Before Versailles by Karleen Koen

Tags

alexandre dumas, Louis XIV of France, Louise de La Vallière

Koen’s latest book tackles a short period in the life of a young Louis XIV. Cardinal Mazarin is dead, and Louis is now in control of the government – a government seriously short of cash – although the Superintendent of Finances sure does have a pocketful of it. Louis is newly married to Maria Teresa of Spain, but at the moment he only has lust eyes for his brother’s new wife, Henriette (sister to Charles II) and Henriette definitely reciprocates the lust feelings.

Meantime Louise de La Vallière, one of Henriette’s ladies in waiting, becomes involved in the mystery surrounding a young man whose face is hidden behind an iron mask. What, if any connection is this young boy to the royal family, and why is someone so desperate to keep his existence a secret?

Yep, there’s a whole lot more to it than that but I’ll not spoil, although if you are familiar with it all you know where Louise’s story goes from here…Despite a set of circumstances that promises a deliciously meaty, scandalous read, I found this rather underwhelming, especially coming from the author who gave us Through a Glass Darkly (on my all time favorites list). The characters were all rather flat and lifeless (even Philippe and de Guiche were not as hateable as they should be), and there was definitely not much chemistry between Louis and Louise. The repetitive sentences drove me seriously batty,

The handsome young king of France was hesitant before her. The handsome young king of France desired her. The handsome young king of France loved her.

In the end, this isn’t a bad book by any means, but it doesn’t have the kind of punch Louis and his love life deserves. I have read the entire Musketeer series by Alexandre Dumas (part of which tells of the relationship between Louis and Louise as well as his own take on the Man in the Iron Mask), and I couldn’t help comparing his take on the characters as opposed to Koen’s, and Dumas definitely wins out. Library only, then buy it if you love it.

Interested in trying the Dumas books? Here’s the series in order and they are available free on Kindle. Can’t speak for the quality of the translation on these so enter at your own risk (they are free after all), but if you’re looking for a dead tree version I’d recommend the Oxford World’s Classics Editions.

The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere and The Man in the Iron Mask.

FTC? I obtained my copy via my county library.

The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin

Tags

france, Louis XIV, musketeers

Seventeen year old Jeanne du Bois returns from the convent where she’s been schooled the last seven years and joins her family at Versailles. Much to her father’s disapproval Jeanne is too independent and unladylike, and unbeknownst to him she resumes fencing lessons with her uncle Jules. After one of these lessons, Jules and Jeanne (who is dressed in men’s clothes), come across two of the King’s Musketeers under attack and save the day when they join in the battle. Not willing to reveal her identity as a women Jeanne is introduced as Jean Luc and as she wishes to join the Musketeers later she convinces her uncle to help her dress as a man. As Jeanne’s abusive father plots to marry her off to an odious Baron, she finds herself drawn to Henri, one of the Musketeers – who during a fete at Versailles meets Jeanne and he is instantly smitten. A plot to kill the Queen is revealed and Jeanne/Jean finds both identities in the thick of things while she tries to balance the two and avoid being exposed.

So why am I giving this one only two stars? For starters, Jeanne is just way over the top in her independence – let alone the ditzy way she came across in the first two chapters (argh, those curls always coming lose from her coiffure!!) and I was beginning to think I was in for Gidget does Versailles. I threw the book across the room at Chapter two, but picked it up again and things did improve. Jeanne’s ditzyness was toned down a bit, but as hard as the author tried to keep things realistic they just didn’t always ring true. Hiding her dress and under things underneath the stinking privy cover and they didn’t pick up any odor from it? She’s able to get her men’s boots off by herself, let alone dress herself and do her hair just in time to run to chapel? Then there was the garden party where she/he had to run and change clothes at least once and run back to present her/him back again at the party – again she can get those big old boots off and on all by herself.

Last complaint and again I appreciate the author taking the time and effort to pack plenty of history in her romance (and with a nod to M. Dumas, père), but it was all just a tad bit too heavy handed and I was beginning to feel like I was being clubbed over the head with it. In the end, it was a reasonably entertaining piece of fluff, nice to have a romance set somewhere else besides the Regency period but I do want to warn potential readers, according to the author’s notes at the end she wrote this as a historical novel and not a romance. So, despite appearances and the impression the cover gives, this is not a bouncy bodice ripping novel packed with sex and I suspect serious romance readers will be sorely disappointed, as will serious historical fiction readers – for those I’d recommend just sticking with Dumas and read his Musketeer series.

The Man in the Iron Mask ~ Alexandre Dumas père

Forget the movie, read the book!!

Oh wow, what a great end to an incredible ride, the story of the Musketeers. I haven’t been so engrossed in a series of books since I picked up Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. Athos, Raoul, Porthos, Aramis and of course D’Artagnan are going to be in my thoughts and dreams for some time, I hate to let them go.

If you are expecting the story as told by Hollywood, forget it. While I haven’t seen the latest version with Leonardo DiCaprio (forgive me if I spell it wrong), I looked at the reader reviews and was quite surprised at how different the book is from Hollywood’s version. I also recall a movie done in the late 70’s/80’s that is nothing like the book as well. I would pick it apart point by point, but that would include spoilers. The Man in the Iron Mask is actually the last third of a huge novel by Dumas originally titled The Vicomte de Bragelonne. Because of the size of the book, English publishers have divided into three books, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Vallière, and The Man in the Iron Mask.

Suffice it to say that TMITIM is the final chapter of our heroic Musketeers, as well as Raoul, the son of Athos. While we all know the story of Louis XIV’s twin and the plot to substitute him, that is a minor part of the whole story, as the action then becomes centered on the aftermath of that plot and Louis’ revenge. It has been a grand, glorious ride reading this series, The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere and The Man In the Iron Mask. And do have your box of tissue handy for the last 20-30 pages. You’ll need it.

One side note, some people are purchasing this as a stand-alone book, which it is not. You could probably get away with that, but you’ll spend so much time looking back at the footnotes trying to figure who is who I doubt you will enjoy the story as much. Also, this version didn’t have the list of characters that the VDB and LDLV did. Go for broke and read the whole thing, it’s well worth it.

Louise de la Vallière by Alexandre Dumas

  It’s 1661 and Louis the XIV is taking over the reign of government from his ministers. D’Artagnan is captain of the Musketeers, Aramis is now a bishop, Porthos is as big, strong and hungry as ever and Raoul, the son of Athos, is still madly in love with Louise De La Valliere. What we do see of Aramis he is plotting and scheming and has a strong interest in a mysterious prisoner in the Bastille.

Louis’ effeminate brother Philippe (Monsieur) has just married Henrietta (Madame) of England, but Henrietta only has eyes for Louis (well, maybe the Duke of Buckingham and the Comte de Guiche also), an attraction that Louis returns. In order to allay suspicion of Louis’ jealous brother, Louis feigns an attraction to Louise (who is one of Madame’s ladies in waiting), but finds himself trapped by his own schemes when he falls in love with her. LOL, some of the antics involved in trying to be alone with Louise that are constantly hampered by Madame’s efforts to keep them apart.

This book is different from the preceding novels of the Musketeers — there is little if any of the swashbuckling, sword fights and derring do that the other books contained. This book focuses on the love story of Louis and Louise, along with the pomp, intrigues and scandals of Louis XIV’s court. Although some readers will be disappointed at the virtual absence of the Musketeers in this book, I was fascinated at the glimpses of French history and court life which was beautifully sprinkled with laugh out loud humor reading the antics of the French court, most especially the “revolving” confessions at the Royal Oak tree.

The Vicomte De Bragelonne was originally published in French as one large novel, but is broken into three by English publishers, The Vicomte De Bragelonne, Louise De La Valliere and finally culminating in The Man in the Iron Mask. this book is more palace intrigue and less of the Musketeers and not everyone will enjoy it as thoroughly as I did, I loved the antics of the French court and had many a good laugh. Dumas is just brilliant (as always) and his dialogue (as always) is among the finest I’ve ever come across. Highly recommended.

The Vicomte de Bragelonne ~ Alexandre Dumas père

More swashbuckling fun from the Musketeers!

This book is part one of a three part series, the next two being the Louise de la Valliere, and the final being the more well known Man in the Iron Mask. I understand this was originally one HUGE book, but is now more commonly broken up into these three books.

This book starts about ten years from where Twenty Years After  ended. Although the book is titled the Vicomte de Bragelonne (who is the son of Athos), we don’t see much of him except for the first and last parts of the book. The rest is filled with the adventures of D’Artagnan and Athos while they separately scheme (unbeknownst to the other) to aid Charles II of England to claim his throne. LOL, D’Artagnan’s scheme in regards to General Monk. Aramis and Porthos are up to something mysterious and make only the briefest of appearances. The rest of the novel is filled with the mysteries and intrigues of the French court, and ends with the marriage of Henrietta (Charles II’s sister) to Louis XIV’s younger brother, Phillip.

If you loved the musketeers, history and intrique it is well worth your time to spend on these books.

Twenty Years After ~ Alexandre Dumas père

The Musketeers are still swashbuckling twenty years later!

It’s been twenty years since the close of The Three Musketeers, and only D’Artagnan remains in service to the French Crown. Richelieu is dead and his protege Mazarin now holds the power behind the throne. Anne of Austria rules as regent for her young son, and civil war threatens France.

D’Artagnan is sent to bring the Musketeers out of retirement, but they find themselves at odds between the two sides in the civil unrest. D’Artagnan wants to be promoted to captain and Porthos who wants to be a baron, side with Mazarin, Athos and Aramis with the Fronduers (sp?). However, they soon find that although much has changed, their love and friendship for each other remain intact, particularly when faced with the evil son of Milady, who is bent upon revenge against those who executed his mother.

There’s way too much plot to even try to explain, leave it to say that there is much adventure and derring do, from the civil war in France to the conflict between Charles I and Oliver Cromwell in England. I especially enjoyed the nail biting, sit on the edge of your seat excitement during the escape from England and Mordaunt, along with the rescue of D’Artagnan, Porthos and Athos from Mazarin (what fun!). Along with the excitement comes the humor of their constant banter and escapades making for a near perfect read.

I personally liked the parts in England the best, but I think that’s because I have a better understanding of English history than French. Even after researching that period in France and Mazarin online, I still got a bit confused at times, but that is a minor issue in comparison to the rest of the story. Dumas is brilliant (as always) and his dialogue is among the best (as always). An awesome sequel to the Three Musketeers, and I am looking forward to starting the next chapter in this story, The Vicomte De Bragelonne.