While I understand that the background of the relationships between members of Louis XIV's court is an important foundation for the climax to be seen in the final chapter of the D'Artagnan Romances, 400 pages of royal "intrigue" and debauchery is a bit of an overkill. Read: I almost forget I was reading a story about the 3 Musketeers.

I can see why "The Vicomte de Bragelonne" and "Louise de la Valliere" are somewhat of the 'forgotten' of Dumas' 3 Musketeers epic.