Ni le plus méconnu des romans de Dumas, ni le meilleur. Je vous le conseille quand même si vous cherchez une version plus tragique du Mouron Écarlate.

Petit résumé : un groupe de royalistes mené par le chevalier de Maison-Roue complote pour faire échapper Marie-Antoinette de la prison du Temple. En même temps, un révolutionnaire nommé Maurice s’éprend de l’épouse de l’un des conspirateurs. Des aventures, des mensonges, et multiples morts s’ensuivent.

D’un côté, j’aime beaucoup les histoires mettant en scène la Révolution française, et qui d’autre que Dumas pourrait y situer une aventure de cape et d’épée ? D’un autre côté, la trame est un peu éparpillée et les personnages manquent de crédibilité. Le héros Maurice est supposément un patriote de la Révolution, mais il veut bien trahir sa cause pour les beaux yeux de Geneviève, une jeune femme mariée.

D’ailleurs, parlons un peu de Geneviève : on nous la présente comme étant une personne courageuse, dévouée à ceux qui lui sont chers et prête à tout pour les aider. Et pourtant, elle n'agit que pour les autres dans ce roman. Quand il s’agit de poursuivre ses propres désirs, elle s’efface et baisse les bras. Quand elle se donne enfin à son amoureux, elle le fait comme un sacrifice de sa pureté, une simple manière de racheter son comportement envers Maurice (un comportement qui, d’ailleurs, lui avait été imposé par son mari, mais bon, je passe). Bref, je trouve que c’est dommage qu’elle n’ait pas eu droit à un plus beau rôle.

Le chevalier éponyme apparait à peine dans le roman, et seulement à gros coups de pinceau, comme une ébauche vite faite, sans plus d’explication.

Enfin, j’avoue que la fin du roman expie toutes ses fautes. Maurice, Geneviève, et Lorin ensemble, c’est une scène inoubliable et profondément émouvante par son écriture.

Conseillé aux amateurs de Dumas, de romans historiques, et d’histoires de casse (le tout enrobé d’une sauce au romantisme du XIXème siècle).

I picked up this book even though I had never heard about it, because I loved Dumas’s other, more popular novels. I couldn’t put it down! Exciting and also got a bit of a history lesson.

While the story was intriguing and filled with suspense (I had to constantly remind myself that Marie Antoinette did not, in fact, survive), the translation left much to be desired. Was the translator trying to make it more 'accessible' to the modern reader? Phrases like 'Let's crush this bastard legally!' and 'Lawyers will have a field day with him!' had me cringing throughout.
There must be a better translation out there. There has to be.

I finished my reading yesterday, and how can I describe it? I spent an absolutely delightful moment! Those who have known love will not be indifferent to it, and they will find themselves drawn to these characters who, above all, are deeply human. Of course, that is brought to us through Dumas’ captivating writing style. We could almost say that, he never entirely detaches himself from his character, and loves them as much as we do ! It is a very unique way to immerse ourselves into the History of France !

“C’est un sentiment vivifiant que l’amour : il sait animer les coeurs morts de toute sensation, il peuple les déserts, il suscite aux yeux le fantôme de l’objet aimé, il fait que la voix qui chante dans l’âme de l’amant lui montre la création toute entière éclairée par le jour lumineux de l’espérance et du bonheur, et, comme en même temps que c’est un sentiment expansif, c’est encore un sentiment égoïste, il aveugle celui qui aime pour tout ce qui n’est pas l’objet aimé.”

Alexandre Dumas was one of the worlds most prodigous writers. He wrote over 200 novels and yet, I imagine, like many other readers, if someone sidled up to me and said " and now, for a million dolllars, tell us the titles of six novels by Alexandre Dumas!" I think I would start well, Three Musketeers, Count of Monte Cristo, Man in the Iron Mask and, if I was lucky, i might remember Twenty Years After. That would be it. Three, or with luck, four novels out of 200.

Seeing The Knight of Maison Rouge in its well advertised new translation reminded me that there is more to Dumas than the three novels I'd read. Maison Rouge is a novel of the French Revolution, more specifically of the days leading to The Terror of 1793. It is attached to the series called The Marie Antoinette novels but is actually related to those novels than in a direct correspondence. Maison Rouge is concerned with a number of plots to free Marie Antoinette from her Republican imprisonment. A typical Dumas hero, a brave and noble young man, Maurice Lindy, unaware of the company he keeps, becomes involved with the plotters.

Maison Rouge demonstrates Dumas' talent for using a historical setting, real people and a tense siutation to relentlessly ratchet up the pace and tension to a breakneck speed. Such is Dumas' talent that a reader can be forgiven for beginning to believe that the plot might be sucessful and the Queen of France will escape her grisly fate. All this on a smaller canvas than the gargantuan Musketeers or Monte Cristo, it totals approximately 300 pages.

The story is well told and totally engrossing. In addition it opened my eyes to the many, many, other Dumas novels. The only flaw in this edition for me was the quality of the translation. The book is a strange mixture of very modern idiomatic phrases which then reverts to a more typical sounding 19th century translation.

Some examples:

“Cripes!” said Lorin. “Now there’s a letter that must bear interesting tidings!”

Heck!’ says I to Santerre, pulling him aside, ‘you’re all in a bit of a tight spot."

Do you swear on your honor...cross your heart and hope to die?"

"This is the dizzy limit, madame!"

"...the thought gave his heart a pang and caused him suddenly to clam up."

These strange locutions strike me as the result, not of a new translation, as Modern Library advertises but of a speedy bit of linguistic modernization performed on a much older text.

Nevertheless, such is the strength of Dumas' story that these infelicities are mere hiccups in a great story.

I wanted so badly to love this one. I was super excited about it because I've been riding the French Revolution train for the past couple of months and Dumas is one of my favorite authors - the combination positively thrilled me. This book, however, did not.

It seemed like a boring combo of Three Musketeers and Queen Margot, but this story was scattered and superficial. I never grew attached to any of the protagonists nor did I feel any strong feelings of hatred for the villains. It was all just meh.

Also, there was some dog violence!!!! Let all the human heads roll, but harm a dog?! Nope, nope, nope. So, I guess I it did evoke some strong feelings, lol.

The end was really comical though. Like the last four minutes. Just so absurd and I found it hilarious. I confess I was hoping for a Quentin Tarantino-esque ending to redeem this book and I felt like he got 8% of the way there in the last minutes.

دائما ما اقف عاجزا عن وصف إبداع الكسندر دوما في الكتابة. موهبته لا تكمن فقط في طريقة تعبيره و وصفه الدقيق بل في كونه يستطيع أن يعزف على اوتار مشاعر القارئ بكل حرية .. يعرف تماما كيف يقودك للتعلق بالشخصيات و من تم استدراجك لتصبح جزءًا من الحكاية لك نصيبك من الحزن و الفرح .. من الحب و الغدر .. و لك نصيبك من خيال الكاتب.

I decided to try this because I love "The Count of Monte Cristo." While I enjoyed it, it paled in comparison. Rather slow moving and not much excitement until the last few chapters. I don't understand French and really missed the "translate" option when reading on my Kindle. The main plot is about trying to free Marie Antoinette from prison, so no intrigue there regarding the outcome. The subplot of a romance, was average.

This has to be one of the most under-appreciated books from Dumas! A non-stop action-packed book from beginning to end with intelligent, witty prose, it has all of the fun, and little of the tedium of dinner table descriptions as Dumas was wont to do. The ending is incredible and should be quoted like Shakespeare. Anyone interested in the Reign of Terror will appreciate this book!

Je voudrais simplement dire que je suis vraiment très amoureuse du personnage de Lorin. Je l'aime d'un amour fou.
J'étais tellement imprégnée de l'époque et de l'ambiance, qu'en finissant le bouquin je me suis enfilée quinze émissions sur le sujet. A l'aide.

13/10/2017: je me rends compte que ce livre me manque énormément.
04/03/2018 : ce livre me manque toujours ; il faut que je le relise!

Depressing! I knew Marie Antoinette would die, but I didn't think everyone else would too! And for nothing

I did not read this version, but listened to the version on audible. I loved every minute! The language, the story, the characters. Dumas captures the french revolution in a unique way. This book version is the only written English translation I can find. From what I've seen, it captures the story, but loses the beautiful language of Dumas. I will read it, but not while that beautiful language and storytelling is still fresh in my mind.