It all starts from a situation that sounds familiar: during the reign of Louis XIII, D'Artagnan, a poor and ambitious young man from the provinces, travels to Paris to make his way in life. As soon as he arrives, he finds himself involved in a whirlwind of events and meets those who will be his faithful companions in his adventures: Porthos, Athos and Aramis.
In "Twenty Years Later", the musketeers have reached their forties, they have dispersed and serve on different sides: some are with Mazarin, others with the Fronde rebels. However, they remain faithful to their old friendship and together they will once again face countless dangers and adventures, both in France and England.
"The Viscount of Bragelonne" takes us ten years later, and presents us with the final days of Cardinal Mazarin, with D'Artagnan already being captain of the musketeers. The goal of the not-so-young musketeer, together with his faithful companions, is now to lead Charles II to recover the throne that his late father lost.
These three novels form what is probably the most famous novel cycle of the 19th century. Since its serial publication in 1844, it has become an icon of the adventure novel with a historical background. Even those who have not read it know many of its scenes and its main characters, especially the three musketeers, who in the end are four.
The edition that we now present, in a thoroughly revised translation in which texts omitted in previous versions have been restored, and includes the engravings of the first illustrated edition of the work.