As the presence of this novel on the various “Well Educated Adult” lists suggests, The Three Musketeers has a sort of cultural presence which transcends the fact that many people, nay, most people, have not actually read the book.

It’s a fine novel, not exactly earth-shattering in a postmodernist world, as the straight-forwardness of the story seems automatically suspect to readers accustomed to questioning the veracity of their narrators or teasing out the subtleties of allegories or symbolisms.

As it is the official seal-bearer of the swashbuckler genre, it must be respected. The story is brimming with effete men, snarlingly vicious women, and occasionally delightful humor on the part of Dumas. A great read for a long dark winter, or on a vacation, when carrying threads of a more complex or profound novel would be tiring or out of place.

Great read to pick up in the thrift store, but don’t go out of your way.