Madeleines for the Musketeers

The book: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Genre: Historical adventure

Published: 1844

The bake: Classic Madeleines dipped in pink chocolate

What’s the story?

Most people probably know the basic outline of The Three Musketeers. There have been so many adaptations of Dumas’ classic tale, from animated children’s programs to myriad movies starring Hollywood heavyweights. I’ve always wondered why the story is named after Athos, Porthos and Aramis, when it seems like D’Artagnan is the real hero. I still feel that way after reading the book, but the three musketeers certainly form an integral part of the tale.

The plot focuses on young D’Artagnan who, in 1625, leaves his home in Gascony with dreams to join the Musketeers of the Guard in Paris. On the way he makes enemies in the form of the Comte de Rochford and the formidable Cardinal Richelieu. And of course friends in the three musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. He also falls in love with Constance, a lady in waiting for Queen Anne of France. Interestingly, she is a married woman in the book and their love story is certainly not rosy.

I’ve always loved the character of Milady de Winter, one of the Cardinal’s agents. She is a very complex and actually quite tragic character in the novel. It’s also very interesting to read how the affair between Queen Anne and the Duke of Buckingham is portrayed as this has been either downplayed or emphasized in various adaptations of the story.

Fun fact: This book is the first of a trilogy, and I’m going to try to get my hands on Twenty Years After and The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten years later.

Why read it?

When it comes to a classic story like The Three Musketeers, I like going back to the original book, to experience it as the author wrote it. I must admit, it’s not an easy read and it took some perseverance to finish it. My edition from Canterbury Classics has 636 closely printed pages.

That said, I did enjoy the journey through Dumas’ pages and reading the little dramas that we’ve come to know in the movies and series based on the story. I have a great love for classics, and even though I know the bones of the story, I still felt like I was experiencing it for the first time. I also enjoyed comparing it to some of my favorite on-screen adaptations, like The Man in the Iron Mask and Brakanjan (a children’s classic almost all Afrikaans kids from the 1980s watched!)

Pair it with: Classic Madeleines dipped in pink chocolate

When I hear “France”, a couple of different things pop into my head. Macarons, croissants, excellent cheese, and of course, the perfect little tea cakes, Madeleines. These delicate butter cakes are renowned for their unique texture and shell-like appearance. To achieve this appearance, you need a proper Madeleine pan. I bought one about eight years ago when I first wrote about them in my food column for Beeld. It’s been such fun getting it out again and making these delicacies.

Madeleines hail from Lorraine in France, specifically the town Commercy. They have been made since at least the 1700s, and have a rich and interesting history. I felt they are the perfect pairing for The Three Musketeers, because I can just see Queen Anne and The Duke of Buckingham enjoying some Madeleines with their afternoon tea. And I think Milady De Winter would also love them! Porthos, Athos, and Aramis would surely also not say ‘no’ to something so classically French! And can’t you just see D’Artagnan feeding a pretty little Madeleine to his love, Constance?

I tried a few different recipes in 2013 when I first started experimenting with Madeleines, but this one that I adapted from allrecipes.com remains my favorite. The delicate lemon flavor of a classic Madeleine is just perfection!