The Mark of Zorro (Foundation Classics) [Library Binding]

Pauline (RTL) Francis (Author), Johnston McCulley (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Foundation Classics

Originally titled The Curse of Capistrano in its 1919 debut, this exciting tale achieved immortal fame thanks to Douglas Fairbanks’s 1920 blockbuster film, The Mark of Zorro—a cinematic triumph that inspired Johnston McCulley to retitle his novel and dedicate it to Fairbanks. Set in Mexican California during the 1820s, the story follows the career of Don Diego Vega, by all appearances an effete and foppish aristocrat. But Vega’s timorous reputation is nothing more than a mask to conceal his alter ego: a California Robin Hood known as Zorro, whose swift blade strikes down those who exploit the poor and oppressed. The inspiration for dozens of film and television adaptations, The Mark of Zorro remains a paradigm of swashbuckling adventure.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is California in the early 1800s.

A corrupt governor and his army abuse the helpless and cheat the poor. The hard-drinking Sergeant Gonzales will stop at nothing to earn a reward. And the evil Captain Ramón will stop at nothing to get revenge. Meanwhile, the beautiful Señorita Lolita Pulido must choose between the man she loves and a man who can restore her family's reputation.

Out of the dark night comes the bold Señor Zorro. This mysterious, masked rider uses his sword and his whip to stand up to the forces of evil that stalk the countryside. --From the Publisher --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Johnston McCulley (1883–1958) was the author of hundreds of stories, fifty novels, and numerous screenplays for film and television. Robert E. Morsberger is a professor emeritus of English at the California State Polytechnic University. Katharine M. Morsberger is a specialist in eighteenth-century literature. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 56 pages
• Publisher: Skyview Books (January 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607540118
• ISBN-13: 978-1607540113
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Mark of Zorro, January 17, 2000

By 

A. Nesbitt (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mark of Zorro (Mass Market Paperback)

Many people have seen "The Mask of Zorro" starring Antonio Banderas. Even more are familiar with Guy Williams' 1957-59 portrayal of the legendary hero, or even Duncan Regehr's series in the early 1990s. But very few have, unfortunately, ever read the book that started it all, "The Mark of Zorro", originally entitled "The Curse of Capistrano" in its initial 1919 release. This is such a shame. Few Zorro stories of today -- excepting some fan fiction -- can rival the genius in Johnston McCulley's work(s). His Zorro is the ultimate adventurer.

Zorro's best-kept secret is the fact that there wasn't *one* Zorro story written by Johnston McCulley -- there were sixty! A wonderful new company is currently in production of republishing every one of these classic stories. I've read some of them; they're every bit as good as "Mark". Truly "must-reads". Miss them at your own expense.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars But beware this printed edition!, June 20, 2005

By 

M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mark of Zorro (Hardcover)

Yes, "The Mark of Zorro" is a light-hearted, spirited adventure romp, but this hardcover, at 25 bucks, is not a place to start.

The story by McCulley, is a terrific read, from stem to stern, even when you know the ending.

The physical book itself is AWFUL.

There are numerous typos throughout the entire book.

The letter "o" gets replaced by the number "6" a half dozen times in the last few pages alone.

There's a half a page duplicated, making for some confusing reading two-thirds of the way through.

The word "the" is often replaced by the the word "Die", making me wonder if there was some German transcriptionist involved somewhere along the line.

Letters are capitalized in the midst of words for no meaning.

It actually made reading this simple tale a chore.

I loved this story, but I hated the actual book it was printed in.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Depend on the Original, June 20, 2005

By 

John McAndrew (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mark of Zorro (Mass Market Paperback)

After being disappointed by the new Allende book on Zorro, I went in search of the original. What a lark! It's everything the Allende book is not: suspenseful, humorous (the response of Don Diego's prospective in-laws to hearing him sing and play guitar the first time is priceless), and exciting. You love the daring of the fox, and his passion to enlist others in a just cause (Allende leaves you wondering if Zorro possesses any motivation other than puerile lust). Eighty-five years after Zorro first appeared, he still has the power to make us wish that noblemen possessed nobility. The prose is simple and direct, unpretentious and effective. There will always be those who want to profit from a legend, but trust to the original. It's no Count of Monte Cristo, but it's ripping good adventure.

Allende made me ask "When will it end"; McCulley makes me ask "Does it have to end?"