Zorro: A Novel (P.S.) (original 2005; edition 2006)

This book, which tells the story of Zorro’s early life, is great fun. We learn that his mother was a
First Nations warrior, the head of a band dedicated to driving the colonists out of California. Zorro’s father was a Spanish military man, defending the mission of Father Mendoza. He captures the warrior chief – who turns out to be a woman – and then, as he’s nursing her back to health, falls in love with her and marries her. During the same week that their son Diego is born, an Indian servant girl gives birth to another boy, Bernardo, and the two boys grow up together as blood brothers.

This is only the beginning of Zorro’s life. He gets his name during an initiation rite with his grandmother’s tribe, when a fox helps him to survive in the wilderness. He helps rescue his mother from a pirate attack. And then he and Bernardo are sent to Barcelona to further their education in the old country. There he masters the art of sword-fighting, studies sleight of hand from the gypsies, gets embroiled in local politics, falls into unrequited love, and is initiated into a secret society dedicated to justice.

And along the way, he develops the identity of Zorro, and goes out to fight for justice in a black mask and cape. Allende’s book is mostly an adventure story, but is always sensitive to the emotional and mental development of its main character. What’s it like to have a double identity? Zorro is loveable, a little arrogant, and very divided between the different cultural influences that have formed him. I was sorry to leave him at the end of the story.
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This book, which tells the story of Zorro’s early life, is great fun. We learn that his mother was a
First Nations warrior, the head of a band dedicated to driving the colonists out of California. Zorro’s father was a Spanish military man, defending the mission of Father Mendoza. He captures the warrior chief – who turns out to be a woman – and then, as he’s nursing her back to health, falls in love with her and marries her. During the same week that their son Diego is born, an Indian servant girl gives birth to another boy, Bernardo, and the two boys grow up together as blood brothers.

This is only the beginning of Zorro’s life. He gets his name during an initiation rite with his grandmother’s tribe, when a fox helps him to survive in the wilderness. He helps rescue his mother from a pirate attack. And then he and Bernardo are sent to Barcelona to further their education in the old country. There he masters the art of sword-fighting, studies sleight of hand from the gypsies, gets embroiled in local politics, falls into unrequited love, and is initiated into a secret society dedicated to justice.

And along the way, he develops the identity of Zorro, and goes out to fight for justice in a black mask and cape. Allende’s book is mostly an adventure story, but is always sensitive to the emotional and mental development of its main character. What’s it like to have a double identity? Zorro is loveable, a little arrogant, and very divided between the different cultural influences that have formed him. I was sorry to leave him at the end of the story.
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In Zorro, Isabel Allende delves into the story of the pulp fiction hero and tells how Diego de la Vega becomes Zorro. Staying within the confines of the legend and yet telling a fresh and innovative story, she traces the life of Don Diego, born to a wealthy Spanish landowner and a Indian woman, raised in California with his Indian blood brother, Bernardo, schooled in Spain, all the while learning and perfecting his alter-ego, Zorro. He then returns to California to fight for justice for the downtrodden and ill-used.

Staying true to the historical background of both Napoleonic Europe and the Spanish held colony of California, the author breathes life into the myth that originally saw the light of day in various dime store novels. I, myself, fell in love with Zorro when watching the late fifties TV show with Guy Williams and then again in 1998 with the movie The Mask of Zorro starring Antonio Banderas. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to any Zorro fan.

Offering respect to a legend and giving him a fully fleshed character, all the while writing in an expressive, passionate and, at times, humorous manner, Zorro is a compelling saga that offers romance, adventure and plenty of action. ( )

Allende is, as always, a wonderful storyteller. ( )

ok background story to The Zorro legend and his family and heritage but the difference between Zorro and Diego and their different styles ( one manly, one feminine) was almost swept under the table. characters felt flat and i wish more to read about the indians than the spaniards. the gypsies were a nice interlude but very clichee. i felt reading a 3 penny book at times. but i will check out some Zorro movies now. ( )