It is nearly impossible to “review” a novel from the late, great Alexandre Dumas as his books already have been deemed classics by centuries of readers. Instead, I shall focus on the real story here, and that is the brilliant job that Lawrence Ellsworth has done in translating and putting together the definitive version of THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK.

This story grew in infamy not just because of its terrific and adventurous plot, but also due to the fact that it is the last novel by Dumas to feature the Three Musketeers. Their saga --- which includes the addition of the fourth protagonist to their number, D’Artagnan --- began in THE THREE MUSKETEERS and was followed by THE RED SPHINX, TWENTY YEARS AFTER, BLOOD ROYAL, BETWEEN TWO KINGS, COURT OF DAGGERS, DEVIL’S DANCE and SHADOW OF THE BASTILLE.

"Being able to read the definitive version of this book and offer my thoughts on it is a privilege that I do not take lightly. I owe a great deal of thanks to the efforts of Lawrence Ellsworth in making this treat possible."

Lawrence Ellsworth, the pen name of Lawrence Schick, is considered to be an authority on historical adventure fiction. The tireless work he has done to translate this book and all the titles listed above is indeed a feat worthy of any reader’s admiration. In the Introduction, Ellsworth admits that the idea of a prisoner being kept in an iron mask was not a piece of fiction invented by Dumas. It was based on a true story, and that person’s identity remains a mystery even to this day.

The prisoner was moved three times, with his final stay in the infamous Bastille. Voltaire was the first to voice belief that the man in the iron mask may have been the twin brother of King Louis XIV. This was embraced by Dumas and was used as the major plot twist of THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK. To collect and retell this grand epic story, Ellsworth translated and combined versions of it that were released separately in 1850 and 1893. By doing so, he is able to give us the complete version of Dumas’ tale, which is full of all the classic swashbuckling adventure, along with plenty of humor and sarcasm.

The story is set against a period of great turmoil, especially in the political landscape. King Louis XIV is the monarch, and he counts on his personal guards, the Musketeers, to protect him. In this story, D’Artagnan is now the Captain of the King’s Musketeers; his former comrades --- Athos, Porthos and Aramis --- are aged but still vital and full of mischief. The King has not made himself popular amongst the Musketeers, or most of the citizens of France for that matter. Raoul, the young son and viscount of Athos, is a rival of the King, who has been drawn to his beloved Louise. When Raoul is later killed in battle, Athos and his Musketeer brethren will hold the King fully responsible.

It is here where the idea originated to pull an unprecedented and ambitious trick on the entire country while enacting revenge against King Louis XIV. The Musketeers and D’Artagnan learn of a prisoner kept in the Bastille who dons an iron mask that keeps his identity a secret. When they learn the truth, that he is indeed the King's twin brother, making an unheard-of switch becomes their goal. How they will accomplish this becomes one of the greatest adventure plots in the history of fiction. I found it vitally important during the reading of this large text to mark off the historical characters listed at the end of the story as I found myself constantly referring to it.

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK mixes both real and fictional characters in a way that brings much credibility to the tale. I enjoyed the inclusion of the famous playwright and author Molière, especially since I was aware that the great French actor Roman Duris happened to portray both Molière and, more recently, Aramis in different French-language films. Being able to read the definitive version of this book and offer my thoughts on it is a privilege that I do not take lightly. I owe a great deal of thanks to the efforts of Lawrence Ellsworth in making this treat possible.