The Three Musketeers
Alexandre Dumas published The Three Musketeers in 1844, but the story began much earlier. In 1700, a writer named Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras released Mémoires de Monsieur d'Artagnan. This historical novel contained a scene where a young man met three companions named Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Dumas found this book while researching his history of Louis XIV. He decided to expand that single incident into a full adventure. The process involved Auguste Maquet, who worked as a ghostwriter for many of Dumas's novels including The Count of Monte Cristo. Maquet conducted historical research and suggested plot outlines. Dumas then expanded these plots, removing some characters and adding new ones. He infused the narrative with his distinctive style. The collaboration allowed them to create a swashbuckler genre filled with heroic swordsmen fighting for justice.
The newspaper Le Siècle serialized the novel from March to July 1844. This period coincided with the July Monarchy in France. Four years later, the French Revolution of 1848 would establish the Second Republic. During the serialization, debates between republicans and monarchists remained fierce. Dumas used the setting between 1625 and 1628 to critique the Ancien Régime. He portrayed various injustices and absurdities of that era. The story highlighted abuses within the political system. Queen Anne of Austria faced persecution by Cardinal Richelieu due to mixed political and personal reasons. King Louis XIII appeared weak and self-indulgent, often manipulated by his chief minister. These themes resonated with contemporary readers facing similar political tensions. The novel offered commentary on power dynamics while entertaining audiences with adventure.
In 1625, d'Artagnan left his family home in Gascony to travel to Paris. He hoped to join the Musketeers of the Guard. At a house in Meung-sur-Loire, an older man mocked his horse. Insulted, d'Artagnan demanded a duel. The older man's companions beat him unconscious using a cooking pot and a tong that broke his sword. His letter of introduction to Monsieur de Tréville was stolen. The older man turned out to be Comte de Rochefort, an agent of Cardinal Richelieu. In Paris, d'Artagnan visited Tréville at the Musketeers headquarters without the letter. He saw Rochefort passing through the window and rushed out to confront him. Pursuing Rochefort, he offended three musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each demanded satisfaction for the afternoon. When Richelieu's guards appeared to arrest them for illegal dueling, d'Artagnan chose to help. Despite being outnumbered four to five, the group won the battle. D'Artagnan seriously wounded Jussac, one of Richelieu's officers.
Athos, known as Comte de la Fère, never recovered from his marriage to Milady. He sought solace in wine and became a father figure to d'Artagnan. Porthos, Seigneur du Vallon, was a dandy fond of fashionable clothes who compensated with homeric strength. Aramis, René d'Herblay, wavered between religious calling and court intrigue. Constance Bonacieux worked as Queen Anne's seamstress and confidante. D'Artagnan fell in love with her after rescuing her from Cardinal's Guards. Milady de Winter served as a beautiful and evil spy for the Cardinal. She was also Athos's ex-wife, though this marriage remained illegal since Athos was alive. The group faced assassination attempts by Milady's agents during the Siege of La Rochelle. At an inn, Athos overheard Richelieu ordering Milady to murder Buckingham. They warned the Queen and Lord de Winter about the plan. Milady seduced a Puritan guard named Felton, who then assassinated Buckingham at her request. The musketeers caught Milady before she reached Richelieu and sentenced her to death.
Les Trois Mousquetaires appeared in three English versions by 1846. William Barrow produced one translation that remains in print today within the Oxford World's Classics 1999 edition. To conform to 19th-century English standards, explicit references to sexuality were removed. This adversely affected readability in scenes involving d'Artagnan and Milady. Manfred E.Graham adapted the book for Longman's Simplified English Series in 1960. Richard Pevear published another version in 2006, criticizing modern translations as textbook examples of bad practice. Lawrence Ellsworth released the most recent translation through Pegasus Books in February 2018 from the 1956 French edition. Ellsworth translated the full trilogy of The d'Artagnan Romances across nine volumes. As of 2025, all nine volumes have been published. His work represents the first complete translation in over a century and a half.
The 1921 silent film adaptation starred Douglas Fairbanks. A 1939 musical comedy featured Don Ameche and The Ritz Brothers. Van Heflin, Lana Turner and Gene Kelly appeared in the 1948 version. Richard Lester directed a two-part adaptation in 1973 and 1974 starring Oliver Reed and Michael York. Mikhail Boyarsky played d'Artagnan in the popular Soviet musical D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers from 1978. Disney produced a 1993 adaptation with Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland. Paul W.S. Anderson directed a 2011 version featuring Luke Evans and Milla Jovovich. François Civil and Vincent Cassel headlined a 2023 two-part French adventure film saga. The BBC adapted the novel three times: in 1954, 1966, and 2014. Jeremy Brett starred in the 1966 series while Tom Burke led the 2014 production. Stage productions included an opera by Dumas himself and music by Albert Visetti. Henry Hamilton opened a play at Theatre Metropole on the 12th of September 1898. Broadway hosted a musical running for 318 performances starting in 1928.
Publisher Albert Lewis Kanter created Classic Comics in 1941 with The Three Musketeers as its debut issue. DC Comics produced two series titled The Three Mouseketteers as loose parodies. Steven Brust's Khaavren Romances used Dumas novels as chief inspiration within his Dragaera world. Sarah Hoyt wrote a Musketeers mystery series beginning with Death of a Musketeer. Tansy Rayner Roberts serialized Musketeer Space from 2014 to 2016 featuring gender-swapped characters. In Pokémon Black and White, Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion represent Athos, Porthos and Aramis respectively. Keldeo represents d'Artagnan. Jamal Malik won twenty million rupees on Slumdog Millionaire by identifying Aramis as the third musketeer. Eli Cohen used a French-language copy of the book as a cipher for communications with Israel during his infiltration of the Syrian government. A copy preserved in Mossad's museum decoded his messages. The Smiths song You've Got Everything Now borrowed a narrative description of Athos. Modern adaptations include video games like Touché: The Adventures of the Fifth Musketeer released in 1995.
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Common questions
When did Alexandre Dumas publish The Three Musketeers?
Alexandre Dumas published The Three Musketeers in 1844. The novel appeared in the newspaper Le Siècle from March to July of that year.
Who wrote the original story about d'Artagnan before Alexandre Dumas?
Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras released Mémoires de Monsieur d'Artagnan in 1700. This historical novel contained a scene where a young man met three companions named Athos, Porthos and Aramis.
What years does the plot of The Three Musketeers cover?
The story takes place between 1625 and 1628. In 1625, d'Artagnan left his family home in Gascony to travel to Paris.
Which actors starred in the 1939 musical comedy adaptation of The Three Musketeers?
Don Ameche and The Ritz Brothers appeared in the 1939 musical comedy version. Van Heflin, Lana Turner and Gene Kelly appeared in the 1948 version instead.
How many volumes are in Lawrence Ellsworth's complete translation of The d'Artagnan Romances as of 2025?
Lawrence Ellsworth translated the full trilogy across nine volumes. As of 2025, all nine volumes have been published.