The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley is set in early nineteenth-century Spanish California. Don Diego Vega, a seemingly timid and idle nobleman, leads a secret double life as Zorro, a masked swordsman who defends the oppressed peasants of Los Angeles against corrupt officials and tyrannical soldiers. His rival, Captain Ramon, covets the hand of Lolita Pulido, the woman Diego secretly loves. Through daring rescues, romantic intrigue, and thrilling duels, Zorro fights injustice while protecting his disguise. This classic adventure tale established the enduring legend of the black-caped hero who carves his signature "Z" as a mark of justice.
