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The Conspirators #1
Кавалерът Д'Армантал
В живота на всеки човек настъпва един миг, който решава изцяло бъдещето му. Този миг, колкото и важен да е, рядко се подготвя пресметливо и се ръководи от волята; почти винаги случайността вoди човека, както вятърът отнася отбрулен лист и го захвърля по нов, непознат път, а веднъж попаднал там, той е принуден да се подчини на някаква висша сила и убеден, че следва свободната си воля става роб на обстоятелството или играчка на събитията.
Един смел и благороден младеж, замесен в кралски интереси и борби, става пример за лоялност, авантюристично рицарство, чест и достойнство.
В този увлекателен роман има смелост, амбиция, разочарование и предателство. Има заговори и съзаклятничество. Има доброта и безкористна човечност. Има и съдбовна любов, която окрилява, вдъхновява и спасява.
Един смел и благороден младеж, замесен в кралски интереси и борби, става пример за лоялност, авантюристично рицарство, чест и достойнство.
В този увлекателен роман има смелост, амбиция, разочарование и предателство. Има заговори и съзаклятничество. Има доброта и безкористна човечност. Има и съдбовна любов, която окрилява, вдъхновява и спасява.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1845
34 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Alexandre Dumas
6,993 books12.3k followersThis note regards Alexandre Dumas, père, the father of Alexandre Dumas, fils (son). For the son, see Alexandre Dumas fils.
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 1, 2025
Dumas instantly takes me to the happy times of the carefree childhood and those long summer days and evenings spent reading about the adventures of his fearless, larger-than-life characters.
'Le Chevalier d'Harmental' (or 'The Conspirators') is no exception. It is a historical adventure novel centered around a failed plot to overthrow the Regent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans and restore power to the Bourbon monarchy. As I wanted to know more about the aims of the plot and the actual participants and organizers of it, I was doing a lot of additional reading while reading the novel. Therefore, I learnt a lot of interesting facts about Louis XIV, his spouses, mistresses, his many legitimate and illegitimate children, grandchildren and other numerous relatives - some of them were involved in the plot during the Regency.
It is an enjoyable read not because of the story but primarily because of the compelling characters, timeless themes (love, honour, bravery, kindness, political intrigue,etc.), the author's engaging and vivid writing style, gentle humour, fast pace and something that can be called magic and this is what makes Dumas's novels resonate with the modern reader.
'Le Chevalier d'Harmental' (or 'The Conspirators') is no exception. It is a historical adventure novel centered around a failed plot to overthrow the Regent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans and restore power to the Bourbon monarchy. As I wanted to know more about the aims of the plot and the actual participants and organizers of it, I was doing a lot of additional reading while reading the novel. Therefore, I learnt a lot of interesting facts about Louis XIV, his spouses, mistresses, his many legitimate and illegitimate children, grandchildren and other numerous relatives - some of them were involved in the plot during the Regency.
It is an enjoyable read not because of the story but primarily because of the compelling characters, timeless themes (love, honour, bravery, kindness, political intrigue,etc.), the author's engaging and vivid writing style, gentle humour, fast pace and something that can be called magic and this is what makes Dumas's novels resonate with the modern reader.
February 12, 2015
I am a Dumas fan, so maybe this is a little biased.
Le Chevalier D'Harmental tells the story of a young chevalier and his adventure.
It's clearly similar to the three musketeers but not so deep and compelling.
Still it does the job captivating the reader with it's perfect characterizations and descriptions of romance and events.
I started this book rather light heatedly but as the ending unfolded i got more and more into the story and was happily surprised.
I recommend it for people who enjoy this kind of writing but not for heavy duty readers, looking for a deep and dense story.
For Dumas fans i would say it deserves a strong 4 (comparing to The Three Musketeers' 5)
For regular readers i would give it a 3 or a 3.5 rating because the story is exciting but simple
But for me i geve it a 5 because i really enjoyed it and i got from it what i expected, a Dumas swordsmanship story set in old France.
Le Chevalier D'Harmental tells the story of a young chevalier and his adventure.
It's clearly similar to the three musketeers but not so deep and compelling.
Still it does the job captivating the reader with it's perfect characterizations and descriptions of romance and events.
I started this book rather light heatedly but as the ending unfolded i got more and more into the story and was happily surprised.
I recommend it for people who enjoy this kind of writing but not for heavy duty readers, looking for a deep and dense story.
For Dumas fans i would say it deserves a strong 4 (comparing to The Three Musketeers' 5)
For regular readers i would give it a 3 or a 3.5 rating because the story is exciting but simple
But for me i geve it a 5 because i really enjoyed it and i got from it what i expected, a Dumas swordsmanship story set in old France.
August 29, 2012
This was a fun book to read and it just makes me feel good inside to read 'classics'. I will admit to skimming a little during the historical political explanations that didn't seem to be super important to the plot. I just don't know a lot about French history and it all sort of went over my head. But I did enjoy the intrigue and the love story, and the characters.
April 25, 2021
Apparso per la prima volta nel 1842, Il cavaliere di Harmental è il primo romanzo storico generato dalla prolifica collaborazione tra Alexandre Dumas e Auguste Maquet, da cui sono nati numerosissimi e famosissimi romanzi; una collaborazione durata circa un decennio e finita in tribunale a causa del mancato pagamento a Maquet per il suo apporto letterario alle varie opere.
Il Cavaliere di Harmental, ambientato nei primi anni del Settecento durante il periodo della Reggenza di Filippo II d'Orleans, racconta le vicende e le avventure del giovane cavaliere coinvolto in una cospirazione contro il Reggente.
L'autore francese ha l'indubbia capacità di creare dei personaggi memorabili e di scrivere romanzi lunghi ma allo stesso tempo molto scorrevoli; anche in questo romanzo lo stile è impeccabile e curato, il ritmo serrato, le descrizioni precise e mai noiose.
Ancora una volta Dumas si conferma un grande autore e maestro incontrastato del romanzo storico, in cui storia e finzione sono indissolubilmente legati tra loro; l'autore francese è capace di riunire, piegare e comprimere gli avvenimenti storici al suo volere (poco importa se a volte non sono proprio veritieri) e coniugarli con elementi di finzione romanzesca riuscendo sempre a creare un equilibrio perfetto. All'interno del romanzo, come in ogni libro di Dumas che si rispetti, troviamo avventure, amore, passioni, umorismo, intrighi, cospirazioni, delitti, complotti di corte, intessuti con grande abilità e sapiente ironia. Anche in questo romanzo sembrano esserci tutti gli elementi per renderlo un'altra opera memorabile uscita dalla penna di Dumas eppure in molte parti ho trovato la lettura lenta e noiosa, una trama poco interessante e molto confusionaria, in cui c'è più storia che finzione (ci sono troppi personaggi realmente esistiti rispetto a quelli di fantasia che durante la lettura mi hanno confuso le idee). Solo negli ultimi capitoli la vicenda diventa più accattivante e coinvolgente.
Un libro, che forse non appartiene alla categoria dei suoi libri più famosi, ma che ha comunque il pregio di avermi fatto conoscere una parte della storia francese che finora mi era sconosciuta.
[...] il tutto era un po' rischioso; ma si sa che di solito sono proprio le imprese come queste a riuscire, tanto più se le vittime designate non hanno saputo prevenirle.
Il Cavaliere di Harmental, ambientato nei primi anni del Settecento durante il periodo della Reggenza di Filippo II d'Orleans, racconta le vicende e le avventure del giovane cavaliere coinvolto in una cospirazione contro il Reggente.
L'autore francese ha l'indubbia capacità di creare dei personaggi memorabili e di scrivere romanzi lunghi ma allo stesso tempo molto scorrevoli; anche in questo romanzo lo stile è impeccabile e curato, il ritmo serrato, le descrizioni precise e mai noiose.
Ancora una volta Dumas si conferma un grande autore e maestro incontrastato del romanzo storico, in cui storia e finzione sono indissolubilmente legati tra loro; l'autore francese è capace di riunire, piegare e comprimere gli avvenimenti storici al suo volere (poco importa se a volte non sono proprio veritieri) e coniugarli con elementi di finzione romanzesca riuscendo sempre a creare un equilibrio perfetto. All'interno del romanzo, come in ogni libro di Dumas che si rispetti, troviamo avventure, amore, passioni, umorismo, intrighi, cospirazioni, delitti, complotti di corte, intessuti con grande abilità e sapiente ironia. Anche in questo romanzo sembrano esserci tutti gli elementi per renderlo un'altra opera memorabile uscita dalla penna di Dumas eppure in molte parti ho trovato la lettura lenta e noiosa, una trama poco interessante e molto confusionaria, in cui c'è più storia che finzione (ci sono troppi personaggi realmente esistiti rispetto a quelli di fantasia che durante la lettura mi hanno confuso le idee). Solo negli ultimi capitoli la vicenda diventa più accattivante e coinvolgente.
Un libro, che forse non appartiene alla categoria dei suoi libri più famosi, ma che ha comunque il pregio di avermi fatto conoscere una parte della storia francese che finora mi era sconosciuta.
[...] il tutto era un po' rischioso; ma si sa che di solito sono proprio le imprese come queste a riuscire, tanto più se le vittime designate non hanno saputo prevenirle.
December 29, 2016
The book is pleasing. The plot is mainly a love story set amidst a political turmoil during the reign of Louie the XIV-th. The writing is clear and concise, but sometimes it feels like it treats the events which are followed in too a lighthearted manner, exhibiting quite enough irony and theatrical dialogue. All in all, the books sends out, for most of the part, a moralizing and humanitarian outlook on historical events which, of course, are romanticised throughout the book. I can't rate it higher than four stars because I have read books which inspired me more.
September 3, 2021
This is a fun Dumas book, a relatively quick read, it has the romance of The Black Tulip and the adventure of Le Reine Margot, definitely a good book with an interesting storyline. The hero is easy to like and retains the same characteristics of a good Dumas protagonist. This book is the first of a two "companion" book set, the other being The Regent's Daughter.
July 8, 2025
Throughout history, civil wars have broken out between claimants to the throne, with nobles and knights on both sides believing themselves to be on the righteous side. What happens when you side with the wicked? Dumas has been one of my favourite writers of all time ever since I read The Three Musketeers. This story, albeit not as high-octane as his most notable works, answers the aforementioned dilemma in vivid detail. A political coup gone awry, betrayal in every nook and corner, and a righteous man oblivious to it all. An absolute “unputdownable” read.
March 11, 2018
More like 3.5 stars
It showed that this was his first historical novel. It leaned a lot on comedy, the way Molière's plays do. Also more romance heavy than anything else, he has written in my opinion. The last 200 pages were a joyful ride action-wise.
I still enjoyed it a lot, but I have enjoyed his other novels a lot more.
Full review to come (possibly in French)
It showed that this was his first historical novel. It leaned a lot on comedy, the way Molière's plays do. Also more romance heavy than anything else, he has written in my opinion. The last 200 pages were a joyful ride action-wise.
I still enjoyed it a lot, but I have enjoyed his other novels a lot more.
Full review to come (possibly in French)
August 30, 2025
Nuobodoka. Tas pats kaip ,,Trys muškietininkai” tik blogiau. Bet Diuma yra Diuma, citatų gerų pamėtė.
Labiausiai įstrigus: ,,kiekviena diena mane pasendina dvidešimt keturiomis valandomis”
Labiausiai įstrigus: ,,kiekviena diena mane pasendina dvidešimt keturiomis valandomis”
March 26, 2023
takie 2.5, okej ale bez szału.
August 21, 2016
Add two stars to my rating if you are a diehard Dumas fan. Le chevalier d'Harmental is the first work that Dumas co-authored with Auguste Maquet. Despite the novels many fine moments, the only point to reading it is to see how the great collaboration began.
I found the first half of the novel clumsy. The second half was brisker and flowed much better as the two authors started to work more effectively together.
On balance, the Chevalier d'Harmental was very much like the Black Tulip in that it is the gritty heroine who saves the day rather than the dimwitted Chevalier d'Harmental. I prefer, as do I suspect most readers, the Dumas novels like the Three Musketeers and the Count of Monte Cristo that have smart protagonists. The second problem with the Chevalier d'Harmental is that the heroine is pure as the driven snow. Unfortunately, Dumas is always in better form when his heroine is a woman of easy virtue.
The biggest surprise for me was the Prince Regent who pardons Harmental and his bungling co-conspirators at the end of the novel. Clemency and compassion are rare qualities for the heads of state in Dumas' novels. Typically, the kings, queens and regents in the Dumas novels are capricious and absolutely indifferent to the needs of those lacking power.
Like the more famous works that Maquet and Dumas produced, le Chevalier d'Harmental has action, wit and a well structured plot. Nonetheless one will still enjoy it most, if one sets out with relatively low expectations.
I found the first half of the novel clumsy. The second half was brisker and flowed much better as the two authors started to work more effectively together.
On balance, the Chevalier d'Harmental was very much like the Black Tulip in that it is the gritty heroine who saves the day rather than the dimwitted Chevalier d'Harmental. I prefer, as do I suspect most readers, the Dumas novels like the Three Musketeers and the Count of Monte Cristo that have smart protagonists. The second problem with the Chevalier d'Harmental is that the heroine is pure as the driven snow. Unfortunately, Dumas is always in better form when his heroine is a woman of easy virtue.
The biggest surprise for me was the Prince Regent who pardons Harmental and his bungling co-conspirators at the end of the novel. Clemency and compassion are rare qualities for the heads of state in Dumas' novels. Typically, the kings, queens and regents in the Dumas novels are capricious and absolutely indifferent to the needs of those lacking power.
Like the more famous works that Maquet and Dumas produced, le Chevalier d'Harmental has action, wit and a well structured plot. Nonetheless one will still enjoy it most, if one sets out with relatively low expectations.
March 7, 2025
Le chevalier d'Harmental : ইংরেজিতে The Conspirators. দ্যুমার লেখা মানেই ফ্রান্স, ইংল্যান্ড আর স্পেনের রাজকীয় হালচাল, কূটনীতি আর ভূ-রাজনীতি নিয়ে চমৎকার সব গল্প। এর মাঝে আবার জায়গা করে নেয় ভালোবাসা।
নাবালক রাজা পঞ্চদশ লুই এর অভিভাবকত্ব এবং রাজ্য শাসনের ভার পান রাজা ফিলিপ (Philippe II, Duke of Orléans)। একদিকে রিজেন্ট ফিলিপের বৈধতা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন উঠতে থাকে, অন্যদিকে তাঁর অগোচরেই বিস্তৃত হতে থাকে চক্রান্তের জাল যাতে যোগ দেন দুর্ধর্ষ শেভালিয়ার হারমেন্তাল। মসিঁয়ে হারমেন্তালের বীরত্ব আর সুখ্যাতি গোটা ফ্রান্স জুড়ে। পরিচয় লুকিয়ে হারমেন্তাল সাহায্য নেন রকফিনট (Roquefinette)- এর, যার ব্যক্তিত্ব চোখে পড়ার মত। আমুদে এই মার্সেনারি ক্যাপ্টেন বিচক্ষণতা আর ব্যবস্থাপনার গুণ নিয়ে গল্পে যোগ করেছেন অন্য মাত্রা।
নাবালক রাজা পঞ্চদশ লুই এর অভিভাবকত্ব এবং রাজ্য শাসনের ভার পান রাজা ফিলিপ (Philippe II, Duke of Orléans)। একদিকে রিজেন্ট ফিলিপের বৈধতা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন উঠতে থাকে, অন্যদিকে তাঁর অগোচরেই বিস্তৃত হতে থাকে চক্রান্তের জাল যাতে যোগ দেন দুর্ধর্ষ শেভালিয়ার হারমেন্তাল। মসিঁয়ে হারমেন্তালের বীরত্ব আর সুখ্যাতি গোটা ফ্রান্স জুড়ে। পরিচয় লুকিয়ে হারমেন্তাল সাহায্য নেন রকফিনট (Roquefinette)- এর, যার ব্যক্তিত্ব চোখে পড়ার মত। আমুদে এই মার্সেনারি ক্যাপ্টেন বিচক্ষণতা আর ব্যবস্থাপনার গুণ নিয়ে গল্পে যোগ করেছেন অন্য মাত্রা।
November 3, 2025
I know I shouldn’t have given this five stars, because unless you love Dumas, you won’t understand why I gave it five stars, but I had to.
Goodness he could tell a story. Call it melodrama if you like, call it historical romance, call it what you like. He knows how to carry you alone, and he knows how to make a scene last and last at the perfect key,. You can tell the joy he takes him character definition and dialogue. Especially the dialogue.
I shall be moving straight on to part two, the Regent’s Daughter.
Goodness he could tell a story. Call it melodrama if you like, call it historical romance, call it what you like. He knows how to carry you alone, and he knows how to make a scene last and last at the perfect key,. You can tell the joy he takes him character definition and dialogue. Especially the dialogue.
I shall be moving straight on to part two, the Regent’s Daughter.
September 1, 2016
I quite enjoyed this novel. The characters were charming and many of the things which usually annoy me in Dumas' stories weren't present. The events which are described are all relevant to the story, and the narrative moves along at a reasonable pace. All in all, I found this a satisfying read which I can recommend if you have enjoyed Dumas' other work.
January 19, 2019
I absolutely loved this! What a great way to start the year and get myself back into a consistent reading pattern. This book was so fun and enjoyable and I can’t wait to read more of Dumas’ books in the future.
September 27, 2012
There's no such thing as a bad Dumas book. The Conspirators is a great book, it just wasn't one of my favorites.
January 3, 2014
This book was filled with adventure, romance, royalty, intrigue, glamour, misfortune, love, humor, and good fun. I liked the characters and the story. It was well paced and fun to read.
April 11, 2024
Un groupe de conspirateurs, dirigé par une influente dame Française, sera-t-il capable d’achever son but de déposer le régent de France?
Ici, on ne trouve pas seulement un roman, mais plusieurs, qui, ensemble, forment un digne œuvre, lequel ne propose pas exclusivement les péripéties du chevalier d’Harmental, mais aussi celles de Bathilde, sa fiancée, et du monsieur Buvat, le tuteur de cette dernière. Le thème principal est bel et bien l’amour, car l’honorable chevalier ne peut pas vraiment vivre sans, et le courage, surtout quand on pense que, à nouveau Harmental, a reçu la tâche de tuer le régent par lui-même.
L’histoire commence avec un duel entre plusieurs hommes, parmi lesquels il figure aussi le formidable d’Harmental, et qui se termine, heureusement, sans la mort d’aucun d’entre eux. Ensuite, et évidemment sans aucun lien avec ce que je viens de décrire, le protagoniste est invité à une assemblée, où plusieurs personnes influentes dans la politique Française, y compris la madame de Maine, c’est-à-dire la chef, conspirent contre le régent de France, avec le but de le remplacer par le roi d’Espagne. Le chevalier fera ce qu’il peut pour assassiner ce dernier, en trouvant, de surcroît, l’amour, dans une jeune fille mystérieuse, qui jouera un rôle essentiel dans les événements.
J’ai trop aimé la séquence où le protagoniste se retrouve dans une fête, organisée par la dame de Maine, afin de pouvoir se renseigner à propos de sa quête. Celle-ci est particulière surtout parce qu’elle a été désignée pour cacher ce renseignement-là, en fait il y a un spectacle, dont de nombreux hommes s’habillent comme d’abeilles, y compris les conspirateurs, et dont la madame de Maine est tout à fait la reine, donc, en retournant à son “ruche”, elle peut bien conspirer sans attraper trop d’attentions. En plus, il y a la fin, où le régent arrive à se moquer des conspirateurs, en les laissant croire qu’il aurait été un cible facile, mais, en réalité, il va tous les capturer, par un leurre.
Je m’attendais à la pendaison de d’Harmental, après sa capture, mais, grâce à un faveur que Bathilde a pu demander au régent, ils sont tous deux épargnés. C’était, par conséquent, une bonne conclusion, malgré le fait que le pauvre chevalier méritait vraiment d’être pendu par son cou, mais, cela dit, c’est décevant comme il n’y a plus de duels, hormis de celui au début, et celui contre le soldat que le protagoniste avait embauché pour l’aider à tuer le régent, mais qui, éventuellement, le trahit, en engendrant ainsi le combat entre les deux.
Pour conclure, ce livre m’a offert un véritable expérience de lecture, qui m’a accompagné pendant plusieurs semaines, en m’inspirant à travers les actes du protagoniste, en me déroutant avec les comportements étranges et bizarres de Bathilde, et surtout en me divertissant avec les aventures du Buvat, qui est coincé dans sa mission de garantir un propre future à Bathilde, et pour laquelle il est prêt à achèver la fin du monde.
Ici, on ne trouve pas seulement un roman, mais plusieurs, qui, ensemble, forment un digne œuvre, lequel ne propose pas exclusivement les péripéties du chevalier d’Harmental, mais aussi celles de Bathilde, sa fiancée, et du monsieur Buvat, le tuteur de cette dernière. Le thème principal est bel et bien l’amour, car l’honorable chevalier ne peut pas vraiment vivre sans, et le courage, surtout quand on pense que, à nouveau Harmental, a reçu la tâche de tuer le régent par lui-même.
L’histoire commence avec un duel entre plusieurs hommes, parmi lesquels il figure aussi le formidable d’Harmental, et qui se termine, heureusement, sans la mort d’aucun d’entre eux. Ensuite, et évidemment sans aucun lien avec ce que je viens de décrire, le protagoniste est invité à une assemblée, où plusieurs personnes influentes dans la politique Française, y compris la madame de Maine, c’est-à-dire la chef, conspirent contre le régent de France, avec le but de le remplacer par le roi d’Espagne. Le chevalier fera ce qu’il peut pour assassiner ce dernier, en trouvant, de surcroît, l’amour, dans une jeune fille mystérieuse, qui jouera un rôle essentiel dans les événements.
J’ai trop aimé la séquence où le protagoniste se retrouve dans une fête, organisée par la dame de Maine, afin de pouvoir se renseigner à propos de sa quête. Celle-ci est particulière surtout parce qu’elle a été désignée pour cacher ce renseignement-là, en fait il y a un spectacle, dont de nombreux hommes s’habillent comme d’abeilles, y compris les conspirateurs, et dont la madame de Maine est tout à fait la reine, donc, en retournant à son “ruche”, elle peut bien conspirer sans attraper trop d’attentions. En plus, il y a la fin, où le régent arrive à se moquer des conspirateurs, en les laissant croire qu’il aurait été un cible facile, mais, en réalité, il va tous les capturer, par un leurre.
Je m’attendais à la pendaison de d’Harmental, après sa capture, mais, grâce à un faveur que Bathilde a pu demander au régent, ils sont tous deux épargnés. C’était, par conséquent, une bonne conclusion, malgré le fait que le pauvre chevalier méritait vraiment d’être pendu par son cou, mais, cela dit, c’est décevant comme il n’y a plus de duels, hormis de celui au début, et celui contre le soldat que le protagoniste avait embauché pour l’aider à tuer le régent, mais qui, éventuellement, le trahit, en engendrant ainsi le combat entre les deux.
Pour conclure, ce livre m’a offert un véritable expérience de lecture, qui m’a accompagné pendant plusieurs semaines, en m’inspirant à travers les actes du protagoniste, en me déroutant avec les comportements étranges et bizarres de Bathilde, et surtout en me divertissant avec les aventures du Buvat, qui est coincé dans sa mission de garantir un propre future à Bathilde, et pour laquelle il est prêt à achèver la fin du monde.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
În ziua de 22 martie a anului de graţie 1718, în a treia joi a postului Paştilor, un tânăr senior cu o înfăţişare semeaţă, având cam între douăzeci şi şase şi douăzeci şi opt de ani, se aţinea călare pe un minunat cal pur sânge spaniol, către orele opt dimineaţa, la capătul lui Pont Neuf[1] care dă în cheiul Şcolii. Stătea aşa de drept şi de neclintit în şa, încât ai fi zis că fusese pus acolo de santinelă de către locotenentul general al poliţiei regatului, messir[2]
Voyer d’Argenson.
După o aşteptare de aproape o jumătate de ceas, răstimp în care tânărul a putut fi văzut nu o dată întrebând din ochi, plin de nerăbdare, orologiul de la Samaritaine, privirea sa, ce rătăcise până atunci, păru să se aţintească cu satisfacţie asupra unui ins, care, venind dinspre piaţa Dauphine, făcu o jumătate de ocolire la dreapta şi se îndreptă către el.
Cel care avusese onoarea să atragă astfel atenţia tânărului cavaler era un coşcogeamite zdrahon, înalt de cinci picioare şi opt degete, trupeş de ai fi zis că-i croit dintr-un maldăr de carne, purtând în loc de perucă o claie de păr negru presărat cu câteva fire cenuşii, îmbrăcat pe jumătate în straie orăşeneşti, pe jumătate în haine militare, împodobit la umăr cu o fundă a cărei culoare, la origine, fusese de un roşu aprins cum e macul, dar care, de atâta ploaie şi din pricina arşiţei soarelui, devenise aproape portocalie. În plus, era înarmat cu o spadă lungă pe care o purta orizontal şi care îl izbea neîndurătoare peste pulpe; în sfirşit, purta o pălărie împodobită odinioară cu o pană şi cu un galon, şi pe care stăpânul ci, fără îndoială, în amintirea splendorii ei trecute, o purta atât de aplecată pe urechea slângă, încât părea că nu-şi poate păstra această poziţie decât printr-un miracol de echilibru. De altminteri, din chipul, din umbletul, din purtarea sa, în fine, din întreaga alcătuire a acestui om, care părea să aibă patruzeci şi cinci ― patruzeci şi şase de ani, şi care călca de parcă ar fi fost cel mai de seamă dintre semeni, legănându-se din mijloc, răsucindu-şi cu o mână mustaţa şi cu cealaltă făcând semn caleştilor să se dea în lături, ― din totul se desprindea o asemenea nepăsare insolentă, încât cel care îl urmărea din ochi nu se putu opri să nu surâdă şi să nu murmure printre dinţi:
― Cred că am găsit ce-mi trebuie!
Şi mânat de această presupunere, tânărul senior păşi drept către noul sosit, cu intentia vizibilă de a-i vorbi. Acesta, desi nu-l cunoştea câtuşi de puţin pe cavaler, văzând că, după câte se părea; cu persoana sa avea treabă, se opri în faţă la Samaritaine, îşi împinse piciorul drept înainte, luându-şi a treia poziţie de gardă, şi rămase în aşteptare, cu o mână pe spadă şi cu cealaltă pe mustaţă, spre a auzi ce voia să-i spună personajul care îl întâmpina astfel.
Voyer d’Argenson.
După o aşteptare de aproape o jumătate de ceas, răstimp în care tânărul a putut fi văzut nu o dată întrebând din ochi, plin de nerăbdare, orologiul de la Samaritaine, privirea sa, ce rătăcise până atunci, păru să se aţintească cu satisfacţie asupra unui ins, care, venind dinspre piaţa Dauphine, făcu o jumătate de ocolire la dreapta şi se îndreptă către el.
Cel care avusese onoarea să atragă astfel atenţia tânărului cavaler era un coşcogeamite zdrahon, înalt de cinci picioare şi opt degete, trupeş de ai fi zis că-i croit dintr-un maldăr de carne, purtând în loc de perucă o claie de păr negru presărat cu câteva fire cenuşii, îmbrăcat pe jumătate în straie orăşeneşti, pe jumătate în haine militare, împodobit la umăr cu o fundă a cărei culoare, la origine, fusese de un roşu aprins cum e macul, dar care, de atâta ploaie şi din pricina arşiţei soarelui, devenise aproape portocalie. În plus, era înarmat cu o spadă lungă pe care o purta orizontal şi care îl izbea neîndurătoare peste pulpe; în sfirşit, purta o pălărie împodobită odinioară cu o pană şi cu un galon, şi pe care stăpânul ci, fără îndoială, în amintirea splendorii ei trecute, o purta atât de aplecată pe urechea slângă, încât părea că nu-şi poate păstra această poziţie decât printr-un miracol de echilibru. De altminteri, din chipul, din umbletul, din purtarea sa, în fine, din întreaga alcătuire a acestui om, care părea să aibă patruzeci şi cinci ― patruzeci şi şase de ani, şi care călca de parcă ar fi fost cel mai de seamă dintre semeni, legănându-se din mijloc, răsucindu-şi cu o mână mustaţa şi cu cealaltă făcând semn caleştilor să se dea în lături, ― din totul se desprindea o asemenea nepăsare insolentă, încât cel care îl urmărea din ochi nu se putu opri să nu surâdă şi să nu murmure printre dinţi:
― Cred că am găsit ce-mi trebuie!
Şi mânat de această presupunere, tânărul senior păşi drept către noul sosit, cu intentia vizibilă de a-i vorbi. Acesta, desi nu-l cunoştea câtuşi de puţin pe cavaler, văzând că, după câte se părea; cu persoana sa avea treabă, se opri în faţă la Samaritaine, îşi împinse piciorul drept înainte, luându-şi a treia poziţie de gardă, şi rămase în aşteptare, cu o mână pe spadă şi cu cealaltă pe mustaţă, spre a auzi ce voia să-i spună personajul care îl întâmpina astfel.
August 29, 2022
Alexandre Dumas' wrote many plays before this novel but this story is his first foray into novels. Be forewarned that a good background knowledge of French history of the time this story describes (early 1700's) is really necessary to appreciate the entire story. I read this story because The Regent's Daughter is a sequel to The Conspirators and I thought I had better read The Conspirators before reading The Regent's Daughter.
The Conspirators is not as good as The Three Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo. The story certainly had intrigue; there was a love affair and plenty of action. I believe the reason I didn't like this story as well, at least for me, is that the story was entirely French. What I mean by that is The Conspirators is an historic novel and discusses French issues and personalities who were well known to the French people at the time it was written. If you have a background in French history, then all the various players would make sense and the story told would give all that history more of a personal slant.
The ending of the novel was a surprise to me. The love affair between D'Harmental and Bathilde reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. D'Harmental and Bathilde were very relatable characters. As I said, there was a lot of French history involved in this story and fortunately for me, the love affair and much of the action was really immortal to time. I did not like the character Jean Buvat. Dumas describes him as stupid and he was that; his personality repulsed me.
The Conspirators is not as good as The Three Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo. The story certainly had intrigue; there was a love affair and plenty of action. I believe the reason I didn't like this story as well, at least for me, is that the story was entirely French. What I mean by that is The Conspirators is an historic novel and discusses French issues and personalities who were well known to the French people at the time it was written. If you have a background in French history, then all the various players would make sense and the story told would give all that history more of a personal slant.
The ending of the novel was a surprise to me. The love affair between D'Harmental and Bathilde reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. D'Harmental and Bathilde were very relatable characters. As I said, there was a lot of French history involved in this story and fortunately for me, the love affair and much of the action was really immortal to time. I did not like the character Jean Buvat. Dumas describes him as stupid and he was that; his personality repulsed me.
November 12, 2021
"Nel Settecento era raro che si sognassero cose astratte e che si aspirasse all'ignoto; si andava dritti al piacere, alla gloria o alla fortuna, e se si era anche minimamente belli, valorosi e intriganti, chiunque poteva ottenerli. Era ancora l'epoca in cui essere felici non era un'umiliazione."
Questa è una grande, grandissima storia di congiure, di intrighi di corte all'ombra di sfarzosi sovrani, di amori folgoranti, di duelli cappa e spada, di tradimenti e di immense ambizioni. È la storia del nobile cavaliere Raoul d'Harmental, che partecipa alla cosiddetta congiura di Cellamare, un coraggioso quanto sconsiderato colpo di stato ordito da una parte della nobiltà francese per spodestare il duca d'Orléans dalla Reggenza, a favore dei duchi del Maine, sotto il regno di Luigi XV. I piani di Raoul e dei congiurati, tuttavia, sono scombussolati da un clamoroso e inaspettato colpo di fulmine...
In questo magnifico libro, Dumas orchestra nella sua narrazione personaggi storici e vicende realmente accadute, e li integra con personaggi fittizi ma verosimili, riferimenti letterari, atmosfere suggestive e appassionanti affreschi di un'epoca. Alla fine, la protagonista del romanzo è la Storia stessa: la congiura di Cellamare è infatti raccontata con piglio teatrale (quasi "cinematografico" ante litteram) e intervallata da capitoli storico-biografici, piccoli gioielli di maestria letteraria. Inoltre è meraviglioso come Dumas riesca a restituire una dimensione "umana" a tutto tondo anche a personaggi di secondo piano, con le loro virtù e difetti, vizi e onori. Una lettura che "tiene compagnia" per tutte e 400 le pagine.
Ancora una volta, soprattutto di fronte a un capolavoro di questo genere, bisogna constatare che la letteratura è un'opportunità di crescita, di sviluppo, di benessere, di amore per la vita stessa. Un'occasione per intraprendere un viaggio che esce dalle pagine di carta per arrivare all'esporazione di nuove epoche e di nuovi paesaggi.
Questa è una grande, grandissima storia di congiure, di intrighi di corte all'ombra di sfarzosi sovrani, di amori folgoranti, di duelli cappa e spada, di tradimenti e di immense ambizioni. È la storia del nobile cavaliere Raoul d'Harmental, che partecipa alla cosiddetta congiura di Cellamare, un coraggioso quanto sconsiderato colpo di stato ordito da una parte della nobiltà francese per spodestare il duca d'Orléans dalla Reggenza, a favore dei duchi del Maine, sotto il regno di Luigi XV. I piani di Raoul e dei congiurati, tuttavia, sono scombussolati da un clamoroso e inaspettato colpo di fulmine...
In questo magnifico libro, Dumas orchestra nella sua narrazione personaggi storici e vicende realmente accadute, e li integra con personaggi fittizi ma verosimili, riferimenti letterari, atmosfere suggestive e appassionanti affreschi di un'epoca. Alla fine, la protagonista del romanzo è la Storia stessa: la congiura di Cellamare è infatti raccontata con piglio teatrale (quasi "cinematografico" ante litteram) e intervallata da capitoli storico-biografici, piccoli gioielli di maestria letteraria. Inoltre è meraviglioso come Dumas riesca a restituire una dimensione "umana" a tutto tondo anche a personaggi di secondo piano, con le loro virtù e difetti, vizi e onori. Una lettura che "tiene compagnia" per tutte e 400 le pagine.
Ancora una volta, soprattutto di fronte a un capolavoro di questo genere, bisogna constatare che la letteratura è un'opportunità di crescita, di sviluppo, di benessere, di amore per la vita stessa. Un'occasione per intraprendere un viaggio che esce dalle pagine di carta per arrivare all'esporazione di nuove epoche e di nuovi paesaggi.
September 19, 2023
Not of the Dumas' best works, but it was a pleasant read. Honestly, I'd say the intrigue was probably the weakest point of the story, and the supporting cast was a lot more interesting to read about. Also, I can't say I fully buy the change of the protagonist - I think it would be funnier if he stayed an asshole. And that's purely because in his "spoiled aristocrat" phase from the beginning of the book, he gave me one of the funniest paragraphs I've ever read. This is were he thinks about how weird people who sleep during the night are. I laughed for a lot longer than I should.
I'm also glad that the person who was clearly shady, turned out to be shady. I'm sick of those characters that authors paint as quirky and funny, but as a reader you can tell this is not a good person, but, for whatever reason, they are still called good guys.
Overall, I'd say this book was a lot funnier than I expected, and I'm also glad the love interest wasn't as passive as she could have been.
I'm also glad that the person who was clearly shady, turned out to be shady. I'm sick of those characters that authors paint as quirky and funny, but as a reader you can tell this is not a good person, but, for whatever reason, they are still called good guys.
Overall, I'd say this book was a lot funnier than I expected, and I'm also glad the love interest wasn't as passive as she could have been.
April 15, 2019
Definitely not up to the Three Musketeers or The Count, but not the worst novel I've ever read.
June 14, 2020
Confusing and hard to follow. More of a history than a novel.
August 29, 2021
Le héros au cœur d’un complot contre le Régent. Raoul d’Harmental en même temps amoureux de la belle Bathilde (sic). Bref Dumas en grande forme !
August 19, 2022
Harmental me cae como mal, no se si era la intención de Dumas.
March 24, 2023
Beautiful ❤️ his writing makes me feel at home
As always a tearjerker
As always a tearjerker
July 27, 2024
3.5. First time I’ve read Dumas. Although I think I only have a part of the book because it ended very suddenly and now I’m upset that I can’t finish reading what happens!
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November 6, 2025Отличный роман Дюма
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