The Vicomte de Bragelonne

The Vicomte de Bragelonne is the first of four sections in this edition of Alexandre Dumas's final d'Artagnan romance, originally serialized between 1847 and 1850.

In 1660, d'Artagnan has spent decades in royal service but remains frustrated by poor rewards and Cardinal Mazarin's control of the young Louis XIV. When France refuses to help the exiled Charles II recover the English throne, d'Artagnan resigns and decides to attempt the restoration himself.

Backed by his former servant Planchet, he designs a characteristically bold operation involving General Monck and the English army. Athos is independently working for the same cause, creating an unexpected reunion and one of the musketeers' last shared political triumphs.

The volume also follows Athos's son, Raoul de Bragelonne, whose future appears tied to Louise de la Vallière. Around them, Charles II returns to England and Louis XIV begins moving out of Mazarin's shadow, opening a new era of court ambition.

Dumas combines restoration politics, disguise, negotiation, and adventure while shifting attention toward a younger generation. The Vicomte de Bragelonne establishes the changing world in which the old musketeers must decide how—and whom—they are willing to serve.

This is part 1 of 4 in this edition of the final d'Artagnan romance.