The Three Musketeers

Finally I understand why some books get labelled as 'Classic.'
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Ivanhoe when i read it a few years ago, but its the one book that i considered and accomplishment to read, due to the hard going language, and excessive... oldness. The introduction to The Three Musketeer's even states that it was easier to get into for those at the time than Ivanhoe, and that Dumas was considered a lesser writer for it, but I don't care.
OK, I'll admit the next bit had spoilers, but most people don't care. The book has been made into a few films, and even Mickey Mouse had a go at one stage, so the trials of D'Artagnan in his quest to become a Musketeer, and the various weaving in and out of historical fact were perhaps not new. Lets face it, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnell, Oliver Platt, and Tim Curry made a good fist of a very shortened and Hollywoodised version of the abridged text for beginners. Where were all the love interests? The servants? The many duels? The injuries? They left out half the book!
The fight and flights were impressive, and the fact that all the Musketeers were in pain at some stage either through foolhardy duels, love or a combination of both came out well. I never found the characters to be fictional at all. This could have been someone recounting their biography in some parts, with the 'typical Gascon' interjections helping to give a good sense of D'Artagnan, and his supporters.
All in all, I think i must thank Mr Alexandre Dumas for this book. Without it, i might never have purchased another book with 'Classic' on the cover, but now I am looking forward to at least the rest of the series.
The only problem is that Sir Walter Scott is no longer that impressive. Looks like I'll need to find another book that counts as an achievement!