I felt like the novel's name should have been the four musketeers" instead of the man in the iron mask, as philippe isn't really a main character nor event.
It just overall doesn't feel like it is very well written..

I was reluctant to read this due to the ubiquity of the Musketeers and because for whatever reason i had assumed Dumas to be a high-brow difficult author. Boy was i wrong, this had such an easy almost pulpy tone to it, perhaps a tad hard to parse during some dialogue but overall very smooth and a nice style.
I was in, the first 20% was 5-stars even with some interruptions to worldbuild, but then after a climax it suddenly switches characters. Which it will continue to do throughout the novel as there isn't actually any main character. Its a terrible structure where the momentum drops at each switch and has to start to build up again. Still Dumas manages to make it work, and the awful structure does at least mean you never know what might happen next.
Dumas even gets some use out of Raoul, the most worthless of side characters, in his first major section at least.
So not 5-stars but still a solid 4... until we reach the conclusion, if i can use that term since its about 10 chapters long. One major character the King! goes through a complete personality switch for no reason and the rest is just turgid wrapping up and politic history lessons and absolutely none of it has anything to do with the actual title of the book.

An 80% of good to great with a soft squidgy mess at the end. Like driving a sports car into a swamp.

All of the characters in 'The Man in the Iron Mask' by Alexandre Dumas live behind an iron mask-built of honor first and foremost. Honor is first before riches or political place or family or work.

I am torn. As much as I am in love with the Musketeers I cannot accept the code of honor they live by. Because they adhere so religiously to their honor code they are led into life threatening and adventurous episodes which entertain much in reading about them, but I was left mystified by the underlying dismal outcomes in most cases.

The characters who followed the fashion of honor, which was taught them how to be as a member of the French Musketeers, were all most pleased with themselves on that score and often had only their "honor" to comfort them when being honorable laid waste to their families, friends and fortunes. Our century's definition of satisfying honor is not about sacrificing all to it. Western culture anyway finds honor in sacrificing one to save many (remember Spock's death?).

Since the actual event of the man being masked is such a small part of the book I think my guess that the title is meant more metaphysically than literally is correct. Regardless, while the books entertain with adventure-war-sword fights-romantic love-silly and admirable and evil characters, along with thoughtful road trips into religion-politics-wealth-aristocrat and servant relationships-marriage, honor is the air, water, food, shelter and emotion underpinning all motivations, even those with selfish, mean or evil intentions. The only characters not given any sympathy by the author are those who behave without any of the aspects of honor as honor is believed to be in these books. Dumas forgives all else with understanding. The other thing I noticed is how heroic the heroes noticed themselves being by which they gave themselves permission to do everything. This kind of heroics seemed shockingly self-centered at times, sacrificing a hell of a lot needlessly in reality while our heroes glowed with self-appreciation. The musketeers are delusional with heroic intentions and ignore the actual failures of their heroism half of the time.

I would have had more fun in reading if I was a kid and male. As it was, my irritation with the cultural blindness so ably represented in these novels got in the way of my enjoyment. But I still felt grief for the characters too when I was supposed to as well as joy when they had success or fun. These guys are lovable to the max. This book is the last chapter of the Musketeers who are now in their 60's still living with honor at the end of their careers. Underneath all of it is disquiet at the messiness of being real heroes in a real world. (Yes, I know it's a fictional novel, but while it's a romantic history it's also NOT a fantasy or a Superman comic. The author wanted characters who were real people in the real world of the 17th century.) Dumas admired his heroes without reservations I think. Not so me, but I liked the adventure.

As I advance on my quest to read all the books I have obtained over the years, I have come to this.My copy of this book most likely came from a thrift store or flea market and cost almost nothing. I may well have had this in my possession for over 20 years; who knows.

From what I've read, this is the final book of Dumas's Three Musketeers saga. There's a reason why the Three Musketeers have had such staying power.

Wow. Dumas was a quite a writer. The plots and intrigues, mostly advanced through clever dialogue, the observations... he was brilliant.

Sadly for a 21st century reader, he is way too dense. Too many characters with similar names, too much old dialogue that needs to be followed and deciphered, too many old French societal structures that have to be guessed at, it's all too much.

I suspected I would give up on this one, and I was right. What did surprise me was how the first 60 pages really sucked me in. If there wasn't still 95% of the book left to go, I might have stuck with it. 600 more pages of a hard slog is more than I am willing to do at this point of my life.

Maybe when I am retired and no longer have business matters to deal with daily, I will download this to my tablet and give it the attention it demands. As for now, the hardcopy will be going to the Friends of the Tacony Library book sale.

“All for one, and one for all!” The motto is known throughout the world of literature as the symbol of companionship and reliability of friends. The Three Musketeers are known for their strength in battle, bravery, and companionship. Alexandre Dumas is the creator of the famed Musketeers’ series, which The Man in the Iron Mask concludes. The Man in the Iron Mask is the third and final part of the book The Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten Years Later, the last book in The Three Musketeers Trilogy. In this grand finale, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D’Artagnan travel throughout France, encountering several difficulties and have interactions with several historical characters throughout the book, such as King Louis XIV (the Sun King), Monsieur Fourqet (the superintendent of finances), Monsieur Colbert (the successor to Fourqet), Louise de La Vallière (the mistress of the king and former fiance of Raoul), and the mysterious man in the iron mask who goes only by the name of Phillipe. In this book, the musketeers fight to the death, commit acts of bravery, as well as surrender themselves to their emotions, creating a thrilling, roller coaster of a “must-read” that every Musketeer and action-loving fan will adore.

The four friends along with Raoul, the son of the Count Athos, get tangled up in a secret so important that even hearing of it could cost you your life. Aramis, the first to gain knowledge of the secret, put it to use to overthrow the king with our dear friend Phillipe. In plotting against the sovereign, Aramis did not only make himself an enemy of the state, but he also pulled his fellow companion and Musketeer, Porthos, along with him. Porthos was led by his complete and blind loyalty to his companion. All four musketeers were affected by Aramis’ blind greed and lust for power when he made the mistake of revealing his plot to Monsieur Forquet, who foiled the plot, beginning a long chain of events that changed the musketeers forever.

The Man in the Iron Mask is comprised of complex old language, that can be difficult to understand sometimes, especially for younger readers. In addition to difficult language, the book can become slow at times, but those that persist are rewarded with the brilliant ending of the book. The action is depicted in such detail that it makes you feel as if you are witnessing it in person. Alexandre Dumas goes so far as to describe the emotions of the characters about actions they are about to execute, “Porthos breathed a heavy sigh - but he obeyed.”

Even though Dumas’ action scenes are enthralling, they would be nothing without the characters he populates his book with. They are relatable and share human characteristics. Several characters suffer the same emotions that we all feel in our everyday lives, such as grief, greed, and love. These emotions tie in perfectly with the plot of the book, adding spice and flavor to it, creating a unique and original plot. The book ends on one of the most climactic moments of the book, creating an atmosphere and leaving the reader wanting more. All these literary elements blend together to create a must-read novel that you will never forget.

BEST BEST BEST! Full of emotions.

Not in the same league as The Three Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo. I stuck with it because I wanted to see what happens, but it's just not that exciting until near the last quarter. It's too wordy, too long, extremely slow, and the musketeer characters weren't really needed.

-Taking the idea of 'twins seperated at birth' to another level. (I think this idea didn't even exist at the time.)
-My dear honest, worthy Porthos!! And his servant

I hate to admit, but I was incredibly disappointed in this book.

I think I've been spoiled by the movie adaptation, which I was unaware had a completely different storyline.

"The Man in the Iron Mask'???? He was only in it for about 5 or 6 chapters?? The novel seems to completely forget about him about half way through, as we never get a resolution to his storyline. I think my expectations were too high, sadly.

Parbleu! Morbleu! Corboeuf! Ma foi! Mordioux! Not to mention Cordieu! (I think they are variations of OMG).

I usually prefer to know as little as possible about the book I am about to read, including avoid reading the synopsis, or if I have read the synopsis in order to decide whether to read the book I try to forget it (and do very well in the forgetting department, there is a character in this book called M. Fouquet, a name I would like to adopt for future social media shenanigans). Anyway, sometimes this policy backfires. I thought The Man in the Iron Mask was the final volume of The D'Artagnan Romances, alas I was only one third right, The Man in the Iron Mask is the final part of a much longer book,  The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later. However, it is the best known part and published in the UK separately as a separate book. This means that I missed out on quite a lot of backstory and plot developments. Fortunately, The Man in the Iron Mask can be read without much difficulty outside of its parent book. You should, however, at least read  The Three Musketeers first. Anyway, by the time I realized my mistake I was already well into the book and I didn’t feel like backtracking.

The Man in the Iron Mask is set thirty-five years after  The Three Musketeers. In that first book of The D'Artagnan Romances, D’Artagnan was something of a young cocky upstart musketeer, in this book he is in his fifties and the renowned captain of the king's musketeers. His three ex-musketeer BFFs, Aramis, Porthos and Athos, are also of advancing years and living lives of luxury. None of these three are working for King Louis XIV, not having much of a taste for this king who—from his playboy-like behavior—seems unworthy of their services and loyalty. In fact, Aramis is so unimpressed that he elaborately plots to replace Louise with his identical twin brother Philippe, his plan goes smoothly up to a point, the king is put in prison at Bastille and secretly replaced with Philippe. Unfortunately, he then makes the fatal error of confiding in Superintendent M. Fouquet, who, as a stick in the mud an honorable man, refuses to allow the rightful king to be treated so shabbily. Fouquet goes off to rescue Louis XIV from Bastille, while Aramis makes a run for it, accompanied by poor, trusting Porthos, his unwitting coconspirator.

Looking like Leonardo DiCaprio the king is not always a good thing.

You may be thinking I am spoiling the book terribly with the above summary but The Man in the Iron Mask is so densely plotted I have barely scratched the surface of the entire plot. It is not surprising that Dumas was so popular and remains so to this day, the man really knew how to write a fast pace narrative when he wants to, this book is stuffed to the gills with action and intrigues. The scene of D’Artagnan chasing M. Fouquet on horseback is particularly hair-raising, and the conclusion of the chase confounded my expectations. There are several other scenes of similar intensity, but, for me, this one is the most badass.

Dumas’ skill with character development is remarkable. His main characters are all lively, vibrant and believable. Of the original three musketeers the only real mover and shaker is Aramis, who is too clever and ambitious for his own good. His ingenious subterfuges and elaborate schemes are both audacious and hilarious in execution. Porthos is his lovable, not too bright, faithful sidekick who follows him blindly to his own detriment; as for Athos, he does not have much to do in the narrative except growing old and sad. The series’ hero, D’Artagnan, is loyal to the king to a fault, he would carry out the king's orders even if he knows them to be wrong and that innocents will suffer. However, he finally draws the line at killing any of his Three Musketeers friends.

The Man in the Iron Mask is much darker in tone than  The Three Musketeers. Several good characters come to a bad end through no fault of their own. Philippe’s fate is particularly miserable (though there is no real evidence that the real historical mysterious Man in the Iron Mask is in anyway related to the king). While the book is a great read, I believe it suffers a bit from being serialized. As authors of serialized books are paid by the word it often cause them to overwrite (hello Mr. Dickens!). Dumas overwrote some parts which drag on unnecessarily, and some of the subplots do not really go anywhere, and have little relationship to the main storyline. Still, the book kept my interest throughout. The writing is a thing of beauty though the dialogue is over elaborate at times.

It has been decades since I read  The Three Musketeers  (this is my first reading of The Man in the Iron Mask) and it makes me want to reread it soon.


Notes:
• Fabulous  Librivox free audio book, read by Mark F. Smith. Amazing job! Different character voices, and narrated with plenty of passion and enthusiasm. Thank you so much!

• I always thought the title of  The Three Musketeers was something of a misnomer, as the book was about four of them; though it could be argued that it is really about D'Artagnan’s encounter and friendship with them. However, The Man in the Iron Mask is even more of a misnomer because the eponymous Man (poor Phillippe) is barely in the narrative, and by the second half of the book Dumas seems to have lost interest in him.

I have no idea who to credit for the translation of this public domain edition. It seems very good in term of conveying the story, whether it is a good translation of Dumas’ original text I am not in a position to evaluate.


Quotes:
“Then if you wish me to tell what crime I have committed, explain to me in what a crime consists. For as my conscience does not accuse me, I aver that I am not a criminal.”

“M. Mouston, whose personal corpulency, quite enough at any time to hide one man from another, was effectually doubled by a scarlet coat which the intendant was holding up for his master's inspection, by the sleeves, that he might the better see it all over.”

“D'Artagnan recoiled, as though the sesquipedalian syllables had knocked the breath out of his body.”


Driven insane by his undeserved incarceration, Philippe sayz "Come On Feel The Noize!"

Ok, I feel like I need to watch the movie again and see if I can figure out what happened to Philippe in the end! As far as I could tell from the book he’s still in prison (well, at Belle Isle) with the mask on! It just jumped from there to telling the end of the story for each of the musketeers. I feel like surely I just missed him escaping to another country with someone or something…but even if that happened then they just stopped talking about him. He really wasn’t in most of the book at all so I’m not sure why it got named after him!

Audiobook version