Anyone old enough to have friends they haven’t seen for many years knows how difficult it can be to get everyone together again. And when you do, it’s never quite the same. That’s the theme of Twenty Years After, Alexandre Dumas’s sequel to The Three Musketeers.
It would have been easy for Dumas to follow up the success of the original book by simply carrying on the swashbuckling adventures of d’Artagnan, Athos, Aramis and Porthos, but the author was more interested in the development of his characters and the times in which they lived than simply continuing the action. Don’t get me wrong—there still is plenty of action in Twenty Years After: Desperate chases, daring escapes, hairbreadth failures and the evilest of villains, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and conflicting loyalties. But these are mature adults, not carefree young men.
Our old friends are here, the musketeers, their lackeys, Anne of Austria, even d’Artagnan’s nemesis the Comte de Rochefort. But the villains are new and it no longer is easy for loyal soldiers and gentlemen to choose sides.
Changing times
The book opens, appropriately, 20 years after the action in The Three Musketeers. There is a new king on the throne, the young Louis XIV; a new power behind the throne, Cardinal Mazarin; Queen Anne of Austria now is regent during the minority of her son; and Rochefort is now a friend. The story is set against the political turmoil and family intrigues of the mid-1600s, and unless you are familiar with 17th century French politics (and who is?), the shifting alliances can be a little confusing.
Although the four Musketeers were called The Inseparables in the original book, the seeds of their dissolution were already planted. Aramis, whose ambition is for power, sees his path through the church. Porthos, who thirsts for a title and fortune, has his eyes on a widow. Athos, the mysterious nobleman running from his past, is ready to stop running. For d’Artagnan, without fortune or family, the road to advancement lies in the military. Now, 20 years later, he is a lieutenant in the Musketeers, forgotten by the queen he serves and with little hope of promotion.
When a new crisis arises requiring a hero—four would be better—d’Artagnan volunteers. Back in the good graces of the queen and this time working with the cardinal, he sets out to find his old friends.
Shifting alliances
Athos and Aramis no longer are in the market for political intrigue and adventures. Only Porthos, who, like Ringo, is always ready to play with any of the other members of the old band, agrees to accompany d’Artagnan on a mission to England on behalf of the cardinal. The first reunion between the four is tense, but eventually they decide that the blood of old friends is thicker than water and although at several points they end up on opposite sides in their exploits, it eventually is “one for all and all for one” once again.
There are a couple of important new characters introduced into the family. Raoul, the young ward of Athos, later becomes the Vicomte de Bragelonne and a central character in the final installment of the d’Artagnan Romances. The other is perhaps the most dangerous villain the musketeers have faced. But enough about that.
The final chapter in the story of d’Artagnan and his friends is a massive work called The Vicomte de Bragelonne. In English it is usually broken into three volumes, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask. This final installment, which takes place 10 years after Twenty Years After, has a different tone than its predecessors and includes the final fates of the four friends. There is less emphasis on adventure and might not be as enjoyable for fans of the first two installments.
But if you have enjoyed The Three Musketeers and want to continue the fun, Twenty Years After is worth reading. Although not as well known as its predecessor, there are plenty of editions available and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a copy at your library or bookstore.