The Mark of Zorro (1924) is a novel by Johnston McCulley. Originally
published as The Curse of Capistrano (1919), McCulley's novel was
rereleased to capitalize on the success of the 1920 silent film of the
same name starring Douglas Fairbanks. Beloved by generations of readers
and moviegoers alike, Zorro is recognized as a symbol of justice and
rebellion throughout the world. "Outside the wind shrieked and the rain
dashed against the ground in a solid sheet. It was a typical February
storm for southern California. At the missions the frailes had cared for
the stock and had closed the buildings for the night. At every great
hacienda big fires were burning in the houses. The timid natives kept to
their little adobe huts, glad for shelter." While the rich live in
comfort, warm and safe from the wind and driving rain, the poor
Californian people hide in their makeshift homes, fearful not just of
the weather, but of the governor and his vicious soldiers. Oppressed for
so long, they have nearly given up hope when a masked man arrives, a
swordsman by the name of Zorro. As news of his actions spreads,
revealing his knack for stealing from the rich in order to give the poor
their due, the governor sends his most ruthless officer to put a stop to
the vigilante, once and for all. With a beautifully designed cover and
professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Johnston McCulley's
The Mark of Zorro is a classic of American pulp fiction reimagined for
modern readers.
