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E. L. James: Twenty years after (1904, Methuen & co.)

352 pages

English language

Published May 18, 1904 by Methuen & co..

OCLC Number:
1895755

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4 stars (2 reviews)

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 strategems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, and in England, Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. The quartet of musketeers come 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.

39 editions

Review of 'Twenty Years After' on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

Faithful to the first book, Twenty Years After feels like part of it instead of a sequel; only with an interval of twenty years between the two parts. All the good qualities of Dumas' writing are present.

Very light spoilers follow:
I was very much annoyed with the character of Anne of Austria, featured in the first book as the prosecuted queen the 4 protagonists save. In the Three Musqueteers she was a noble but troubled being, now a vicious hysteric woman. It seems Dumas made this narrative choice to accommodate the rest of the plot. The main antagonist was also poorly conceived. Of course one could argue the true antagonist of this book is time, dishonour, disdain for the divine royalty that Dumas admired so much but his heroes always prevail.

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2 stars

Subjects

  • France -- History -- Louis XIV, 1643-1715 -- Fiction