Other editions of book Twenty Years After: By Alexandre Dumas - Illustrated

Twenty Years After (1845), the sequel to The Three Musketeers, is a supreme creation of suspense and heroic adventure.Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. But treasons and stratagems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is a titanic struggle with the son of Milady, who wears the face of Evil.

First serialized from January to August, 1845, Twenty Years After is the second book in The D’Artagnan Romances, and follows the gallant adventures of the musketeers, as they are once again summoned to alleviate the various threats that lurk in the political scene of France, as the country is threatened by a possible uprising. Enriched with exciting and well-developed characters, the novel adds more detail to its familiar characters, as the musketeers have matured and are portrayed in a more introspective light.Set twenty years after the conclusion of its predecessor, Twenty Years After commences with the appearance of d’Artagnan, who despite his propitious circumstances to progress in his area of interest, remains a lieutenant in the Musketeers for twenty years. Conversely, much has changed in the political scene of France during the twenty-year period, as the country is ruled by chief-minister, Cardinal Mazarin, who is loathed by much of the French population. Consequently, France is on the brink of civil war, as it is divided into those who support Mazarin’s governance, and those who oppose his rule, regarding him as inadequate. Fearing for his safety, Mazarin appoints d’Artagnan as his escort, after hearing of his daring feats in the past and additionally requests assistance from his musketeer companions, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Subsequently, d’Artagnan is reunited with his old friends, who have all drifted apart due to following individual paths, and informs them of his task. However, the group is also divided, as Porthos is willing to be in the Cardinal’s service, whereas Athos and Aramis take the side of the opposition. As a result, the group must overcome their contrasting views and loyalties, and test the durability of their friendship, as they are brought out of retirement and once again hurled into a gripping adventure, while beset by various enemies.Nevertheless, Dumas presents an effective complementary sequel to his well-loved tale that successfully enthralls with its complex plot, vibrant characters, steady action, historical references, and a vivid description of the political scene prevailing at the time. Needless to say, the novel will undoubtedly motivate readers to continue the series that has been enjoyed by generations.

Excerpt from Twenty Years AfterChevreuse, duchesse de, wife of foregoing; Frond former confidante of Anne of Austria; also knox Marie Michon.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Twenty Years After (French: Vingt ans après) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized from January to August 1845. A book of The d'Artagnan Romances, it is a sequel to The Three Musketeers (1844) and precedes the 1847–1850 novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne (which includes the sub-plot Man in the Iron Mask).The novel follows events in France during the Fronde, during the childhood reign of Louis XIV, and in England near the end of the English Civil War, leading up to the victory of Oliver Cromwell and the execution of King Charles I. Through the words of the main characters, particularly Athos, Dumas comes out on the side of the monarchy in general, or at least the text often praises the idea of benevolent royalty. His musketeers are valiant and just in their efforts to protect young Louis XIV and the doomed Charles I from their attackers.

Two decades have passed since the famous swordsmen triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady in The Three Musketeers. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. But treasons and strategems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England, Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is the titanic struggle with the son of Milady who wears the face of evil.In a splendid chamber of the Palais Royal, formerly styled the Palais Cardinal, a man was sitting in deep reverie, his head supported on his hands, leaning over a gilt and inlaid table which was covered with letters and papers. Behind this figure glowed a vast fireplace alive with leaping flames; great logs of oak blazed and crackled on the polished brass andirons whose flicker shone upon the superb habiliments of the lonely tenant of the room, which was illumined grandly by twin candelabra rich with wax-lights.Any one who happened at that moment to contemplate that red simar–the gorgeous robe of office–and the rich lace, or who gazed on that pale brow, bent in anxious meditation, might, in the solitude of that apartment, combined with the silence of the ante-chambers and the measured paces of the guards upon the landing-place, have fancied that the shade of Cardinal Richelieu lingered still in his accustomed haunt.

Excerpt from Twenty Years AfterChevreuse, duchesse de, wife of foregoing; Frond former confidante of Anne of Austria; also knox Marie Michon.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.