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Rating: 
Summary: Joy to read!
Review: First of all, I really think that a good translation makes a huge impact on whether someone likes the book or doesn't. That's why I took my time and found a great one by Bantam Classics. Seems that Puffin Classics (the abridged version) is also readable. Therefore, take your time and pick the translation that you are comfortable with and you sure will find this story interesting and absorbing.
'Three musketeers' has it all: great plot, action and suspense, romance, something on men and women from philosophical stand point, and much more. If you want to take a break from all the modern fiction, this book would be like a nice vacation. But, again, look for a good translation.
Rating:
Summary: Wouldn't you like to be there?
Review: I bet everyone who has read this book has lamented not having been born in France, in the 17th century. The plot is well known: a young man from southwestern France, of rather humble origin, travels to Paris, to try to get admitted at the Musketeers corps, the personal guard of king Louis XIII. He achieves his aim partially, as he is accepted by another corps, as a first step towards becoming a Musketeer. D'Artagnan, which is his name, is a courageous, provincial, and impulsive man, with a knack for getting in trouble with powerful and aggressive people. D'Artagnan becomes close friend of three musketeers, each one having a very specific (and superbly created by Dumas) personality. Athos is of noble origin, a very silent and grave man, with an intriguing, mysteryous and tragic past. Porthos is a flamboyant character, an ambitious, pompous, talkative and opinionated guy who likes to party and to womanize, although he's always out of money. Aramis is a strange and, I would say, rather unlikable guy, of refined manners and enigmatic past. Even the valets of each musketeer have a full personality, and they play important and funny roles in all the adventures. These are simply extraordinary, magnificently written. They happen against the background of historical events, and play joyfully with History. The action takes place in 17th century France. Louis XIII was not a very able statesman, he was not a bad person, but he was a frivolous and somehow irresponsible man, not very interested in politics or public affairs. So he has a prime minister, one of the most fascinating historical characters of all time: Armand Duplessis, Cardinal Richelieu. He was, in reality, one of the most important protagonists of the creation of the Nation-state, just at the time where the novel takes place. Richelieu is a first-rate enemy for our heroes. He is an extremely intelligent, astute, and clever person. In this novel he plays bad guy, because the musketeers are always on the other side of problems. But they respect him a lot, knowing he is a formidable mind, without the least trace of cowardice or foolishness. Another important character is Queen Anne of Austria, a beautiful -and unfaithful- woman, who has a secret romance with the English Duke of Buckingham, an enemy of her husband. Amid the perpetual intrigues, back-stabbing, bribes, seductions and general decadence of the Court, the musketeers have incredible and perfectly-written adventures. Adventure pure. The cast of characters is long and fascinating. One important thing other reviewers have correctly noted is that the reader really comes to identify with the characters, and to feel something for them, either friendship or distaste. It is a real classic of literature, even if it is relegated to the "books for children" shelf. It is not jus that. In fact, I have read it several times and I think I have enjoyed it even more at an older age, beacuse now I have a much better knowledge and understanding of the historical aspects of it. But you don't really need that to enojy this novel, since it is one of the quickiest and easiest reading. It's simply fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: 150 Years Later and Still Just As Popular
Review: Long lines wait impatiently outside book shops for the latest issue of the magazine Le Siecle. On the streets and in cafes Parisians talked excitedly about each new installment of the thrilling adventure story, The Three Musketeers. (Like many novels written in the mid-1800s, Dumas' novel was serialized in a magazine before being published as a book.)
The public quickly recognized that a new literary genre had appeared - a fast paced, action story based upon a historical event. Previous historical fiction now seemed slow, wordy, and even archaic.
What is even more surprising is that 150 years later The Three Musketeers remains widely popular, both in print and on screen. Exciting duels, close escapes, political intrigues, and chivalrous romance still capture the imagination of today's readers.
Today's public undoubtedly remembers more about French history - at least history according to Alexandre Dumas - from The Three Musketeers, and its sequels, than from high school and university classes. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis - and their friend D'Artagnan, the irrepressible, courageous, handsome young Gascon who aspires to become a Musketeer himself - are modern icons. Similarly, Dumas' portrayal of King Louis XIII, Queen Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Richelieu are decidedly more interesting than the dry, factual historical characters found in textbooks.
And it impossible to forget the enchanting, notorious, and dangerous Milady de Winter, one of the more dramatic and memorable character created by any author. I am somewhat disappointed that Milady is fictional.
Choices: There are several good translations of Three Musketeers, including paperbacks like the Bantam Classic and Signet Classic editions. The slightly more expensive Oxford World's Classics edition is also quite good, and it offers an extended introduction and other supplementary material. Trident Press offers an attractive, deluxe gift edition profusely illustrated with the original ink drawings by Maurice Leloir. This version is a reprint of an edition first published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Company in Boston in 1879.
Advice: I strongly caution you to avoid the abridged editions. The Three Musketeers is indeed a lengthy novel, but it is one that warrants reading in its entirety, especially if you might someday read one of its sequels, like Twenty Years After or The Man in the Iron Mask.
Rating: 
Summary: caroline <3
Review: Musketeers were the King of France's guards in the 1600's. They got there name because these men protcted the King with there muskets, a form of weapon in the time. A young poor Gascon named d'Artagnan was sent by his parents to join the musketeers. His father gave him many gifts, including a letter of introduction addressed to Monsieur de Treville, head of the Musketeers. On his way, d'Artagnan stops in the town of Meung and sees a man laughing at his shabby horse and appearance. He gets in his first deul, with this man. When he finally reached Treville, he notices that his introduction letter is gone. He tell Treville about this man and learns that he is working for the Cardinal. Treville finds d'Artagnan brave and gives him money and the job. We then learn that The Cardinal is a very powerful man because he can eternally condemn people to hell. The King and the Cardinal are bitter enemies, so their guards are constantly in duels. One day d'Artagnan runs into three of the musketeers and schedules a duel with them. The Cardinal's guards show up and d'Artagnan sides with the Musketeers. This is how he make his best friends: Aramis, Athos, and Porthos. We are taken along d'Artagnan's many adventures throughout the book-his love affairs and public affairs with his job as a musketeer. Through his sucesses and failures, he and his alliance with his friends stays strong. I thought this book was too long and it took too long to cut to the chase. It was very confusing and i couldn't understand many of the words.
Rating:
Summary: An Enduring Tale of "Cloak and Sword".
Review: Swashbucklers, romance, political intrigue and treachery! This book should actually be called the four musketeers, since there are actually four protagonists. The book is exciting and witty and deals with the adventures of this redoubtable foursome in the political affairs of King Louis XIII of France and his ongoing feud with Cardinal Richelieu. It's a long book, but fast moving, and it keeps the reader's interest. This is certainly a fine example of Dumas' writing. He was a very prolific author in France in the early nineteenth century. "All for one and one for all". Have fun with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good classic
Review: The Three Musketeers is really a pretty good book and worth reading. The musketeers are Athos, Porthos and Aramis, but there is also another character which is almost more the focus of the novel. This is D'artagnan, a young man who first comes to blows with each of the Musketeers, but then becomes good friends with each of them. I'd say the first half of this novel seems a little less focused than the first. I don't know if it was just me, but I found I kept getting confused about what exactly what was happening and how various events were related. The second half seems much more clear and is certainly very entertaining. Dumas gives each of the characters a distinct personality and although the musketeers often seem mysterious, there's still a sense of understanding their motivation and concerns. Each is a brave gentleman in service of their country, enjoying their adventures and journeys. I'd say this is really a good book and definitely worth reading if you're interested.
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Summary: Three Musketeers
Review: This book is about the great adventures of three of the King's musketeers named Porthos, Athos,and Aramis, and their new found friend and a man trying to become a musketeer named d'Artagan. When d'Artagan arrives in France he is challanged to a duel against the other orignal musketeers. They decide not to duel but instead they fight against the cardinal's guards. After that they become the best of friends, and stick together through everything good and bad. I really didn't enjoy this book but I give it 2 stars because it had some good parts. There were some really boring parts that were bad. It was difficult to understand.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting But Repetitive
Review: This is an exciting book that unfortunately feels formulamatic at times. Maybe that is because it was produced as a serialized novel originally. It can have that "find out what our heros are up to next issue" feel. Overall it is fast paced, but long. I liked the action sequences and the author's creation of distinct personalities for his heros. While I had to read this over a long period of time, I found I enjoyed it most when I could put in a couple of hours at a time and fully submerge myself in the author's world. I would recommend picking this up for a vacation book or if you know you'll be able to keep at it night after night. The author uses a convincing historical and period backdrop for his tale. It feels real which aids the story. The romantic nature of his heros leads to a wonderful story of comradship and loyalty, good versus evil, etc. Many things to like, but I did not find it deserves quite as lofty a pedestal as most of these other reviewers do.
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