Twenty Years After - Alexandre Dumas

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Résumé :
Twenty years after Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and d?Artagnan went their separate ways, the new cardinal, Mazarin, asks d?Artagnan to find his three friends and enlist them to help Mazarin during the Fronde civil war. Only Porthos accepts, and the four musketeers soon find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. This cannot, of course, last very long, and they ultimately join forces in England to try to rescue Charles I from Cromwell. Along the way, they are discovered and pursued by the son of Milady, their diabolical female adversary from The Three Musketeers. Though not as well known as the first installment, Twenty Years After continues the wit, charm, friendship, and most of all the adventures that Dumas made famous in The Three Musketeers.

Sommaire:
Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas, with contributions from Auguste Maquet, is the second volume in the D'Artagnan series, following The Three Musketeers. Set in the politically unstable period of 1648-1649, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France. The story begins with Cardinal Mazarin, the successor to Cardinal Richelieu, facing widespread discontent and rebellion in Paris. The populace is agitated by heavy taxation and the perceived foreign influence of Mazarin, who is rumored to be the queen's lover. Amidst this turmoil, D'Artagnan, now a lieutenant in the musketeers, is tasked with escorting a prisoner, the Comte de Rochefort, from the Bastille to the Palais Royal. The two men, once adversaries, share a moment of camaraderie, reflecting on their past and the shifting political landscape. Rochefort, imprisoned for five years, is uncertain of the exact reason for his detention, suspecting it might be linked to his refusal to undertake a mission for the queen. As the narrative progresses, the complex web of political intrigue, personal vendettas, and the struggle for power is revealed, with D'Artagnan and his old friends, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, navigating the dangerous waters of loyalty and betrayal. The novel explores themes of friendship, honor, and the relentless pursuit of power, set against the vivid historical backdrop of 17th-century France....