Death and the Sun: A Matador's Season in the Heart of Spain

by Edward Lewine

Book Overview

A brilliant observer in the tradition of Adam Gopnik and Paul Theroux, Edward Lewine reveals a Spain few outsiders have seen. There's nothing more Spanish than bullfighting, and nothing less like its stereotype. For matadors and aficionados, it is not a blood sport but an art, an ancient subculture steeped in ritual, machismo, and the feverish attentions of fans and the press.

Lewine explains Spain and the art of the bulls by spending a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618872302
• ISBN13: 9780618872305
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book

Not a fiction story with a bullfighting theme but a journalistic narrative centering around one season of a specific bullfighter this book is an insight into one recent season in Spain. Traveling with one specific torero and his assistants this book discusses and details many aspects of the passion and art in a very informative and interesting way. For once there is an author who is not trying to show off or talk down to the reader about bullfighting. If you have any interest this should be the second book you read after Death in the Afternoon.

A Book With Casta

Ernest Hemingway, Barnaby Conrad and Allen Josephs set the bar in our language for writing about bullfighting, and Edward Lewine has met that bar and taken his place beside them. Lewine's formidable talent as a writer more than matches his ability as a researcher and both of those faculties are surpassed by his power of observation, the way he notices nuance and records it for the reader. With broad brush strokes and a muted palate on a large canvas, Lewine gives us a wonderfully textured, tapestry-like painting of the proud Spanish culture. In the foreground he draws a detailed portrait of archaic customs and tradtions as they exist in this modern era in the world of bullfighting. In writing about a single season in the life of one matador, Lewine provides the reader with both the breathtaking romance and the brutal reality of toreo and places it all in a historic context. This book will last a long time, pass the test of time for it is not only true to toreo, it is literature. It is not essential that one be an aficionado or aficionada of la fiesta brava, or even have any interest in bullfighting to appreciate this work. Among the gifted young writers of our time, Edward Lewine has taken his place in the first rank. If there should be anyone who finds fault with this work, then it could only be one who knows nothing of bullfighting and even less about literature, or is somehow so small minded as to be personally threatened by the great triumph of Edward Lewine. When an aficionado is fortunate enough to see a great bull in the plaza de toros, invariably the talk after the corrida is about the bull's "casta," great breeding. After a reading of "Death and the Sun," the talk amongst aficionados of toreo and literature ought to be about the casta of this book. Ray Mouton Author of "PAMPLONA, Running The Bulls, Bars, and Barrios In Fiesta De San Fermin"

The Best Bullfighter of All Time

Many years ago I saw my first bullfight, I was five and sat with my father on a pillows we bought from old style Spanish vendors. We sat in the blazing sun eating unshelled peanuts, riding the uneasy wave of fear, excitement and horror. I remember the blare of the trumpets, the sound of impact when bull hit barrera at full speed, the smell of the blood and the cheers and jeers of the crowd. My father liked the first bullfighter that stood in the ring, my favorite was the third, he was dark skinned and had a flair that made me want to applaud and scream "Get out of the way!" at the same time. Each pass of the bulls horns seemed closer than the last, it seemed he had lost all human fear. During his second bull he turned his back to the bull in defiance then kneeled, and in an inspired moment threw his bloodied red cape over his shoulder and spread his arms toward the judges daring the bull to charge. I felt like I had just been to an event everyone would be talking about, like I had just been present for an historic battle. I don't know about the Spaniards there that night but my father and I talked about that day, those moments, the shivers and the crowd many times over many years. Before the judges had their chance people spilled into the bull ring overcome with emotion and hoisted bullfighter number three on their shoulders and carried the night's hero out of the ring and into the streets. My father and I disagreed about many things over the years but we unanimously and forever agreed on one thing; there was no doubt we had seen the best bullfighter that ever lived. This book takes you into the world of a bullfighter, the fighting bulls and the people that live to follow the bullfighting season. If getting a little closer to what makes this ancient sport a thrill sounds interesting to you, step away from the critics corner and take a chance. It worked for me.

A terrific read for experts and novices

Lewine's book is a great introduction to the whole culture of bullfighting in Spain, and the writing really sings--a welcome contribution to the literature

If You Are Remotely Interested In Bullfighting...

Then you have to read this book. Unlike most books written on bullfighting, this book takes place in the 2003 season and not 50 years ago. It is an interesting and well-written book about the actual taurine industry. Besides that, it is a pleaseant look into the country of Spain and its people. It made me want to book my flight for the first plane out. If I had any complaint about this book it is only that Mr. Lewine included no pictures of his year with Matador Francisco Rivera Ordonez and his entourage. (Not that it matters, but out of curiousity I logged on and found the official website for this heir of the bullring and he was absolutely gorgeous.) I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was actually sorry when I reached the last page.