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by Hilary A.
Critics appear to make similar assessments of Paarfi of Roundwood's Khaavren Romances and Alexandre Dumas' D'Artagnan Romances. Both Paarfi and Dumas wrote legitimate histories before writing novels and are reprimanded for manipulating history in their romances. (A supposed Dumas reply to accusations that he raped history: "But we have produced some beautiful children.") Dumas and Paarfi playfully insist that they are mere editors writing real histories. Paarfi has, among other sources, Pel's and Srahi's notes; Dumas at one point in The Vicomte de Bragelonne shows Athos' desk covered with his memoirs.
The authors' personal lives come under attack as well. A Mighty Thundering of Wisdom chronicles "the lecherous behavior of Paarfi of Roundwood, profusely and extensively illustrated with engraved plates, many of them in color, depicting each of the actresses, mannequins, warriors, courtesans, hired sluts, and promising young female writers with whom Paarfi's name has been linked." Dumas fathered multiple illegitimate children by multiple mistresses; one of his last love affairs was with much-younger American actress Ada Menken. The two posed for a famous photograph together; it caused a scandal because Menken's legs were bare.
Finally, Paarfi is accused of not writing his own novels but rather having journeymen writers write to his specifications. Dumas certainly collaborated with other writers, most famously Auguste Maquet; however, Eugene de Mirecourt spent time in prison for slander after he took advantage of the fact that Dumas' paternal grandmother had been a black Haitian slave and published a pamphlet describing Dumas' publishing house as "black slaves working under the whip of a half-caste overseer."
| Dumas | Paarfi |
|---|---|
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"One would say you were getting on horseback." "More than that-- I am mounted, as you see." (Man in the Iron Mask, 80) |
"You are looking for me?" said Khaavren.
"In fact," said Pel, "More than looking for you, we have found you." (Five Hundred Years After, 20) |
| "Honorable intentions with such a face!" cried Madame
de Saint-Remy.
"I thank you in the name of my face, madame," said Malicorne. (Vicomte de Bragelonne, 78) |
"You have very complaisant ears, sir."
"That may be, Sire. In any case, they thank Your Majesty for deigning to notice them." (Five Hundred Years After, 2) |
| "No; but I have my skin; that precious skin of M. d'Artagnan,
which to him is worth more than all the houses and all the treasures
of the world. That skin to which I cling above everything, because it
is, everything considered, the binding of a body which encloses a
heart very warm and ready to fight, and, consequently, to live."
(Vicomte de Bragelonne, 66) |
"I have more than a care," said Khaavren. "I have a
fine piece of skin which is wrapped around all of those charming
organs that allow my breath to flow, my blood to pump, and my mind to
think. I will, therefore, do my utmost to see that my epidermis
finishes this conflict in the same condition in which it began it."
(The Phoenix Guards, 18) |
| "Bah!" That was the concluding word by which
D'Artagnan, having become wise, now terminated every thought and
cadence of his style. Formerly, he said 'Mordioux!' which was a prick of the spur, but now
he had become older, and he murmured that philosophical "Bah!" which
served as a bridle to all the passions.
(Vicomte de Bragelonne, 17) |
"Oh, bah," said Tazendra, using an expression she
enjoyed from Pel and admired from Aerich.
(The Phoenix Guards, 31) |
| "Is it seriously that my Lord asks me to name a man who has been
engaged in all the intrigues of that period?"
"Per Baccho!" replied Mazarin, who began to grow impatient, "it is an hour since I have asked any other question, iron-headed as you are!" (Twenty Years After, 2) |
"Shall I explain?"
"Shards and splinters, it is an hour since I asked for anything else!" (Five Hundred Years After, 1) |
| "Monsieur Manicamp, you reason like Pythagoras of old."
(Louise de la Valliere, 31) |
"Well, my dear Dzurlord, you reason like Clyburr himself."
(Paths of the Dead, 19) |
| "D'Artagnan had, according to his usual style, calculated that
every hour is worth sixty minutes, and every minute worth sixty
seconds. Thanks to this perfectly exact calculation of minutes and
seconds, he reached the superintendent's door at the very moment the
soldier was leaving it with his belt empty."
(Louise de la Valliere, 50) |
"It is well known that time, ordinarily so well-behaved, moving
forward at a rate of something like sixty seconds for each minute,
sixty minutes for each hour, and thirty hours for each day..."
(Paths of the Dead, 33) |
| Chapter 11 of The Three Musketeers is called "The Plot Thickens." | Chapter 11 of The Phoenix Guards is called "In Which the Plot, Behaving in Much the Manner Of a Soup to which Corn Starch Has been Added, Begins, at Last, to Thicken." |
| Chapter 69 of The Vicomte de Bragelonne is one "In Which The Reader, No Doubt, Will Be As Astonished As D'Artagnan Was To Meet An Old Acquaintance." | Chapter 31 of The Phoenix Guards is one "In Which The Reader Will, No Doubt, Be As Surprised As Our Heroes to Learn That All is Not Over." |
| Dumas | Paarfi |
|---|---|
| Opens with d'Artagnan traveling from the provinces to Paris (the capital) to join the Musketeers. He knows little about the court's ways. | Opens with Khaavren traveling from the duchies to Dragaera City (the capital) to join the Imperial Guard. He knows little about the court's ways. |
| D'Artagnan is "a Don Quixote of eighteen: a Don Quixote with neither breastplate nor thigh armor, but wearing a woolen doublet whose original blue color had faded to a nameless shade between burgundy and azure. His face was long and brown, with high cheekbones -- a mark of intelligence; his jaw muscles were very pronounced -- an infallible sign by which a Gascon may be recognized, even without his beret, and our young man was wearing one set off with a sort of feather; his eyes were open and intelligent; his nose was hooked but finely chiseled. Too big for a youth, too small for a grown man, he might have been taken by an inexperienced eye for a farmer's son on a journey had it not been for the long sword that dangled from a leather baldric, or shoulder belt, striking his calves when he walked, and the shaggy side of his horse when he rode." | Khaavren is "surely of gentle birth. He had long, curly black hair, parted at his noble's point; soft brown eyes; and a rather long, pleasant face, distinguished by creases in the forehead that show high intellect and by the strong chin that indicates determination and will. To these features, add high cheekbones, a proud nose, and a fair complexion, and it will be seen at once that he was not only a gentleman, but clearly of the House of Tiassa -- which was proved by the color of his garments, where they could be discerned beneath the dust he wore as his outer, and no doubt, inner, layer of clothing . . . a chain of flat links around his waist held a light sword of good length. The chain also held a thong which ran from scabbard to belt, preventing the sword from scraping the ground when he walked, as well as a sheathed dagger next to the sword . . ." |
| D'Artagnan accidentally insults Athos, Porthos, and Aramis individually and agrees to duel with them. Their duel is interrupted; after fighting on the same side, they become instant friends. | Khaavren happens on Tazendra's duel and is asked to draw the circle while Aerich judges. They hear of Pel, track him down, and become instant friends. |
| Early on, D'Artagnan sees Milady de Winter and is struck by her beauty. He soon considers himself in love with her. Milady is French pretending to be English. | Early on, Khaavren sees Illista and is struck by her beauty. He soon considers himself in love with her. Illista is a Phoenix pretending to be an Issola. |
| The Musketeers are involved in a running feud with the Cardinal's Guards. | The Red Boot Company is involved in a running feud with the White Sash Battalion. |
| Treville, Captain of the Musketeers, was poor for most of his life, but was raised with the King and has his trust. | G'aereth, Captain of the Gold Cloaks, was from a poor family, but knew the Emperor from youth and has his trust. |
| One of the ways Cardinal Richelieu attempts to secure his power is by driving a wedge between the King and the Queen. | One of the ways Seodra/Shaltre attempt to secure their power is by driving a wedge between the Emperor and the Consort. |
| Porthos has a lackey named Mousqueton who particularly enjoys the clothing with which his position provides him. | Tazendra has a lackey named Mica who particularly enjoys the clothing with which his position provides him. |
| Athos is clearly high nobility, but is fighting under an assumed name and won't tell his friends about his secret past. | Aerich is clearly high nobility, but is fighting under an assumed name and won't tell his friends about his secret past. |
| When Athos reveals part of his secret past in light of D'Artagnan's love-driven scheme, he tells the story as if it happened "to someone of his acquaintance." | When Aerich reveals part of his secret past in light of Khaavren's love-driven scheme, he tells the story as if it happened "to someone of his acquaintance." |
| Aramis sneaks around and his friends don't know where he goes. It turns out that he is having an affair with Madame de Chevreuse, a close friend of the Queen who has a great deal of political knowledge. Her connections help the four friends warn the Queen about the Cardinal's and Milady's plans. | Pel sneaks around and his friends don't know where he goes. It turns out that he is having an affair with Jenicor e'Terics, a Dragonlord in line for the throne, who has a great deal of political knowledge. Her connections help the four friends get out of prison (from which they can't expose anyone's plans). |
| D'Artagnan and his friends fight their way across France into England to find the Queen's missing diamonds and keep her from being publicly embarrassed by the Cardinal and his agent Milady. The Cardinal has sent men to attack them and stop them. | Khaavren and his friends fight their way across Dragaera to find Kathana e'Marish'Chala. The Warlord has sent soldiers and mercenaries to attack them and stop them. |
| Wanting to discuss their plans, D'Artaganan and friends eat breakfast in an abandoned fortress. When an army charges them, they pose dead bodies in fighting positions to fool the army into thinking the numbers are more even than they are. | Wanting time to plan, Khaavren and friends take the long way off of Adron's property. When guards come after them, they use sorcery to fool the guards into believing the numbers are more even than they are. |
| D'Artagnan duels with Lord de Winter, wins, and decides to spare his life. He eventually gets to like Lord de Winter even if he is an Englishman. Together, they eliminate Milady. | Khaavren duels with Uttrik, wins, and decides to spare his life. He eventually gets to like Uttrik even if he is a Dragonling. Together, they explain to the Emperor why his perceptions of Adron, among others, are incorrect. |
| Athos, having killed Milady, reclaims his title and stops pretending to be dead. | Aerich, having killed Shaltre, reclaims his title and stops pretending to be dead. |
| D'Artagnan becomes a lieutenant, and alone of the four friends remains in the service. | Khaavren becomes an ensign, and alone of the four friends remains in the service. |
| Aramis leaves the service for religious life, but remains in Paris. | Pel leaves the service to study Discretion, but remains in Dragaera City. |
| Porthos marries and leaves the capital hoping to become a baron. | Tazendra learns her family history and leaves the capital as a baroness. |
| Dumas | Paarfi |
|---|---|
| Opens with an explanation of brewing civil discontent. The King is underage, and France is effectively ruled by Cardinal Mazarin. Mazarin has imprisoned Beaufort, an illegitimate grandson of late King Henry IV, and the Frondeurs (who are "for the princes") want to rescue the underage king from his advisors. | Opens with an explanation of brewing civil discontent. The Emperor is more frivolous in middle age than he had been at the beginning of his term, and some of the heirs to his throne are protesting his uses of power. Prince Adron in particular wants to rescue the Orb from Tortaalik's decadence. |
| D'Artagnan, now in middle age, has not progressed beyond the rank of lieutenant and is barely in touch with his old friends, although Aramis is still in Paris. He is much quieter and no longer takes every possible slight as an excuse to duel. During the course of the novel, Mazarin makes him Captain. | Khaavren, now approaching middle age, has not progressed beyond the rank of ensign and is barely in touch with his old friends, although Pel is still in Dragaera City. He is much quieter and no longer takes every possible slight as an excuse to duel. During the course of the novel, Tortaalik makes him Captain. |
| Count Rochefort, who had schemed against D'Artagnan twenty years earlier, now has D'Artagnan's complete trust. | Thack, who had schemed against Khaavren five hundred years earlier, now has Khaavren's complete trust. |
| Athos is particularly interested in preserving royalty, both in England (where Charles I is about to be beheaded) and France (where Mazarin, a non-royal Italian, is making the decisions). He is closely aligned with Frondeurs in France and royalists in England. Aramis is also involved and is careful not to tell D'Artagnan. | Being a Lyorn, Aerich is particularly interested in preserving tradition. Aerich is closely aligned with Adron. He corresponds with Pel about social unrest, and they are initially careful not to tell Khaavren. |
| While the Frondeurs know that D'Artagnan is "Mazarin's creature" they respect him because he is doing his duty as a Musketeer. They refrain from hurting him as much as possible. | While Adron and his supporters know that Khaavren is "Tortaalik's creature" they respect him because he is doing his duty as a Guardsman. They refrain from hurting him as much as possible. |
| D'Artagnan praises Mousqueton's exploits, prompting Mousqueton to be so grateful he resolves to die heroically for D'Artagnan if at all possible. | Khaavren praises Mica's exploits, prompting Mica to be so grateful he resolves to die heroically for Khaavren if at all possible. |
| Mordaunt, son of Milady (whom the four friends killed twenty years earlier) arrives with the intention of killing the four friends. They unite and survive, although at first refusing to kill Mordaunt because it wouldn't be gentlemanly. Mordaunt has no social status because in addition to his mother's death, his uncle, Lord de Winter, has disowned him. | Grita, daughter of Greycat (whom the four friends disgraced five hundred years earlier) arrives with the intention of killing the four friends. They unite and survive, although not killing Grita because it wouldn't be gentlemanly. Grita has no social status because in addition to her father's disgrace, she was born to parents of different houses. |
| D'Artagnan and friends force through a treaty which ends the first Fronde. | Khaavren and friends recall forcing through a treaty with the Easterners. |
| The beheading of Charles I and the Fronde change the state of Europe. | Adron's Disaster changes the state of the Dragaeran Empire. |
| Dumas | Paarfi |
|---|---|
| The third novel in the trilogy is about three times as long as the earlier novels and (at least in English) is generally published in three parts: The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask. | The third novel in the trilogy is about three times as long as the earlier novels and is published in three parts: The Paths of the Dead, The Lord of Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode [originally to have been titled The Enchantress of Dzur Mountain]. |
| The title character is Raoul, Vicomte de Bragelonne, who is the only child of the four friends. He has grown up hearing stories of the heroics of his father and his father's friends and believes he lives in less dramatic times. | The title character is Piro, Viscount of Adrilankha, who is the only child of the four friends. He has grown up hearing stories of the heroics of his father and his father's friends and believes he lives in less dramatic times. |
| The regency is ending and young Louis XIV is struggling to rule France by himself. D'Artagnan has known the new king since the king's childhood. | The Interregnum is ending and young Zerika is struggling to take and keep control of the Orb. Khaavren has known the new empress since the empress' childhood. |
| D'Artagnan is bitter throughout the early part of the novel. He consistently refers to himself as an old man and his hair has turned white. He is not a Musketeer in the early part of the novel because he is disillusioned (and busy ending the interregnum in England by putting Charles II on the throne). | Khaavren is bitter throughout the early part of the novel. He consistently refers to himself as an old man and his hair is turning white. He is not a Guardsman in the early part of the novel because he is disillusioned (and there is no Imperial Guard, there being no Empire until the Interregnum ends). |
| While he had a personal role in ending the interregnum in England, Athos is little interested in the ceremony/glory this entails. He becomes less of an active participant in his friends' adventures. | While he had a personal role in ending the Interregnum, Aerich is little interested in the ceremony/glory this entails. He becomes less of an active participant in his friends' adventures. |
| Porthos' strength is even more prodigious than it had been in his youth. He accidentally hurts his friends by shaking their hands, accidentally destroys a room while getting dressed, etc. | Tazendra's sorcery is even more dangerous than it had been in her youth thanks to her training as a Lavode and the improved Orb. She blows things up more than she did previously. |
| Ambitious Aramis has made many connections among ministers and religious leaders. He hopes to become even more powerful. He takes Louis XIV's secret twin brother from the Bastille and supports placing him on the throne over the true king. | Ambitious Pel had made many connections and is a prized member of the Dragonlord Kâna's would-be empire. When Kâna attempts to take the Orb from Zerika, Pel initially supports him over the true Empress. |
| Athos expects Raoul to make an appropriate marriage that will be of use to the King. Instead, Raoul falls in love with Louise. He cannot marry Louise because the King (who makes Louise his mistress) will not give the match his blessing. | Khaavren expects Piro to marry a Tiassa. Instead, Piro falls in love with a Dzur, Ibronka. There is a taboo on inter-house marriages and Khaavren himself will not give the match his blessing. |
| Louise's early feelings of love for Raoul are encouraged by her clever friend Montalais, who herself has a slightly inappropriate love affair with Malicorne, a lawyer's son. Also involved in preserving the match is Raoul's friend, de Guiche, with whom he fought his first battles. | Ibronka's early feelings of love for Piro are encouraged by her clever friend Röaana, who herself has a slightly inappropriate crush on Belly, an Iorich. Also involved in preserving the match is Piro's friend, Kytraan, with whom he fought his first battles. |
| Athos falls out of favor with the King after telling the King he
does not approve of his romantic affairs. D'Artagnan "arrests" him,
having no real intention of taking Athos to prison:
"As I broke my sword in the King's presence, and threw the pieces at his feet, I presume that will dispense with the necessity of delivering it over to you?" "You are quite right; and, besides, what do you suppose I could do with your sword?" "Am I to walk behind or before you?" inquired Athos, laughing. "You will walk arm-in-arm with me." D'Artagnan demands that Athos eat dinner with the governor of the prison without admitting that he has been arrested. Meanwhile, D'Artagnan goes to the King, is very blunt when he tells him he was wrong, and secures Athos' pardon. |
Pel falls out of favor with the Empress, who believes he has been
indiscreet about her romantic affair. Khaavren "arrests" him without
being ordered to do so:
"Would you like my sword?" "How you go on! What would I do with your sword?" "Yet, if I am arrested -- " "Oh, it will be a mild sort of captivity, I assure you. Now let us return to the Manor." "Very well, it seems that, being arrested, I must comply." "Precisely." "Shall I precede you?" "Not the least. Arm in arm." Khaavren demands that Pel eat dinner rather than go into exile. Meanwhile, Khaavren goes to the Empress, is very blunt when he tells her she was wrong, and secures Pel's pardon. |
| The King asks D'Artagnan to find out if a duel has taken
place. D'Artagnan returns and explains to the King how he came to his
conclusions detective-novel-style:
"Two horses followed it side-by-side; their eight feet were marked very distinctly in the clay. One of the riders was more impatient than the other, for the footprints of the one were invariably in advance of the other about half a horse's length . . . The horses are two rather large animals of equal pace -- horses well used to maneuvers of all kinds, for they wheeled round the barrier of the Rond-point together." |
The Empress asks Khaavren to arrest Kâna. Khaavren returns and
explains to the Empress how he came to his conclusions
detective-novel-style:
"If, knowing that I was looking for two horses, riding together, and galloping as fast as they could go, I could not identify the tracks of these horses leaving the headquarters area, well, I am not the tracker I thought I was . . . With stride, shoeing, size, and weight, well, it is unlikely that a close observer will be unable to identify the tracks of a particular horse." |
| When Athos sets off on his last adventure, he stares at a map D'Artagnan had used and follows the marks made by pins to work out where D'Artagnan is. While making his preparations, he also makes Planchet (D'Artagnan's former lackey) very aware that he is comparatively low-born. | When Aerich sets off on his last adventure, he stares at a map Tazendra's kidnappers left as a clue and works out where Tazendra is. While making his preparations, he also makes a Teckla who had lived in Tazendra's barony very aware that he is comparatively low-born. |
| Porthos, the Musketeer most renowned for his strength, is nonetheless gorily crushed to death by a boulder. In his last moments, he mocks his would-be rescuers with the words "too heavy." Aramis watches helplessly. | Tazendra, the Guard most renowned for her sorcery, is nonetheless gorily killed by a sorcerous attack. In her last moments, she brags that she has bested a Jenoine and dies smiling. Aerich watches helplessly. |
| Athos, paralyzed into inactivity by his grief for Raoul, dies serenely. D'Artagnan sobs hysterically over his body. | Aerich, paralyzed by a broken neck, dies serenely. Khaavren sobs hysterically over his body. |
| The surviving Aramis and D'Artagnan are again separated by their lives, but reaffirm their friendship. | The surviving Pel and Khaavren are again separated by their lives, but reaffirm their friendship. |
Khaavren and D'Artagnan are frequently described by their acquaintances as curious, loyal, and full of ideas. While thinking, they pace and/or worry that they have completely run out of ideas. They eavesdrop, but pretend they don't; they are prone to long internal monologues during which they sarcastically address themselves in the second person; and they occasionally impress their friends with their arithmetic. They admire Aerich/Athos above their other friends in a pseudo-filial way and throw "temper tantrums" when they feel their guards/musketeers are being used for ignoble purposes. They are the only members of their respective sets of friends who initially fight under their true names as well as the only career soldiers. Khaavren is the only character (excepting his son Piro) who says "cha" instead of "bah." Tazendra eventually recognizes Piro by his use of the word. Meanwhile, D'Artagnan swears in a heavy Gascon accent, saying "mordioux" and "sangdioux" instead of "mordieux" and "sangdieux". Athos refrains from killing D'Artagnan in the dark because he recognizes D'Artagnan's voice when he swears.
Pel and Aramis have the darkest characters and "most complex hearts" of their friends. They are secretive and are revered by their friends for their plans and ability to doubletalk. However, their ambitious streaks lead them to consider betraying their friends as well as to enjoy political intrigues, have affairs with politically powerful women, and study to become a Discreet/priest. They have very black eyes, half a dozen names, and a tendency to blush and say things "mildly," especially when lying about love affairs.
Tazendra and Porthos are often teased by their friends for "failing to comprehend," but are also praised by their friends for their strength/magic. They are the loudest and most talkative members of their quartets, and care little that everyone knows not to believe half of what they say about themselves. They particularly love to fight.
Aerich and Athos are of noble birth and especially interested in preserving the social hierarchy. They fight under assumed names in part because they are presumed dead. They are highly educated and expert in almost everything that can be taught and are frequently consulted about history and genealogy. However, they rarely speak (although this trait is more pronounced in Aerich than in Athos, particularly as the characters age).
In Five Hundred Years After, Paarfi remarks: "It is to His Majesty's credit that, having promoted Khaavren, the Emperor never once forgot and referred to him by his former rank." By contrast, Dumas makes a glaring continuity error in The Three Musketeers by making D'Artagnan a Musketeer in chapter 28, forgetting about it, and then making D'Artagnan a Musketeer a second time in chapter 47. Also, D'Artagnan is promoted to captain in Twenty Years After, but when the story picks up in The Vicomte de Bragelonne, the reader learns that Mazarin has "taken back" the promotion.
In French history, Louis XIV had his finances minister, Fouquet, imprisoned after Fouquet threw an ostentatious party showing just how much Fouquet had embezzled from France. This established Louis XIV as a king truly in control of his nation. Dumas embellishes history in The Man in the Iron Mask; Aramis takes the opportunity of Fouquet's party to kidnap King Louis XIV and replace him with his long-lost twin brother. Fouquet, who stands to gain everything if an impostor takes the throne, is instrumental in foiling Aramis' plot. The failure of Aramis' scheme is the final turning point/climax in the Musketeer Saga. Fouquet's reason for demanding that the true king be put back on the throne, even though he knows that the true king wants to imprison him? When Aramis kidnapped the king, the king was a guest in Fouquet's house . . . and Fouquet forbids mistreatment of his guests.
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last modified 2005-04-19