You know that book out there that you’ve heard a lot about, but for some reason you’ve yet to pick up a copy? For me that book is “The Three Musketeers” by Alexander Dumas. This novel has countless movie adaptations and as I’m a quarter through my second read I must say that none of the movies do this work of literary art justice. D’Artangnan is a young man who leaves home with nothing but a small pouch of money, the old family horse, and dreams of becoming a musketeer like his father before him. After many antics and happenings he becomes close friends with the “inseparables”, well known musketeers who go by the names of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. The young man and his trio of brothers in arms uncover a sinister plot by the Cardinal to disgrace the Queen of France and end up in a swashbuckling tale of action and romance. There’s something about the action, intrigue coupled with subtle court happenings that draws me in. I believe that D’Artangnan’s tale mimics that of many youths who leave home in an attempt to make their fortune and along the way end up finding life-long companions, a thirst for adventure, and a new form of themselves along the way. This novel sucks you into 17^th century France and invites you to take part in the story as if you were there. I enjoy this work immensely and am very excited to explore the wealth of works that belong to Monsieur Dumas. “Georges” and the famous “Count of Monte Cristo” are among them. Until then more wine and all for one, and one for all!

Song of the Drink: Claude Debussy-Arabesque