The Mark of Zorro is an adventure story by the American writer Johnston McCulley. It takes place in Spanish California in the early 1800s, when the people live under greedy and cruel rulers. Don Diego Vega is a rich young man who seems lazy and weak. But at night he becomes Zorro, the masked rider who fights for justice and protects the poor. With his quick sword and clever tricks, he defends the weak and leaves his famous mark — the letter Z. This version tells McCulley’s classic story in clear, easy English for B1 learners. It keeps the action, humor, and romance of the original in a simpler form.