The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta: The Celebrated California Bandit

By John Rollin Ridge and Yellow Bird

Book Overview

The first novel to feature a Mexican American hero: an adventure tale about Mexicans rising up against U.S. rule in California, based on the real-life bandit who inspired the creation of Zorro, the Lone Ranger, and Batman

With a new foreword by Diana Gabaldon, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone and the rest of the Outlander series

A Penguin Classic

An action-packed blend of folk tale, romance, epic, and myth, The Life and Adventures of Joaqu?n Murieta tells the story of the Gold Rush-era Mexican immigrant Joaqu?n Murieta, whose efforts to find fortune and happiness are thwarted by white settlers who murder his family and drive him off his land. In retaliation, Murieta organizes a band of more than 2,000 outlaws--including the sadistic "Three-Fingered Jack"--who take revenge by murdering, stealing horses, and robbing miners, all with the ultimate goal of reconquering California.

The first novel written by a Native American and the first novel published in California, The Life and Adventures of Joaqu?n Murieta speaks to the ways in which ethical questions of national security and racialized police violence have long been a part of U.S. history. This edition features excerpts from popular rewritings of the novel, including Johnston McCulley's first novel about Zorro, The Curse of Capistrano (also known as The Mark of Zorro).

For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143132652
• ISBN13: 9780143132653
• Release Date: July 2018
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Was a revolution about to take place?

There can be little doubt that a large number of Mexican in California were badly treated and robbed in this era by "Americans". That Joaquin Murieta at 22 was a leader of a large organized army of bandits who had the sympathy of a majority of those displace Mexican is a theme of this book. That he had raised money and horses by theft, murder and the hard work of organized crime is claimed. That his earning had been shipped to Mexico is also claimed. In a recent novel Daughter of Fortune (Oprah's Book Club) it is claimed that he was from Chile and not Mexico at all. This book has become an historical classic and is still an exciting read as if the immoral Joaquin and three fingered Jack were were still on their short four year ride.

The myth revealed

This is where the myth of the notorious California bandit Joaquin Murrieta was born. There are probably as many versions of Joaquin Murrieta as there were of sightings of him in the the gold rush days of California lore. Originally published in 1854 the Cherokee Indian Yellow Bird, better known as John Rollin Ridge, created the story that has since grown to mythical proportions. In this edition, of particular note is the introduction by Joseph H Jackson, who clarifies some disputed points about the authenticity of the fabled bandido Joaquin Murrieta. From the humble beginnings of a novel grew the legend that has been perpetuated through various novels, poems, music and even the big screen. All that is missing is the True E biography on the small screen. For those unfamiliar with the story, Joaquin Murrieta was a bandit who terrorized the early Californians, along with his notorious band of bandidos numbering some 2,000, which included such bad guys as "three fingered Jack" and more Joaquin's than those listed in a Mexico City phone book. This is a serious account that grew out of the imagination of one poet-journalist who authenticated his account by meeting in "secret caves" with Joaquin Murrieta to tell this tall tale. What is most fascinating is that this myth is deeply imbedded in the consciousness of Californians, particularly those of Mexican desent who identify with Murrieta as a sort of Robin Hood. Myself included, I was duped into believing the story of Joaquin Murrieta who was forced to turn into a bad guy after the gringos wronged his wife, sister, or whatever version you may happen to believe in. It made for a romantic vision of a bygone era, good guy wronged goes bad to avenge his woman, against incredible odds he managed to be shadowy and elusive. The stories growing with each retelling by the the campfires, Joaquin Murrieta became larger than life. After reading this original novel it is clear that the story that has grown larger and bigger than life was the stuff of pulp fiction. The book itself is an easy to read narrative. If you are interested in the fictionalized history of California, than this is a must read to understand how the myth of Joaquin Murrieta was created. Many books have been written on the life of Joaquin Murrieta but this is the original.