Western University of Health Sciences will welcome authors Isabel Allende and Sandra Curtis to talk about the legendary masked swordsman Zorro on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 as part of Pomona’s Together We Read program.

The program begins with a reception at 6 p.m. featuring music by the City of Pomona Youth Orchestra, followed by an interview and question and answer session with the authors at 7 p.m. in WesternU’s HEC Lecture Hall I, 701 E. Second St., Pomona, Calif.

Chilean-American author Isabel Allende wrote the 2005 novel “Zorro,” revealing the history behind the legendary masked man. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 57 million copies.

Sandra Curtis, author of “Zorro Unmasked: The Official History,” traces the history of Zorro from the first story by Johnston McCulley in 1919 to more recent portrayals in film and print.

The event is sponsored by the Pomona Public Library, the city of Pomona and Western University of Health Sciences.

“Zorro” was selected for the Together We Read program because of its wide appeal to all age groups and its roots in early California history, said Pat Lambert, senior librarian with the Pomona Public Library.

“My hope is that by reading the book and participating in the program, readers will learn from Diego de la Vega’s courage in standing up for what is right, regardless of the circumstances,” she said. “I hope they will enjoy Diego’s journey and gain a further appreciation of California history and culture. I also hope that we can foster an appreciation of the written word and love for reading.”

Click here to view a flier: http://webassets.westernu.edu/westernu-news/docs/ZorroFlyerFinal2.pdf