The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
I remember watching the cartoon adaptation of this book when I was a kid; it was called Dogtanian and the Three Muskethounds, and portrayed the characters as dogs, although My Lady was a scheming cat who at one point hypnotised Dogtanian and said: "Tonight you will kil the King" (I'm sure this happened, but it wasn't in the book); it was also the reason I learned the word "cardinal", though I wasn't sure what a cardinal was. I remember using "Berol Cardinal" brand pencils at school and thinking they were the property of some Cardinal. The cartoon also had Dogtanian lusting over a character called Juliet (in one episode he kept chasing after characters that were dressed like her); she seemed to have replaced Madame Bonancieux, the love interest in the book (I guess it was too difficult a word for a kids' show).
All for one, and one for all
Muskethounds are always ready
All for one, and one for all
Helping everybody (etc., etc.)
I remember my first impression was that Dumas used some interesting language, but it might be that some of the expressions he used were common in France - he refers in his preface to "devouring" some manuscripts, but I presume he means that he just took them in, and not that he actually ate them! The book starts off with a lot of humour and almost seems like Robin Hood, and there is a very comical bit where D'Artagnan ends up in duels with Athos, Portos and Aramis.
The story revolves around 17th Century Paris, and talks about all the disruption caused by intolerence from the church (I could not work out if the Cardinal was a good guy or a bad guy), and there is a lot of espionage, as well as Robin Hood-type swashbuckling. Strangely, the Musketeers actually seem to be supporting characters throughout, with D'Artagnan being (not surprisingly) the main character.
More strangely, there is a long sequence towards the end that focusses on My Lady, who is in prison, and it almost makes you feel sorry for her, before making her turn nasty and manipulative - she could well have been an inspiration for the character of Nina Myers on 24 because of some of the things she does (including one tragic moment near the end).
Overall, this was an enjoyable book, but it is also quite long and so will take a while to actually read. I couldn't stop picturing all of the characters as dogs and cats, though.