Louise de la Valliere

Rating:
Summary: See into glittering opulence
Review: After writing The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years after, Dumas wrote a third installment to the trilogy. It is probably the most controvercial book in the trilogy, as can be revealed by reading many of the reviews. For starters, it's LONG: over 200 chapters. As a result, the English-speaking world has split it into three books: The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valiere and The Man in the Iron Mask (the most famous volume). The length is certainly a problem, in fact is it THE major flaw in the conclusion of the trilogy. Dumas is never terse or concise, but in this three-part book, he produces an monolith. This was largely due to him overcomitting himself and having to write this much for financial reasons. However, while this is a major setback, the three books still have elements of great, almost sublime Dumas left in them, which can be extracted if approached in the right way.

In terms of this specific volume (Louise de la Valliere), this is the one where the Four have the least role in. They basically disappear for several hundred pages, with the exception of D'Artagnan, who has a highly non-heroic role. Rather, this part is about the love triangle between our old friend Raul, Loise and Louis XIV. It is written in a style most unlike the "usual" Dumas in that it is almost a piece of realism depicting court opulence and drama. It reminded me a bit of The Dream of the Red Chamber or even Anna Karenina. The action and intrigue are left behind for a very detailed view into the life of the court. Unlike previous installments where we see the Musketeers sleep on hay and greet musket-fire, in Louise de la Valiere, we see into the lavish existence of the King.

It is in this book that we start to see Dumas' ideological concerns a bit more clearly in terms of the Musketeers trilogy. Basically, it seems he is harshly critical of Louis XIV's authoritarian and rigid opulence (which the notes to this edition suggest reminded him of his own day) and looked at the time represented by people like D'Artagnan as a more free one, and one where a chivalry code made life less restrictive. We can also see Dumas painting the hypocricy, nepotism and prejudice of the court with a brutal and at times satirical pen. The trifles of everyday existence are spun on for dozens of pages as we see that, while the former devotion of the Four to the idea of the monarchy was ideologically sound, the actual specimens (the King and his Court) aren't worth much in their behaviour and essence. This makes the book almost a sociological piece - and thus very different from the other parts of the Musketeers trilogy, but for such a long work, difference and variety are good.

If you only expect more action involving the Four, then don't bother reading this at all. However, if you persevere, you will get to see sublime glimpses of what a long way the Musketeers of old have come (for better or worse), what they think about the entire society they live in and what Dumas thinks. As well as some of the old-fashioned-style adventure. I think that the fact that this is obscured by an overly-drawn-out style, while annoying, does not detract from this being an honourable conclusion to the trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: However, despite the fact that the title character does nothing for me (my sympathy is all with Raoul), I do recommend this book. It is part of the Musketeer Cycle, after all, and that connection in and of itself is enough to keep this book in a place of honor on my shelf. As another reviewer said, you really do have to read the series in order; and I'd like to add that, with Le Vicomte de Bragelone/Louise de la Valliere/The Man in the Iron Mask, you should be certain that your books are of the same edition and from the same publisher. Different publishers tend to break these three books (which are intended to be one book) at different chapters.

Louise de la Valiere is the least action-oriented of the Musketeer novels, but the writing is brilliant and the characters are true to themselves. Also, the translation is well-done. Queen Margot is the Dumas novel that has never been properly translated in my opinion. (And yes, I do speak French and have seen the novels in their original languages.)

Just remember that Dumas is not a fan of "Happily ever after . . ."

Rating:
Summary: Is just a part of the last book of the musketeers
Review: I read the Vicomte of Bragelonne, and the story is about Raoul, son of athos. The book contain all the three stories, Bragelonne, La Valliere, and The man in iron mask. This is the original book, some editors, split the book in three, and La Valliere is the second part of it. In my opinion is not the best story of Dumas, because like a reader you simpathetic, whit Raoul and Louise cheat him whit the king. I recomend read the entire book of bragelonne.

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite books
Review: This book together with the other two describes one of the French best history pieces. Louis XIV was an extraordinary person despite certain criticism. "Louise de La Valliere" shows a young king who is eager to rule and has got a character that is still vulnerable at that time. He is in love with a woman who is honest to love the king for himself and is not able to love anyone else. I find this romance fascinating and pure. The story is based on the real characters and the book brings us to the XVIIth century France which looks idyllic. Dumas practically showed us how the love, which led to the creation of Versailles, began. I researched the topic and I should say that the more I learn about that time period the more I am surprised how Dumas' imagination cuold do such a wonderful job of reviving his heros. I read many more "serious" books after and should say that in my bad and good days I would go back to the book and find it more interesting than before. I read it in English and my native language and hope that someday I will be able to learn French to read it becccause I am sure that there is no translation that could be able to come close to the culture itself...

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Literature
Review: This is one of my favorite Dumas books. The central focus is on Louis XIV and Louise De La Valliere, who is one of the ladies in waiting for his sister in-law. The Sun King was having an affair with her and took notice to Louise at first as a diversion for the court so that he can spend time with his mistress without much attention. What the King did not expect was to fall in love with the plain and poor Louise, who has the heart of gold. Around this story is also the story of Aramis and Fouquet plotting some scheme which is revealed in The Man in the Iron Mask. D'Artagnan, Porthos, and Athos have small roles in this story, but will have significant roles in TMITIM. This book is probably the slowest pace among the three volumes, first is Vicomte De Bragelonne, this is second and the last is TMITIM. Readers are advised to read these books in order because you are going to have a hard time following. Also, while reading about Louise's relationship with Louis, you can't help but feel very sympathetic to Raoul, who was her betrothed and completely in love with her, ultimately leading up to his tragic death later on.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: Very interesting saga mingled with romance between King and Louise. Must read.