The Three Musketeers by Andre Dumas (1844)

This is my second Alexandre Dumas book (The Count of Monte Christo was my first) and I would characterize this as a dramatized historical fiction, meaning that the era and the background events are historically accurate, including some historical characters, whereas the three musketeers and their manservants are exaggerated, larger than life characters, fiercely loyal, and improbable in their foibles but larger-than-life in their talents as marksmen and soldiers. The setting is France, 1625. A young poor nobleman named d'Artagnan leaves his Gascony home to head to Paris. There he meets Treville, the leader of the musketeers, and manages to schedule three consecutive duels with Aramis, Athos, and Porthos--the three musketeers. The rest of the story follows our young hero while he duels, falls in love, manages to save the Queen of France, and spoil Cardinal Richelieu's plans all while achieving his dream. People die, people lie, and women do not come off well, but it is a well written adventure that is fast paced and satisfying. It was written in the era of serialized release of novels, and while lengthy, it marches forward at a good pace.