This book includes an introduction and notes by Keith Wren, University ofKent at Canterbury. A historical romance, The Three Musketeers tells thestory of the early adventures of the young Gascon gentleman, D'Artagnanand his three friends from the regiment of the King's Musketeers - Athos,Porthos and Aramis. Under the watchful eye of their patron M. de Treville,the four defend the honour of the regiment against the guards of CardinalRichelieu, and the honour of the queen against the machinations of theCardinal himself as the power struggles of seventeenth century France arevividly played out in the background. But their most dangerous encounteris with the Cardinal's spy, Milady, one of literature's most memorablefemale villains, and Dumas employs all his fast-paced narrative skills tobring this enthralling novel to a breathtakingly gripping and dramaticconclusion.