service of King Louis XIV while Aramis is a priest at the Bastille prison. Upon listening to a confession from an iron-masked prisoner who tells him that he is the twin brother of the King of France, Aramis is convinced that he will be rewarded if he can help him become king and he devises a plan for his escape, pitching himself against his old comrade D’Artagnan. Far darker than Dumas’ previous novels, The Man in the Iron Mask is a fast-paced and compelling historical romance of honour and loyalty.
The Vicomte de Bragelonne
The third volume of the 'd'Artagnan Romances', of which «The Three Musketeers» and «Twenty Years After» constitute the first and second volumes, was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition follows the four-volume edition. The books in this edition in their chronological order are as follows: 1. «The Vicomte de Bragelonne» (chapters 1-75), 2. «Ten Years Later» (chapters 76-140), 3. «Louise de la Vallière» (chapters 141-208), and 4. «The Man in the Iron Mask» (chapters 209-269). «The Man in the Iron Mask» is a tale that brings to life the mystery of one of the Bastille's most famous prisoners. Though they are older and the original three have retired, D'Artagnan has stayed in the corrupt King Louis XIV's service. Though no longer on active duty, the Musketeers are certainly far from idle, for they involve themselves in a plot that will set a humble, masked prisoner who does not know his identity or his crime against the king of a powerful country in a story full of conflicting loyalties. In this final adventure of the immortalized Musketeers, Dumas lavished all of his considerable literary skill in a work of political intrigue and high adventure.
Louise de la Valliere
The third volume of the 'd'Artagnan Romances', of which «The Three Musketeers» and «Twenty Years After» constitute the first and second volumes, was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition follows the four-volume edition. The books in this edition in their chronological order are as follows: 1. «The Vicomte de Bragelonne» (chapters 1-75), 2. «Ten Years Later» (chapters 76-140), 3. «Louise de la Vallière» (chapters 141-208), and 4. «The Man in the Iron Mask» (chapters 209-269). D'Artagnan and the aging Musketeers must do all they can when a crisis arises in the royal court, yet they strive in more ways than one, for the just nature of their endeavors is in question. Even as they face the turmoil of a court in which the king desires absolute power, a more individual battle is being waged in the heart of Raoul, son of Athos, who loves the gentle Louise, though she has caught the dangerous king's eye. Brimming with an epic assortment of characters, plots, and witty battles, «Louise de la Vallière» is an essential part of a grandiose French adventure.
Ten Years Later
The third and final volume of the 'd'Artagnon Romances', of which «The Three Musketeers» and «Twenty Years After» constitute the first and second volumes, The Vicomte de Bragelonne was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition contains four volumes: «The Vicomte de Bragelonne», «Ten Years Later», «Louise de la Vallière», and «The Man in the Iron Mask». This second volume contains chapters 76-140 of the work's 268 chapters, that span the period from 1660 to 1667. Beginning with Princess Henrietta's arrival in 1660, it chronicles the drama of the jealous, lustful and scandal-hungry members of the French court, the love triangle between Louis, Louise, and Raoul, and concludes with d'Artagnon's return to Paris. Still widely popular today, Alexandre Dumas pioneered the historical fiction genre of literature, drawing influence from actual events and people, as well as characters and stories from his own imagination.
Twenty Years After
The first of two sequels written for «The Three Musketeers,» Dumas' beloved characters return for more adventurous duty in «Twenty Years After.» As the title suggests, two decades have elapsed since D'Artagnan and his friends have prevailed over the evil machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and the icy Milady. However, danger and political intrigue still abound in both France and England, where the former is on the brink of civil war and the latter is nearly in the control of Cromwell. Add to these situations the scheming Cardinal Mazarin and the malevolent Mordaunt, son of Milady, and the retired Musketeers find themselves whisked out of retirement and directly into the chaotic swirl of stratagems, conflicted loyalties, and the effects from the passage of time in this impassioned fight for Queen and country.
The Three Musketeers
A timeless tale of adventure, romance, intrigue, and revenge, «The Three Musketeers» is the captivating story of d'Artagnan, a young man of Gascony, who is determined to become a Musketeer of the Guard. Through his wit and skill with a sword, he befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and begins on the path toward his dream. They must foil the nefarious plotting of Cardinal Richelieu against the King and Queen, despite his appearance as an ally. D'Artagnan and the three Musketeers must also overcome the villainous machinations of Milady de Winter, whose lethal criminality threatens those in political power and the love of d'Artgnan for Constance Bonacieux. Dumas' classic story, first serialized in 1844, has enthralled readers with its fast-paced plot, endearing characters, and romantic ideals, immortalized by the motto «one for all, all for one.»
The Man in the Iron Mask
Considered one of Dumas' most beloved novels and one of the best-selling works of its day, «The Count of Monte Cristo» is an expansive adventure novel with a huge cast of characters, all revolving around the young sailor Edmond Dantès. Wrongfully accused of aiding the exiled Napoleon, Dantès is arrested on the day of his wedding and imprisoned on the island prison, Chateau d'If. He survives years of cramped confinement and eventually befriends another prisoner, an Italian who knows the location of a treasure: the island of Monte Cristo. After an intrepid escape, Dantès utilizes his new fortune to extract revenge from his enemies, pursuing those who imprisoned him to a bitter end for all concerned. An ageless tale with a remarkable amount of endurance, mercy, courage, and hope, «The Count of Monte Cristo» endures as one of the nineteenth century's classics of literature.
Twenty Years After
The third volume of the 'd'Artagnan Romances', of which «The Three Musketeers» and «Twenty Years After» constitute the first and second volumes, was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition follows the four-volume edition. The books in this edition in their chronological order are as follows: 1. «The Vicomte de Bragelonne» (chapters 1-75), 2. «Ten Years Later» (chapters 76-140), 3. «Louise de la Vallière» (chapters 141-208), and 4. «The Man in the Iron Mask» (chapters 209-269). The four Musketeers are back in action, though in differing capacities and in a politically altered world. Cardinal Mazarin is still plotting evil schemes, while King Louis XIV believes himself to be in love. Unfortunately, Raoul, the son of Athos and the Vicomte of Bragelonne, feels the same for the lovely Louis de la Vallière. D'Artagnan soon encounters a confusing stranger, and in turning to his friends, he discovers Athos' desire to restore Charles II to the throne, as well as the covert efforts of Aramis and Porthos to find a masked prisoner in the fortified island of Belle-Ile. D'Artagnan must travel with all haste in and out of the countries of Europe to alter the fate of many of those very nations, proving himself yet again worthy of his beloved station and sacred honor.
Twenty Years After
First serialized in 1845, Alexandre Dumas’ “Twenty Years After” is the second part of the “D’Artagnan Romances”, the first sequel to “The Three Musketeers”. It was followed by “The Vicomte de Bragelonne”, which was first serialized in 1847. Dumas’s beloved characters return for more adventurous duty, and as the title suggests, two decades have elapsed since D’Artagnan and his friends have prevailed over the evil machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and the icy Milady. However, danger and political intrigue still abound in both France and England, where the former is on the brink of civil war and the latter is nearly in the control of Cromwell. Due to the scheming of Cardinal Mazarin and the malevolent Mordaunt, son of Milady, the retired Musketeers find themselves whisked out of retirement and directly into the center of danger and intrigue as they fight to save the young Louis XIV in France and Charles I in England from plots against the monarchs. Dumas’ story is full of the chaotic swirl of stratagems, conflicted loyalties, and thrilling battles as the valiant and aging Musketeers fight for Queen and country. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Man in the Iron Mask
“The Man in the Iron Mask” represents the final portion of the third installment of the ‘D’Artagnan Romances’. Preceded by “The Three Musketeers”, the first volume; “Twenty Years After”, the second volume; “The Vicomte de Bragelonne”, part one of the third volume; “Ten Years Later” part two of the third volume; and “Louise de la Vallière”, part three of the third volume; “The Man in the Iron Mask” is a tale that brings to life the mystery of one of the Bastille’s most famous prisoners, a man whose identity is hidden behind an iron mask. In this work we find the original three Musketeers in retirement and D’Artagnan in the service of the corrupt Louis XIV. While the identity of the original man in the iron mask is unknown, Dumas constructs his story around the idea that the prisoner is in fact the twin brother of Louis XIV, imprisoned from birth by his father to prevent any conflict over a divided rule of the kingdom. When Aramis learns the secret of the man in the iron mask he devises a plot to replace the King with his twin brother, setting in motion a series of events which draws all the Musketeers back into action. An exciting work of political intrigue and high adventure, “The Man in the Iron Mask” brings to a tragic conclusion the adventures of the Musketeers. This edition includes a biographical afterword.