The Man in the Iron Mask

Abstract

The Man in the Iron Mask AUTHOR: ALEXANDRE DUMAS “The Man In The Iron Mask” is the third part in a epic novel by the French author Alexander Dumas called “The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later” (or as it is called in the original French: “Le Vicomte de Bragelonne ou Dix ans plus tard”).

The 268 chapter novel first appeared in serial form between 1847 and 1850. The Vicomte is the third and final book in the D’Artagnan Romance series, that started with “The Three Musketeers” and “Twenty Years After”. The other two volumes in the Vicomte are called ‘The Vicomte de Bragelonne’ and ‘Louise de la Valliere’. Each volume is roughly the same length as the first ‘Three Musketeers’ book.

The book is centered, once again around the Three Musketeers. The narrative of the full volume takes place between 1660 and 1667 during the ascension of the young king Louis XIV to the throne of France. The titular character, the man in the iron mask, is supposed to be the twin brother of Louis XIV himself who was imprisoned with his identity concealed by an iron mask by his mother and father. Few people are aware of the twin, Philippe’s existence until his mother’s friend the Duchesse de Cheveruse lets the secret slip out to her former lover, Aramis, the musketeer. Aramis creates a plan to replace Louis with Philippe in order to create a more susceptible king that he can use as a puppet. But when his plan begins to backfire more than just Aramis will pay for his avarice.