"ZORRO" by Isabel Allende

     In the preface the author states the very reason that I love stories of swashbuckling heroes.  "There are all too few heroes with a romantic heart and a fun-loving nature."  So when I find them from Dumas and Perez-Reverte for instance, I cherish them.  Allende's Zorro has joined my club!
     There is a 2 page map of the Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans that shows the route of the Gulf Stream to Spain and return of the Trade Winds. Included is an inset of the Franciscan Missions along the Camino Real and an inset of the Barrataria, the swamps and forests south of New Orleans from which Jean Lafitte raided the Caribbean with impunity.  Lafitte plays an interesting part in the story when he
 meets up with Zorro. In fact, he wins heart and hand of the maiden that Zorro has loved and pursued unsuccessfully for much of his life.
     I assume that most people have at least a rudimentary knowledge of Zorro, swordsman par excellence, clad in black mask and cape, who sole purpose is to bring justice to the downtrodden.  Allende's version of Zorro begins before he was born in Alta, CA to the noble Captain Alejandro de la Vega and the savage Chief Gray Wolf. When Grey Wolf is wounded and captured  trying to attack mission,  de la Vega and the Padre are shocked to find that Grey Wolf is a woman. While escorting her to the Governor for execution, de la Vega falls in love (surprise, surprise)!   Thus, the arrival of baby Diego de la Vega who later transforms into Zorro.
     His life is exciting from his birth because of the different cultures he is born into. He is part of the Spanish political elite from his father and part of the earthy Indian stoicism of his mother.
The author creates interesting characters to enter Zorro's life and demonstrates love, loyalty and longing among them.  Some of them are quite funny, some are real bad guys, some are teachers, some are lovers and among them are Gypsies, sailors, pirates, guerrillas, a fencing master, a Russian Count, and as mentioned before, Jean Lafitte and his band of marauders.
     A technique that I particularly liked was the author's way of occasionally interjecting herself into the narrative to explain a point or give a brief respite from the action. These interruptions were lighthearted and welcomed.  This book, copyrighted in 2005, is one of fifteen Isabel Allende.  I think she is a gifted writer and her Zorro is one of my favorites -- in fact I have read it twice!!   10/19/10