Between Two Kings

Or, Ten Years Later

By: Alexandre Dumas, Lawrence Ellsworth - translator

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

For years d’Artagnan shared his adventures with his three comrades - Athos, Porthos, and Aramis - but now, in Between Two Kings, the First Musketeer returns to the forefront. This is truly d’Artagnan’s novel, bringing to a dramatic climax the story that began when he first arrived in Paris 30 years earlier in The Three Musketeers.

This brand new translation of Between Two Kings immediately picks up the story and themes of Blood Royal, where d’Artagnan tries to thwart destiny by saving England’s Charles I; now, he will be instrumental in the restoration of his son, Charles II, the first of the two kings of the title. Disappointed in the irresolution of young Louis XIV, d’Artagnan takes a leave of absence from the King’s Musketeers and ventures to England with a bold plan to hoist Charles II onto his throne, a swashbuckling escapade in which he is unwittingly assisted by his old comrade Athos. D’Artagnan returns triumphant to France, where he is recalled to service by the second king, Louis XIV, who is now finally ready to take full advantage of the extraordinary talents of his officer of musketeers.

This newly translated volume by Lawrence Ellsworth is the first volume of Alexandre Dumas’s mega-novel Le Vicomte de Bragelonne, the epic finale to the Musketeers Cycle, which will end with the justly famous The Man in the Iron Mask. This marks the first significant new English translation of this series of novels in over a century.

Public Domain (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Ah… the French

The story and its voice does not only sound French, it is French. What is prized as essential to the French and their thinking is delicately contrasted to their neighbors. No swashbuckling here. Cunning, genius, and patience win the day.

Where’s the rest?

I have been listening through the Musketeers Cycle for a couple months now, and I’ve been loving every minute of it. Dumas is a masterful writer, Lawrence Ellsworth is a brilliant translator, and John Lee is the perfect narrator. My only complaint/question is this: where is the rest? Why does the audiobook end by saying “This story continues in “A Court of Daggers”, when that title cannot be found anywhere? This recording was released 3 years ago; why hasn’t the next volume been released? I understand breaking the story into smaller pieces, but not if you’re going to leave your readers hanging.

Please, please, PLEASE finish this series. It’s a masterpiece, and it deserves to be told in its entirety.

Brings New Life to a Classic Tale

Can’t wait for the next book! Ellsworth’s updated translations of the Three Musketeers series have brought new life to Duma’s characters. After reading the first book using an old translation and reading the subsequent ones with Ellsworth’s, I can honestly say the difference is massive. I wish someone had told me about these—if you’re not sure which version to purchase, buy this one!

Where is the rest of the series?

This is a great translation and good narration. My only concern plaint is that, by breaking up "Ten Years After" we are now missing audiobooks for the rest of the series after this one 😥