Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was a French novelist and playwright. He is one of the most popular French writers to be translated and read widely. 'The Three Musketeers' tells the story of the three Musketeers—Athos, Porthos and Aramis—and their friend D’Artagnan. Together, they must fend off Cardinal Richelieu’s attempts to malign the queen’s honour and prevent a war between France and England. But the task is difficult with the constant interference of Milady de Winter, Cardinal Richelieu’s spy.