The Curse of Capistrano is a 1919 serialized novel by Johnston McCulley and the first work to feature the fictional Californio character Zorro (zorro is the Spanish word for fox). It would be later published as a book in 1924 under the title The Mark of Zorro

McCulley's novel first appeared in 1919 as a five-part story serialized in All-Story Weekly, a popular pulp magazine. The novel was quickly adapted to film as The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks.

The Curse of Capistrano is a 1919 novel by Johnston McCulley and the first work to feature the Californio character Diego Vega, the masked hero also called Zorro (zorro is the Spanish word for fox). It first appeared as a five-part magazine serial. The story was adapted into the silent film The Mark of Zorro in 1920. It appeared in book form in 1924, also using the title The Mark of Zorro.

"The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCulley Cover of All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1919. The Curse of Capistrano was originally appeared as a serialized novel in the pulp magazine All-Story Weekly in 1919. After the success of the film The Mark of Zorro the next year, the novel was rereleased by the publisher Grosset and Dunlap under the name The Mark of Zorro. McCulley had no idea how successful his creation would be, and he never expected at the time to be writing any more Zorro stories, so at the end of this story, Zorro's identity is revealed to all.

The Curse of Capistrano is a 1919 serialized novel by Johnston McCulley and the first work to feature the fictional Californio character Zorro (zorro is the Spanish word for fox). It would be later published as a book in 1924 under the title The Mark of Zorro

This premium quality edition contains the complete and unabridged text of The Curse of Capistrano, Johnston McCulley's original tale of the adventures of Zorro, printed on heavy, bright white paper in a large 6"x9" format, with page headers and a fully laminated full-color cover featuring an original design.Also included in this edition is a new, original biographical sketch discussing the life and work of the prolific, but enigmatic, author.First published in 1919 as a serial in the "All-Story Weekly" pulp magazine, this story was originally titled The Curse of Capistrano and was the first appearance of the "Zorro" character, the dashing masked vigilante fighting against the oppression of the King's officials in "Old California," while hiding his real identity as Don Diego Vega behind a foppish facade.When it became the basis for the 1920 Douglas Fairbanks film "The Mark of Zorro" and was republished as a novel to coincide with the film, it was re-titled as The Mark of Zorro. Numerous "Zorro" stories, books and films followed, some following Johnston McCulley's original characterizations more closely than others and all, including McCulley's own later stories, essentially disregarding the ending of the original story without explanation.Born in Ottawa, Illinois on February 2, 1883, Johnston McCulley was a prolific writer who published extensively in the pulp magazines of the day under a variety of pen names. He created a number of popular masked, costumed "vigilante" characters and "gentleman villains" with secret identities, and his work was a major influence on subsequent pulp characters.

The Curse of Capistrano is a 1919 novel by Johnston McCulley and the first work to feature the Californio character Diego Vega, the masked hero also called Zorro. It first appeared as a five-part magazine serial. The story was adapted into the silent film The Mark of Zorro in 1920.

The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta (1854) is a novel by John Rollin Ridge. Published under his birth name Yellow Bird, from Cheesquatalawny in Cherokee, The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta was the first novel from a Native American author. Despite its popular success worldwide—the novel was translated into French and Spanish—Ridge’s work was a financial failure due to bootleg copies and widespread plagiarism. Recognized today as a groundbreaking work of nineteenth century fiction, The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta is a powerful novel that investigates American racism, illustrates the struggle for financial independence among marginalized communities, and dramatizes the lives of outlaws seeking fame, fortune, and vigilante justice. Born in Mexico, Joaquin Murieta came to California in search of gold. Despite his belief in the American Dream, he soon faces violence and racism from white settlers who see his success as a miner as a personal affront. When his wife is raped by a mob of white men and after Joaquin is beaten by a group of horse thieves, he loses all hope of living alongside Americans and turns to a life of vigilantism. Joined by a posse of similarly enraged Mexican-American men, Joaquin becomes a fearsome bandit with a reputation for brutality and stealth. Based on the life of Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo, also known as The Robin Hood of the West, The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta would serve as inspiration for Johnston McCulley’s beloved pulp novel hero Zorro. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of John Rollin Ridge’s The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta is a classic work of Native American literature reimagined for modern readers.

When William Duncan, a wealthy man who became the leader of a band of thieves for the thrill of committing burglaries, is betrayed by his gang members and sentenced to spend 25 years in prison, his twin daughters, Doris and Dorcas, disguise themselves as the mysterious Madam Madcap to carry out a revenge against the men who framed their father! A thrilling story of mystery and adventure by Johnston McCulley, the creator of Zorro!