This I read after I read the Queen Margot series. Dumas and Maquet wrote characters that have become archetypes and have passed the test of time. Porthos, Athos, Aramis and D'Artagnan have had many iterations and incarnations since their real life counterparts lived, fought and died. Inspired by the memoirs of the real D'Artagnan but remixed, turned sideways and cooked with a lot of spices by Dumas and Maquet this tale of coming of age, friendship, courage, cunning and bravery is still one of my favourite classics. Dumas knew what would please the readers of his time and ours.