The story is long and complex, and was, like all the Three Musketeers stories, published in serial segments in a French magazine. Because it was originally written to be read in small parts over time, trying it all at once makes for a bit of a clunky read, and makes the story seem very long, complicated, and drawn-out. Also, the title is decieving. Phillippe, the man who wears the iron mask, is a very minor character and only briefly in the book; the novel is truly the continuing story of the four Musketeers. This is an error in translation, since the original title was, The Vicomte de Bragalonne: Ten Years Later (The Vicomte is Raoul, Athos' son). Dumas' writing is exciting and beautiful, but the story seems unnecessary for the current times. Readers no longer religiously follow the characters through story after story in a magazine, and The Man in the Iron Mask seems only suitable for the most intimate and faithful fans of Porthos, Athos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan. For those avid lovers of the four, this book tests the true meaning of "all for one, one for all."