Death in the Afternoon
by Ernest Hemingway
Still considered one of the best books ever written about bullfighting, this is an unbiased look at the sport of one of its true fans. This reflects Hemingway's belief that bullfighting is more than just a sport, and it reveals a rich source of inspiration for his art. The unique drama of bullfighting, with its harsh blend of athletics and art, and the necessary display of elegance under pressure, ignited Hemingway's imagination. Here he describes and explains the technical aspects of this dangerous ritual and "the emotional and spiritual tension and pure classical beauty that a human, an animal and a piece of red serge can produce draped over a stick." Seen from their eyes, bullfights become numerous choreographic ballets, with artists ranging from clumsy amateurs to masters of great grace and cunning. Offering a fascinating glimpse into the history and grandeur of bullfighting, Death in the afternoon is also a deeper contemplation of cowardice and courage, the nature of sport and tragedy, and has been revived by Hemingway's poignant interpretation of life and literature.
