A Soap Opera with Musketeers

This story seems quaint and very subtle by modern standards.

Large tracts are devoted to the minutiae of French royalty and the surrounding courtiers, where sometimes there is a very long and (impeccably narrated) winding road to reach a climax where one of several gallant knights squeezes one of several ladies-in-waiting hands or some other equally scandalous body part.

I suppose this must have titillated in it's day, but it really doesn't measure up to the excitement of "The 3 Musketeers", "20 Years After" or even "The Man in the Iron Mask", which follows on from this, and is well enough written that you could probably jump from "Le Vicomte de Bragelonne" to "The Man in the Iron Mask" without losing much in the bargain.

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Not the best book in the series

I loved the performance by Simon Vance as with all his work. However, this installment is not up to the great level of Dumas' previous three books in the series. A romantic farce rather than a tragedy it just doesn't hold up. Can't wait to get back to his great writing with Man in the Iron Mask.

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absolutely loved it

This book is a very good continuation of the story. There is little of the musketeers but it sets up the finale very well.

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Louis and Louise

Please give us all of the Dumas that is available in audio format -- commission new recordings, if necessary. Louise de La Velliere is another fine prequel to The Man in the Iron Mask, even if you have already read that classic. Louise, Raoul, Athos, and many other characters are understood more easily when The Vicompte de Bragilonne, Louise de La Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask are taken in the proper order. No wonder Aramis wants to replace Louis on the throne with his twin brother!

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Dumas writes a romance novel

Reading through the ongoing story of the 3 Musketeers is a grand adventure. This installment must be the birth of romance novels. Dumas, in his usual style, has not mastered the art of wrapping up a story. So I go on to the next installment, The Man in the Iron Mask, with full expectation of good entertainment

A bridge

This is the middle third of book 3 of the D’Artagnan series of which book 1 is the most famous (The Three Musketeers). Book 3 was so long that it has been divided into three books in modern times and even each of those thirds is as long as books 1 and 2. By now, only D’Artagnan is the only one who is still a musketeer, now at the top and the closest to the king. The other three musketeers have all gone their own way. All four musketeers appear in this book, but they are not the main focus. Athos only appears once in the beginning when he asks the King for his approval for his son Raoul to marry Louise, for whom this book is named. And, she becomes the center of the rest of the book, not that she is the focus, but that she becomes the axis for the stories of all the other different personalities in the court to spin around. The musketeers have already reestablished the monarchy in England in the first third of book 3, “The Vicomte de Bragelonne” and this book is as the throne of Louis XIV has become strong. His power is now without practical limit and his rule has become decadent with everyone trying to do their best to please him. Yet, the rumors are flying and his affairs with different mistresses are not helping his reputation with the people. As the middle third of the book, this volume serves as a bridge leading to the last third, which is also one of Dumas’ most well-known books, “The Man in the Iron Mask.” As a bridge nothing is completely resolved, but the narrative is engaging and keeps you interested. If you’ve read “The Man in the Iron Mask” before having read this book, you’re missing a lot of that story also.

better love triangles than Shakespeare

guess its not surprising that a worldly black Frenchman could write better love triangles than Shakespeare

Meh...

The story was frustrating. Marriage must not mean much in France. The only people I still have respect for is Raul and Athos and Porthos... I hope the conclusion is better.

the narrator truly brings the story to life

the narrator really helped make this book very engaging. His use of giving unique voices to each character really helped with the flow of the story. Many people say that this book can be easily skipped. I disagree. This book is necessary to set the stage for the last installment The Man in the Iron Mask. Though some parts droned on a little bit there were also parts that were very exciting. And it was very interesting to follow the story of the lovers.

Sets the background for The Man in the Iron Mask

Where does Louise de La Vallière rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book was a necessary read for me to have a stronger background of The Man in the Iron Mask. Though I love Dumas' works and I enjoy the character of Raoul, Athos' son, this is my least favorite of the D'artagnan series, and I believe my past read of the actual book is what helped me comprehend the complex (and somewhat dry) story line and odd story twists. If you are a fan of the Musketeers and Dumas, you must "read" this book to stay knowledgeable of the more obscure background details of each Musketeer and Raoul and his friends.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Louise de La Vallière?

My favorite scene is when D'artagnan defends Raoul to Raoul's friends who have been teasing Raoul about not knowing who his mother is and thus implying he is a "castaway" child of lower birth rank. D'artagnan defends his best friend's son (Athos' son) as if Raoul was his own. I get chills when see how devoted all these men are to each other.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Simon Vance is an amazing reader. He pays attention to details in the dialogue and puts the story first - not his voice acting skills.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The scene previously mentioned of D'atagnan defending Raoul was my extreme reaction because this book has a lot - and I mean a lot of - background details and story twists (location changes, Musketeer-switch-ups, and loyalty changes) - that it reads sometimes more like a documentary of each Musketeers' plan of action kept secret from the other, while throwing in Raoul's friendships, Guard service, and love triangle in gaps of the big story that make for a dizzying read.

Any additional comments?

You have to read it if you are a true Musketeer fan. I liked it strongly, though I didn't love it as I do the other 4 books.