Customer Reviews

Louise de la Vallière (Oxford World's Classics)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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...

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.

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 . . ."

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.

This tale of intregue and romance among King Louis XIV's court is more historicaly accurate than many would think.The vast majority of the characters actualy lived and did almost exacly what Dumas writes.Louise is a tragic figure,who paid a tremendous price for cofessing her love to the king.She went through many hardships-and so did many of the people who knew her.

For Dumas lovers this is a great addition to any bookshelf. It is the second and third volumes of the Vicomte de Bragelonne series and further chronicles the expolits of the four musketeers and human nature in genreal. Centered around the court of Louis XIV. it is a very descriptive and poetic in its account of France and royal court.

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.

If you've come this far, you've already read The Three Musketeers (Barnes & Noble Classics), Twenty Years After (Oxford World's Classics)and The Vicomte de Bragelonne (Oxford World's Classics). 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 (Oxford World's Classics). As other reviewers have noted, 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.

Warning - a couple of the older reviews by "a reader" on The Man in the Iron Mask contain major spoilers. If you want to be kept in the dark, don't read back too far on the reviews of that book.

I started the Three Musketeer cycle of five novels because I am an afficionado of the action/adventure story. The first two novels, The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After exceeded my expectations. They had all the sword play and adventure that I could have ever wanted. I was thrilled with Dumas' many displays of writing virtuosity. I have never read an author who could keep the level of excitement at such a high pitch for so long.

Things start to change half way through Bragalonne. The tone of the novel shifts from a story of high adventure to a novel of love and court life. The first four hundred pages of Louise de la Valliere build upon these more domestic themes. For my taste, there are too many chance encounters of lovers in front of the Royal Oak in the mystical woods of Fontainbleu. At this point in the cycle, the tale of star struck lovers seems to come more out of a 17th Century French Drama than the three novels that immediately proceed it.

However, all is not lost. Around page four hundred, Dumas comes to his senses and brings D'Artagnan, Porthos and Planchet back into the drama. Their return breathes life back into the novel. Their presence along with Dumas' sheer genius as a story teller save what could have been a really boring novel.

I am anticipating that the Man in the Iron Mask will meet all of my action/adventure needs. The first four hundred pages of Louise de la Valliere is the dull spot one has to get through to finish the Three Musketeer cycle.

I guess this is the lowest review anyone has given of this book so far. Note that I am only reviewing this one, not the novel before or after it, as both of those are much better. This one spends hundreds of pages on court romance, but I simply couldn't get interested in the characters. The musketeers appear here and there, but don't do much. The story doesn't really start, in my opinion, until the last few chapters of this when Raoul comes back from England. I can see why no one has tried to make a movie based on this book and instead have focused such efforts on the final, and much better, novel in the series.

Louise de la Valliere or, CSI: Fontainebleau

Louise de la Valliere is normally published as the second installment of the third volume (the Vicomte de Braggelonne) of Alexandre Dumas' musketeer romances. As other reviews tell you, this is about the relationships among King Louis' court. The musketeers play a tangential, but nevertheless pivotal, role. Rather than focus on these relationships as others reviewers have done, this review will focus on one key aspect. Louise de la Valliere may have introduced certain aspects of the classic detective novel.

Before Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and perhaps for the first time in popular fiction, a protagonist is tasked with the role of detective. King Louis IV sends D'Artagnan to a rolling, hilly field in Rond Point (close to the King's estate at Fontainebleau) to discover what occurred between two members of the King's court. The Comte de Guiche has been seriously wounded. Rumors circulate around the court indicating that he and a jealous rival may have participated in a duel, contrary to the King's prohibitions on such. The official story is that Guiche was wounded in a hunting accident. D'Artagnan is sent to the scene to investigate, although he is not told who the duelers were or the details of the hunting accident.

Upon returning, Dumas meticulously describes D'Artagnan's oral briefing to the King. He tells the King that two men on horseback met there, based upon his observance of the horse tracks leading to the spot.

"A hostile meeting did take place then?" asks the King.

"Undoubtedly," replies D'Artagnan.

"You are a very acute observer," the King answers.

D'Artagnan goes on, telling the King that one man was hit by a pistol-bullet in both the hand and the chest. The King asks how D'Artagnan could have determined this.

"By a very simple means: the butt end of the pistol was covered with blood, and the trace of the bullet could be observed, with fragments of a broken ring. The wounded man, in all probability, had the ring-finger and the little finger carried off."

D'Artagnan concludes by informing the King, based on his observations of the scene, that although the individual was wounded in the chest, the person survived. The wounded man was carried off the field by two acquaintances who had later arrived at the scene, according to D'Artagnan's observations.

"You are he cleverest man in my kingdom," the King tells D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan is not normally known for his detective skills. The Musketeer romances are not detective novels. And of course, the honor of writing the first modern detective novel belongs to Edgar Allen Poe and his Dupin novels (which were written at roughly the same time as the Musketeers novels, the 1840s, and, curiously, also involved a Frenchman). Nevertheless, this novel is one of the first instances in which detective skills are put to use in popular literature, and for this, Dumas deserves credit.