Zorro Rides Again! Eric J. Lindblom PhD Harvard

books:

	• Zorro: A Novel Isabel Allende, 2005 - 400 pages average customer review:based on 129 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

For women and men

My husband and I don't read the same books usually. I picked this book because I like Isabel Allende. I think this book was the most interesting I've read. It "captured" me from the start as it did my husband who wouldn't dream of reading an Allende book. I love learning about the era. The part with the pirate was a bit unbelievable (but it is a novel so it still gets a 5 star).

The old movie swashbucklers would be pleased

You should know two things before you start reading this book. First, Isabel Allende's memories of Zorro are of the Disney version. There is a Bernardo in her book, but Tyrone Power did not have a Bernardo backing him up in the movie - but then again, neither Power nor Guy Williams (the TV Zorro) had an Isabel or a Lolita as a love interest.

Second, while this is an extremely good novel, don't read it with the expectation that it's similar in any way to any of Allende's other books. "Zorro" is completely unlike anything else she has ever written. The other Allende novels I've read have been more similar to, say, Gabriel Garcia Marquez in tone and plot, although Allende's other novels never had the mysticism of Garcia Marquez's wonderful tales.

For this book, Allende has gone off in a completely different and enchanting direction. Where she borrows from the known Zorro legend, she borrows accurately - the characters of, for example, Moncada and Garcia were completely accurate, and I could picture them in my head as they were in the TV series. Where she goes off on her own, her story is totally believable and logical.

I find myself hoping that Allende will write a sequel, but I know that it will never happen. I do hope, though, that this book will bring about a resurgence of interest in Zorro.

for more information click here

Zorro Rides Again! Eric J. Lindblom PhD Harvard

Again, wrapped in magic, Sra. Allende stalks the most famous legend in California: Zorro! He is the fox, the Zorro. "Like the fox, you will discover what cannot be seen in the dark, you will disguise yourself, and you will hide by day and act by night." (p. 86)
The book starts thoughtfully developing characters (in L.A. during Old California days) then suddently, attacked by pirates, the story plunges into action. Zorro (Diego) is transformed by a Native American vision quest into a superman. His milk brother, Bernardo, is too. Boys become men. Diego's totem animal becomes the fox (El Zorro).
The new men, Diego and Bernardo, are sent to Barcelona to be educated. Spain was in the middle of a war with the occupation army of France at the time. There, Diego falls i love with the beautiful Juliana de Romeu and joins a secret society: La Justicia. The oath is: "To seek justice, nourish the hungry, clothe the naked, protect widows and orphans, give shelter to the stranger, and never spill innocent blood." (p 154)
Diego meets a Gypsy widow and satisfies all but his heart. His heart belongs to Juliana whose father, a French sympathizer, is arrested, jailed in La Ciudadela and executed despite everyone's efforts to save him.
After further adventures including a thrilling sword fight, the author explains she has run out of ink (quills). Fortunately, she finds more and continues onto California once again.
Upon Diego's return home to California, he finds his own father (falsely accused) in prison with all his lands confiscated. It is time for Zorro to ride again.
Almost as a summary, Zorro rights all wrongs, plans daring escapes, defeats his enemies and sets all right with the world.
[...]

for more information click here

--"Zorro, the fox so cunning and free"--

For me, Isabel Allende's ZORRO was like a trip back in time. I remember many Zorros. As a child, I watched the then "old movie," which starred Tyrone Power. On TV (I don't know what years) there was a Zorro series which was made by Disney with Guy Williams in the title role. In the 1980's a film called The Gay Blade starring George Hamilton was made. It revitalized Hamilton's career and was a funny and interesting spoof of the Zorro character. More recently, Antonio Bandaras starred in The Mask of Zorro. My reason for pointing out these early films, is just this, I thought that I knew everything about Zorro, and now we're presented with another one. I wasn't sure that I wanted or needed to know anything more about the masked swordsman; however, I succumbed and read the newest ZORRO, and I did enjoy this new version of the Zorro saga.

Allende's ZORRO is rich with the background of early California and gives us a lot of information about how and why Diego de la Vega became Zorro. We all knew that he was of Spanish heritage, but Allende gives Diego an Indian mother and a grandmother, who teaches him to cherish his Indian blood. Her influence also makes him want to protect and avenge the oppressed. Bernardo, who is Diego's best friend, is a solid supporting character. The two had been friends since birth. They seem to share a mystical mental link and initially, Bernardo is the only one who knows of Diego`s dual persona. This story is packed with adventure. Alejandro de la Vega, Diego's father sends his son to Spain when Diego is sixteen. On the voyage, Diego hones his athletic skills, befriends sailors and even encounters pirates. In Spain, he's taught by a master swordsman, becomes a member of La Justicia and reaches maturity. He also meets two women who influence his life, the beautiful Juliana and her brainy sister, Isabel.

ZORRO is an enjoyable and entertaining book.

for more information click here

As a fan of all of the television and film versions of the masked desperado, I really enjoyed this retelling. Several aspects that the films omit were particularly enjoyable (the Native American connections, Garcia depicted as a boyhood friend of Diego, the mute companion being more than a servant, etc.) I have not read other books about Zorro, but I hope that this one is someday transferred to the big screen!!

reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

hot

not?

What's your opinion?

Write a review and share your thoughts!

recommendations

Reading List 2006

search for books
a novel novel, novel, zorro

Impressum / about us