I do appreciate this book for funding the exciting Zorro character that I loved to watch movies about as a kid. Though i didn't quite enjoy the book as much. But vaugly remember that Isabel Allende has written a book about Zorro so might try this one someday, if I hadn't already. My memory isn't the best

I've loved Zorro since I was a kid. I grew up on the old Disney series with Guy Williams, and when I saw The Mask of Zorro in theaters at the impressionable age of 13, it instantly became one of my favorite movies. I still adore it to this day. So it was terribly fun to pick up the original serialized novel at last.

My reading buddy Kris described it as CHEEKY, and I can't think of a better word. The entire thing is more than a little hilarious, and I'm pretty sure most of that is intentional. Lines like "Think you I am an imbecile?" and "This visit is necessary, señor. I have not made it because I admire the beauty of your face" are abundant. This is light, airy adventure without much gravitas to anchor it, but it moves at a crazy pace and never once bores. Zorro's wit and devil-may-care attitude are already fully intact. I can see why this was so popular as a serial (originally titled The Curse of Capistrano), although I'm wondering how many readers were still in the dark about the Diego de la Vega "twist" until the very end. I would've loved to read more about the machinations of being Zorro, but I suppose that wasn't possible in order to preserve said twist.

I enjoyed stumbling across characters and names that have carried over even in more modern adaptations - e.g. Bernardo and Alejandro - and Diego's faux rich-man exhaustion really made it obvious how much Bruce Wayne has Zorro to thank for showing him how to effectively work a civilian identity. Then again, you could say that Zorro has Sir Percival Blakeney to thank. :)

A fun, light read.

I think it's incredible how this book started as a magazine serial story in the 1910s, and now has spurred films, tv series, and even a musical. I love tales of adventure, I love tales of secret identities, and I love tales of heroes, and this story has it all. The writing is a bit subpar - my favorite description was "the evil-smelling hallways" - but it's still a captivating story. Or maybe I just love it because of nostalgia :-)

Robin Hood meets The Scarlet Pimpernel in this tale of Spanish dominated California. While the government has grown more and more oppressive a hero has been training himself to right wrongs. Now Zorro rides the countryside, stealing from soldiers what they have stolen from the people and punishing those who have dealt unjust punishment. It is this man who captures Lolita Pulido. At the same time the rich but languid Don Diego Vega has also asked for her hand. Can Zorro bring justice to the southland without loosing his life or that of the girl he loves?

This tale is told in the classic manner of the period it was written during. The plot line is predictable, but fun just the same.