A story of the origins of the swashbuckling hero, El Zorro --- as told by Issabelle Allende. Ms. Allende has, I feel, made a narrative choice that greatly detracts from the novel. The story is told from the point-of-view of one of the lesser charcters and is written in a mysterious third-person. We are told what happens, what is said. There is very little direct description of the events, little dialog, and although the literary device allows the narrator to relate the thoughts of other characters (she has obviously been privy to their confidences!), not all characters' thoughts are know to us. We don't feel like we are _there_, we feel that some person is simply telling us the tale. But... Allende does a marvelous job of weaving together all the lore of Zorro, through his many incarnations in film and television, and telling us how he came to metamorphose from Diego de la Vega to the mysterious Zorro. She provides background and explanations for most elements of the legend --- why Zorro is so acrobatic --- how Bernado came to be mute --- how the hacienda came to be built over a cave. Good beach book, I suppose.Read full review
If you are not intimated by the author's strict narrative style, you will really enjoy this novel. I enjoyed listening to the audio version. The thing that I loved the most about the novel is that goes into great detail of how the child Diego de la Vega became Zorro. It is almost like a historical novel the way the author describes 18th century life California and Europe. I won't say this novel is for everyone, but it is for those who like a very detailed story.
Awesome book and flyer.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The early days of California history.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It's a great childhood growth into a hero with a intense sense of justice. The California mestizo history and a transformation that felt like a training. Great adventure at his coming of age. I didn't find the book engaging though, it felt boring and lacking familiarity.
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