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Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas is the sequel to The Three Musketeers. It takes place twenty years later and follows the aging musketeers as they reunite in a time of political turmoil.
The story begins during the English Civil War and the Fronde in France. D’Artagnan, now a lieutenant in the Musketeers, is sent to bring his former friends back into service:
Athos is living quietly with his adopted son, Raoul
Porthos has become wealthy and wants a noble title
Aramis has turned toward the Church and political intrigue
d’Artagnan is still brave but disappointed that his career hasn’t advanced much
Meanwhile, their former enemy Cardinal Richelieu is dead, and power is now held by Cardinal Mazarin, whom the musketeers generally dislike.
A major part of the plot centers on saving King Charles I of England, who is threatened by revolutionaries. Athos and d’Artagnan end up on opposite sides of events in England: Athos defends Charles I, while d’Artagnan follows French orders. Despite heroic efforts, Charles I is executed, giving the novel a more tragic tone than The Three Musketeers.
The musketeers also face: conspiracies at the French court, unrest among nobles during the Fronde, the return of Mordaunt, the vengeful son of Milady de Winter, seeking revenge on them.
By the end, the four friends survive many dangers, defeat Mordaunt, and reaffirm their loyalty to each other, though they now better understand age, loss, and responsibility.

About the author

Alexandre Dumas, père (1802–1870) was a French novelist and playwright, best known for his swashbuckling adventure novels, including “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Three Musketeers.”

Born in Villers-Cotterêts, France, Dumas came from a family of mixed heritage; his father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, was a general in Revolutionary France. Dumas became one of the most widely read French authors of the 19th century, celebrated for his fast-paced plots, vivid characters, and historical adventure stories.

He also ran a theater company and was a prolific writer, producing hundreds of plays, novels, and articles. His works have been translated into many languages and adapted countless times for film, television, and stage, securing his lasting legacy in world literature.

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